DIY T-Cover Automatic Radio Door Open / Close
01-21-2014, 06:28 AM
#1
Senior Member
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 100
DIY T-Cover Automatic Radio Door Open / Close
Hey all. I was inspired by the T-Cover that used to be for sale:
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/tc-tech-diy-1818/tcover-motorized-radio-cover-install-32070/
So I decided to make my own.
It seems as though the cost for one used to be $100 when it was for sale. I was able to make mine for ~$30. I had most of the parts laying around so it cost me next to nothing to make.
Anyone that likes this sort of thing could accomplish it.
-There's a decent amount of soldering however
-Programming is the easiest part
-Dremel with cutting wheel and a drill are probably needed
Here's a short run down of what I've got. If there's enough interest I'll write up a tutorial with parts list and a schematic. Thanks guys!
Lever for opening/closing the door with bell crank:
Side view of servo:
Mounting plate for servo:
Hacked up bell crank:
Circuit:
Circuit bottom:
Please don't judge me on the random holes/cuts in the plastic- none of it will be seen once its installed. Learn from my mistakes!
edit-crazy huge pics. Also I forgot to mention that the door opens when you turn the key on, and then closes when you turn the key off. It also times out after 10 seconds of having the key removed so that there is no current flowing to drain your battery. I often leave my car sitting for a week or more so I couldn't have it constantly draining power from my battery.
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/tc-tech-diy-1818/tcover-motorized-radio-cover-install-32070/
So I decided to make my own.
It seems as though the cost for one used to be $100 when it was for sale. I was able to make mine for ~$30. I had most of the parts laying around so it cost me next to nothing to make.
Anyone that likes this sort of thing could accomplish it.
-There's a decent amount of soldering however
-Programming is the easiest part
-Dremel with cutting wheel and a drill are probably needed
Here's a short run down of what I've got. If there's enough interest I'll write up a tutorial with parts list and a schematic. Thanks guys!
Lever for opening/closing the door with bell crank:
Side view of servo:
Mounting plate for servo:
Hacked up bell crank:
Circuit:
Circuit bottom:
Please don't judge me on the random holes/cuts in the plastic- none of it will be seen once its installed. Learn from my mistakes!
edit-crazy huge pics. Also I forgot to mention that the door opens when you turn the key on, and then closes when you turn the key off. It also times out after 10 seconds of having the key removed so that there is no current flowing to drain your battery. I often leave my car sitting for a week or more so I couldn't have it constantly draining power from my battery.
Last edited by skruff; 01-21-2014 at 07:00 AM.
01-21-2014, 11:39 AM
#2
This is an interesting mod. I like how you say it opens when you turn the car on and closes when the car turns off. I figured it would be on a switch. Can't wait to see the write up whenever it comes, might have to try this myself.
01-21-2014, 02:42 PM
#3
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 100
Here she is installed. It was a lot easier to put back in then I thought it would be- even with the sub-zero temps.
I took power from my radio. On my 2006 constant 12v was blue, ground was brown and ignition/accessory was a thin gray wire next to the constant 12v.
I took power from my radio. On my 2006 constant 12v was blue, ground was brown and ignition/accessory was a thin gray wire next to the constant 12v.
) .....
01-31-2014, 04:51 PM
#13
Did the door a while ago, back in 2008.
DIY - not unless I do another one, since this one's done and I didn't take any pics along the way.
I had wanted to do it since I got my tC in 2004; finally decided to get serious and figure out how it could be done.
Removed the door, took it apart - it is essentially two halves, the silver front and black rear. Letters were cut out on a milling machine, and then filed (under a microscope) to get right to the edges, all the curves, etc. This was a biatch, believe me. I had to repaint the silver too, since it got a little scratched in the process.
I used Oznium ribbon strip LEDs, nice and thin. It's mounted inside the door with double stick tape, between the face plate with the SCION logo, and the black plastic door itself.
Hardest part was finding something to use as a diffuser, so it glows evenly, and you can't see the individual LEDs. Lot of time and experimentation on that, but finally got it.
DIY - not unless I do another one, since this one's done and I didn't take any pics along the way.
I had wanted to do it since I got my tC in 2004; finally decided to get serious and figure out how it could be done.
Removed the door, took it apart - it is essentially two halves, the silver front and black rear. Letters were cut out on a milling machine, and then filed (under a microscope) to get right to the edges, all the curves, etc. This was a biatch, believe me. I had to repaint the silver too, since it got a little scratched in the process.
I used Oznium ribbon strip LEDs, nice and thin. It's mounted inside the door with double stick tape, between the face plate with the SCION logo, and the black plastic door itself.
Hardest part was finding something to use as a diffuser, so it glows evenly, and you can't see the individual LEDs. Lot of time and experimentation on that, but finally got it.
02-03-2014, 11:58 AM
#14
Did the door a while ago, back in 2008.
DIY - not unless I do another one, since this one's done and I didn't take any pics along the way.
I had wanted to do it since I got my tC in 2004; finally decided to get serious and figure out how it could be done.
Removed the door, took it apart - it is essentially two halves, the silver front and black rear. Letters were cut out on a milling machine, and then filed (under a microscope) to get right to the edges, all the curves, etc. This was a biatch, believe me. I had to repaint the silver too, since it got a little scratched in the process.
I used Oznium ribbon strip LEDs, nice and thin. It's mounted inside the door with double stick tape, between the face plate with the SCION logo, and the black plastic door itself.
Hardest part was finding something to use as a diffuser, so it glows evenly, and you can't see the individual LEDs. Lot of time and experimentation on that, but finally got it.
DIY - not unless I do another one, since this one's done and I didn't take any pics along the way.
I had wanted to do it since I got my tC in 2004; finally decided to get serious and figure out how it could be done.
Removed the door, took it apart - it is essentially two halves, the silver front and black rear. Letters were cut out on a milling machine, and then filed (under a microscope) to get right to the edges, all the curves, etc. This was a biatch, believe me. I had to repaint the silver too, since it got a little scratched in the process.
I used Oznium ribbon strip LEDs, nice and thin. It's mounted inside the door with double stick tape, between the face plate with the SCION logo, and the black plastic door itself.
Hardest part was finding something to use as a diffuser, so it glows evenly, and you can't see the individual LEDs. Lot of time and experimentation on that, but finally got it.
Many will try but few will be as awesome as you! lol.
02-03-2014, 01:44 PM
#15
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SL Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Western NY
Posts: 320
ALL creds will be given to the original.... but you can bet your a$$ im definitely going to attempt this!!
Its too awesome not to have!!!
03-13-2014, 09:55 PM
#17
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SL Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Huntington Beach, CA
Posts: 2,549
Would like to know how you do this, like all the parts needed and where to get them from. I have the tCover (one of the first ones) on my '06 tC1, but would like to make my own for other projects that will function much the same way.
03-14-2014, 01:36 PM
#18