What did you do to your Prime today?

After the rains last week I decided the non-GFCI outlet the Prime gets connected to needed to be changed pronto. This morning I replaced this


with this.



I got a pleasant surprise too . . . this is a dedicated connection to the main electrical panel. Of course I found that out after flipping every breaker on the sub-panel before replacing the outlet. Now I get to reset all the clocks in the house.

 

As others have mentioned, the trunk light is pathetic. Today I wired up two LED strips inside the trunk. I just need to get a couple Posi-Taps to tap into the light power wiring and then should be in business.

If you’re not familiar with Posi-Taps, they are so much better that T-Taps since they don’t destroy the insulation and wire being tapped into. I have found them very handy for lower current (amperage) applications such as LED lighting.

Here are some photos of the install.

The wire route I took was around the rear. The panel at the trunk latch is removable. The ones to either side may be loosened enough to feed wiring through.


Route the wire in front of the white piece (below thumb). Otherwise the wire will be right next to the weather stripping.


I started from the right side. Wire pair is protected with nylon wire braid.


Use a trim tool to push the wire under the carpeted side trim. Once you get it past the white trim piece the wire will be pulled away from the weather stripping.


Once you’ve pulled enough wire through tape off the end so you don’t accidentally pull the wire too far.


Using trim tools to get wire behind carpeted panel on other side.



This is on the right side. The wire should be behind the white trim piece (currently it’s in front in this photo) and tucked into the crevice (not shown). Note when installing the rear trim piece back on to do this side first, then the left side last. It will make sense when you see what’s underneath the black trim piece.


This is the crevice that the wire tucks into. If you look underneath the trunk latch that’s where the crevice is located, and it runs the length of the rear bumper.


Just need to Posi-Tap between the positive wire to red wire, and negative wire to black wire. 3-port wire bean used to connect wire for left side to wire from right side. Third port will be connection to Posi-Tap (x2).


LED strip soldered to wires. Solder joint protected with adhesive lined heat shrink tubing.


One of the LED strips mounted.


Now I’m waiting for Posi-Taps to arrive. I’ll post more photos once the mod is completed and the trunk is brighter.

 

Totally Awesome with clean that up. You can get it at the Dollar Tree Store...

 

The Posi-Taps for the trunk LED light wiring came in yesterday evening, and I completed the lighting mod this morning. In hindsight I should have ordered the next smaller size taps; these are the ones meant for AWG 20-22. I’ll have to wait until it gets dark to see how much of a difference the LED light strips make.




I also purchased an 11.6 inch laptop anti-glare screen protector, and got that installed last night. Hopefully it allows the screen to be semi-readable when the sunlight hits it a certain way.

 

I installed similar ones. Only problem was that the adhesive didn't work worth a hoot on that shiny plastic no matter how much I cleaned it. Duct tape to the rescue. Ugly but effective.

 

The adhesive on the back of the LED strip wanted no part of the plastic panel. I’m trying double sided sticky tape. If that doesn’t work I might try sanding off the shiny surface.

 

I tried the double sided tape, too. I tend to think that if the 3M red stuff won't stick, nothing will. Even the duct tape gradually loosens. I forgot to mention that I also tried sticking the lights to larger pieces of plastic and then securing those to the panels with industrial grade adhesive-backed Velcro. Nope! Even the industrial grade tape won't stick.

Sanding should work, but I don't want to leave any scars.

 

I was just thinking something kind of similar ... get some stiff thin plastic (like the stuff windshield wiper blades are often packaged in, you get good straight lengths of it that way, plus you get a wiper blade), crease it so you have tabs you can poke down behind the edges of the trim panels, stick the LEDs to the exposed part?

 

You haven’t tried gaffers tape yet, so there is still hope. But it sounds like you have tried just about everything else.

 

I was just thinking something kind of similar ... get some stiff thin plastic (like the stuff windshield wiper blades are often packaged in, you get good straight lengths of it that way), crease it so you have tabs you can poke down behind the edges of the trim panels, stick the LEDs to the exposed part?[/QUOTE]
I like your creative idea. Those side trim panels are on there pretty tight, so getting the tabs to compression fit in the gap should be possible. If that doesn’t work, the tabs could go towards the other direction with Velcro tape securing them to the side carpet.

 

If I dig around the studio, I might find some audio cassette tape, too. Probably won't work either.

 

The Prime received its first wash and wax this morning. You really don’t realize how many crevices there are on the sheet metal until you wax it. It took almost as long to wax the Prime as the Tacoma.

 

I bought and installed the official all weather trunk mat and as I was installing it I noticed these tools in the privacy cover storage area:



I know there is no spare in the vehicle, was this left there by accident?

 

That goes with the jack that is lurking under your back seat.

 

Interesting, didn't even know there was a jack! Will need to look for it next time. I guess the point of all these tools is to get your wheel off and use the emergency repair kit in case of a flat.

 

Just in case you need to remove the tire to repair flat.

 

Thanks! Good info. I noticed in your signature that you sold your 2020 Prime LE -- what was the reason? I just picked up a 2021 LE.

 

I am homebound (100% telecommuting) since last March. Didn't need a daily driver. I didn't want to keep paying insurance and tax on a car that continues to depreciate even just sitting on my driveway. I sold it to Caravana and made a $4000 profit. We have Pathfinder Hybrid for occasional drives.

 

Nice, this is the exact reason why I got the Prime! I traded in a vehicle that was double the price of the Prime so my monthly payments got cut in half.

 

If and when I do go back to my daily commuting routine, I will look for a new car. I really want to give a BEV a try, but PP will be always on my shortlist. As long as Toyota continues to give away this car with a rebate and the remaining tax credit, it will be very hard to find any BEV that will beat the price of PP both upfront and running.