Every once in a while I like to offer help out to anyone here at Scionlife in regards to questions they have about installs or mods to tC's especially in relation to things I've already done. I do all installs myself and everything on my car, even rear lip and ground effects were all done personally.

If you have any questions, or are in need of any help, PM me and I'd be glad to give you advice or support your install from here. If you are in the Pacific Northwest and want to buy me pizza, I'd even help with installs as well...

Here is a list of Mods I've already done and can easily give you opinions, advice, or install help...

OEM Lip Spoiler Install (Do not pay the dealer for this)
OEM Ground Effects Install (Again, DO NOT pay the dealer for this)
TCover Install (Automatic Radio Cover VISIT www.TCover.net)
Short Shifter Install (B&M)
Installing your own Cold Cathode Footwell Lighting (Cost Me less than $20)
LED Undercar Lighting Install
Umnitza DDE (Angel Eyes) Install and Opinion
Opening your Headlamps (Baking)
Tinting front reflector Modification
Injen CAI Install
Megan Headers Install
Greddy Air Diversion Panel Install and Opinion
TRD Springs Install / Rear Sway install / Opinions
Front Strut Install / Opinions
Redline hoodlift Kit Install
Aftermarket Deck Install (Ipod Integration / XM Integration

Once again, if you have any questions, or want to know what I think about a mod or it's install ease/difficulty, PLEASE PM me and I'll be glad to help you out.

 

i am jealous

 

Hey great,

I am ready to order my '06 Scion, but I am not sure
what options I should get from the dealer and what I should
do on my own.

OD

 

i need help installing my front and back sway bars from hotchkis. my friend tried removing the stock ones but they were torqued in too much. any way or place i can get this done? please help

 

if its too tight and you just want leverage then grab a pipe and put it over whatever tool you are using to extend the handle out more. careful not to break the bolt

 

hMmmmmm... smart might break bolt dont wanna risk it. lol

 

you should be ok if you push firmly and slowly rather than just yankin on it. even if it breaks you can fix it... but that's a _____

 

i had to use a pipe on my lug nut wrench cause NTB over torqed my RH Pro wheels... talk about me being ____ed off about that -_-

 

I had to use a Huge Rachet and a breaker bar to loosen up the rear sway I took off. As long as you have good tools, you shouldn't have to worry about breaking a bolt. Be sure to have a torque wrench to tighten them back up though, as you really want any suspension components to be up to spec.

Please PM with questions or comments, as then the post won't go all over 1000 topics...

Thanks

As far as dealer options go...

Ground Kit - Anyone with a drill and sawsall can do in two hours.
Rear Lip - If you've got a drill and buy the 25 dollar template... 1 hour
Short Shifter - the TRD one is CAKE, the others are ok if you have a dremel 1-2 Hrs.
LED Lighting - TOO Expensive, go with coldcathods in the footwells and you'll be just as happy, the LED's in the cupholders are lame as they only work with clear bottles, Like Naive, ohhh... I mean Evian (you need to know a little 12v though)
Self Dimming mirror - Looks funny from the outside (Ugly Wiring) and nothing a little rear tint wouldn't help with anyways.
TRD Exhaust - WAY overpriced and you can get a good exhaust like GReddy's Evo2 for cheaper and still get a good deep note
Wheels - ANYWHERE is cheaper than the dealer in my experience and you can get good Enkei's or other options
Floor Mats and Cargo Mats - Buy online and you will save 50+ dollars
Door Sills - EASY EASY to install, MUCH cheaper online
Sport Pedals - EASY to install, MUCH cheaper online
Shift ****... EASY to install MUCH cheaper online
Cold Air Intake - If a dealer will have this as an option - It's moderate for a first timer install, if you are comfortable taking your bumper off, than it's pretty cake
Scion Security - It has no shock sensor, only a glass break sensor, so if you have tint, pretty useless, unless they open a door, then it goes off... (So, they can break a tinted window, climb in, take everything, climb out and nothing goes off, trust me on this one... 1,500 dollars later )

Sooo... Long story short.... Almost any dealer accessory can be installed significantly cheaper if bought online, but it won't be in your financed price if that is a problem.

I've saved somewhere in the ballpark of 1500 dollars buying online and doing things myself... That's a decent amount of money I think.

 

how about a paid trip to Iowa for a spring install, chasis braces and intake? and i'll throw in pizza

 

im dying to do the cathodes but i dont know much about 12v....the tech section article goes from LEDs to Cathodes and back again. and i doubt that all that work is needed for the only the cathodes. PM me if you have any tips :D

 

Thank you so much for your post.
Just bought an 06 Tc and love it.
I have a DC Sports tower bar ready to install.
It seemed like the most rigid one on the market.

Would like some info on coil spring and strut replacement.
Thanks again for your post.

 

Wow thanks to know...

 

PM Sent about Spring Install

 

Mounting the cathodes is up to where you want to secure them and how... good 3m worked great for me.

They only hard part is finding a good switch for them and finding a constant 12v wire near where you want to install the lights. I just tapped off my radio 12v lead and ground. and ran wires to where I mounted the CC ballasts. Then mounted the switch in a spare panel to the left of my wheel and took the 12v lead to the switch and then from the switch to the ballast. That way, when the switch is on... POWER!

I've got 10 good switches that I got to match the switch that came with my TCover. They look OEM, which I love. If you want a switch, I can send you one for a few bucks plus a lil for shipping.

With the switch, you'll have to solder a bit to mount the wires to the switch... I should make an easy kit and undercut everyone, but I don't have the time.

Someone else do it, and sell them here for a REASONABLE markup.

Get the cathodes from here... They're really cheap.

http://store.pchcables.com/liliandmoli.html

(They each come with Two cathode tubes, which give you REALLY bright footwells, I put two in each)

Hope this helps you out. If you have any more questions, PM!

 

Where the cheapest place i can get the oem ground effects? How long would u say the install is? Difficult? And also can i put the TRD springs without the TRD struts? i drive 60 miles to work and 60 miles back everyday. Will stock struts hold up?

 

I was going to pick up these cathodes:
http://www.oznium.com/cathode-kit?si...aa387a7c49a5fb

a set for the front and one for the rear seats. It comes with 2 tubes, a transformer, and a switch. I just don't know how to wire it and what to connect to what...mounting it shouldn't be hard. Did you just use t-taps and tap off your power wire for the head unit? ...hmm..i don't have a voltmeter so which one is the 12v ?

I also wanted to say thank you for your contribution to the SL community. It's always good to see a member willing to help out everyone with anything. Your assistance is much appreciated.

 

The OEM kit can be bought here for around 800-850, but shipping might kill you... you won't save a huge amount with the OEM kit... unless you already have a tC without them , then the dealer charges more for the install on top of the price for the parts usually... I said screw it when the dealer wanted 1200 to do it.

It's really easy to install, you just need to take off your front bumper and rear bumper, but it comes with good instructions.

The scariest part is drilling into your bumper and cutting the slots for the kit to latch into. But there are already marks on your bumper for them and you just need to stay inside the lines...

The side skirts almost just snap off and you snap the new ones on, (sort off) It's not that difficult. Once again, the instructions with the parts are more than enough for a competent person with the right tools. Check out TRDSPARKS and you can download a PDF of the exact instructions and see for yourself what it entails...

In regards to the Spring install, you can do the springs without the struts no problem, just leave open the possibility of your struts wearing out a little quicker... and be sure to have air tools, cause doing a spring install without them must take forever, cause it took long enough with the air gun. I did it without the struts and feel no problems yet...

The Cold Cathodes at the link I provided have a switch on them too, but I don't like those or the oznium switches either... they don't match my TCover switch and I was really picky about that... enough to spend 30 dollars plus shipping on ten switches when I only needed 3. I'll be more than willing to sell the others off if anyone needs them. I'd have to look to see which color wire the constant 12v is, you may need to ask in ICE and electrical and I'M Sure someone would be able to pop that one out... I used these to tap into, they are my favorite

 

I have got a lot of baking questions... If you have any questions about opening up headlight assemblies, I can help well with that, also in regards to tinting your side marker reflectors.