SQOD Squad - Stupid Question Of the Day (17 Viewers)

[Fisher23]

What’s a good reliable hitch link that’s not crazy money? While the Factor 55 is a quality product, and looks great, I’m having a little trouble dropping $80 on one.....looking for quality alternatives

Winch Hook or d-ring work good.

 

[afgman786]

What’s a good reliable hitch link that’s not crazy money? While the Factor 55 is a quality product, and looks great, I’m having a little trouble dropping $80 on one.....looking for quality alternatives

I went with a smitty built off Amazon, around $30

 

[Tommy Dwyer]

I went with a smitty built off Amazon, around $30

Thanks!

 

[Fisher23]

On the LC200 how often are you supposed to change the spark plugs?

Do all the LC 5.7 engines take the Spark Plug DENSO SK20HR11 or does it vary by year?

 

[DirtNap]

Winch Hook or d-ring work good.

I don't think there is really a lot to it... drilling a hole in a 2x2" chunk of aluminum. IIRC, there are a lot available on Amazon

 

[Tommy Dwyer]

I don't think there is really a lot to it... drilling a hole in a 2x2" chunk of aluminum. IIRC, there are a lot available on Amazon

Yep, I’ve looked at a few. Just thought someone might have a recommendation for one that’s well built, powder coat / paint holds up reasonably well, etc. Kinda seemed like a waste to me to put a pretty cnc’d piece of anodized aluminum back there to get beat up.

 

[Fisher23]

At night when I turn off my head lights the NAV screen goes into daytime mode and lights up the vehicle. How do I turn this NAV off? It is on 24/7. Is there an off button somewhere?

 

[KLF]

That is not supposed to happen.

 

[DirtNap]

Yep, I’ve looked at a few. Just thought someone might have a recommendation for one that’s well built, powder coat / paint holds up reasonably well, etc. Kinda seemed like a waste to me to put a pretty cnc’d piece of anodized aluminum back there to get beat up.

I concur! I didn't end up buying one, but I found one or 2 that could work in the "normal" F55 orientation as well as rotated 90°. It seemed to me that one might be in recovery situations in which the pull was more or less level, but off to the side. Not best practice, but if the bow shackle pin is vertical, with the bow pivoting (Left-right), it would avoid sideloading the pin.
In the "normal" F55 orientation, pin is horizontal. So it works best for pulls directly behind the truck (which is the right way to do it, AFAIK) while the bow pivots up/down accounting for different elevations. But an off-center pull puts a lot of side load on the pin.

I'm sure someone w/more experience and/or quals will correct this if I'm wrong. Maybe it is all overthinking how many angels fit on the head of a pin.

 

[Tommy Dwyer]

I concur! I didn't end up buying one, but I found one or 2 that could work in the "normal" F55 orientation as well as rotated 90°. It seemed to me that one might be in recovery situations in which the pull was more or less level, but off to the side. Not best practice, but if the bow shackle pin is vertical, with the bow pivoting (Left-right), it would avoid sideloading the pin.
In the "normal" F55 orientation, pin is horizontal. So it works best for pulls directly behind the truck (which is the right way to do it, AFAIK) while the bow pivots up/down accounting for different elevations. But an off-center pull puts a lot of side load on the pin.

I'm sure someone w/more experience and/or quals will correct this if I'm wrong. Maybe it is all overthinking how many angels fit on the head of a pin.

That’s a good point, and it appears the Factor isn’t drilled to be used in the vertical position. Good catch, thanks!

 

[dwh13]

Anyone know if installing a lift kit throws off the blind spot monitor or adaptive cruise radar functionality?

 

[CJ3Flyer]

Not really a question but stupid (or maybe not). Did you know my ‘13 LX will start without pushing the brake? Push and hold for a long time and voila.

Good to know for bad brakelight switch I guess and if you have to start it like that chances are you’ll need to push the shift lever lock bypass.

 

[supdizzle]

I replaced the entire master switch. I just bought a used factory Toyota switch from ebay for $30 or so - very easy to find replacements since the 200 shares window switches with several other Toyota models. I believe my master switch is out of a Prius. Camrys are the same also.

Just mentioning this because at $30-40 for a full replacement it may not be worth bothering with replacing bulbs in your current switch.

Was that Part all AUTO up too?

 

[empty80]

Anyone know if installing a lift kit throws off the blind spot monitor or adaptive cruise radar functionality?

I have not seen any suggestions that it does. My truck is lifted, and my adaptive cruise control was not affected. Additionally, I have a Slee rear bumper, and my Blind Spot Monitors work fine as well.

 

[bryson]

Was that Part all AUTO up too?

Yup. Just like the OEM 200 switch. 100% identical.

 

[619TOY]

Not a question, but an answer: maybe semi-common knowledge, but the side mirrors wont tip down when you put it in reverse if the mirror adjuster switch is set to the center (don't accidently bump the switch and move your mirror) position. It has to be to the left or the right for the tilt down feature to work. Needed the dealer to inform me of that today

 

[bloc]

Does anyone else's cruise control, not in radar mode, skip certain speeds when using the stick to adjust up or down? In the following video if you watch the set speed it skips 67mph. It often skips this speed, but not always. Have had it do the same for 71. Now I can deal with this weird glitch, but I'm curious why it's happening. Some strange artifact within the code of that module?

2013 Landcruiser, for what it's worth.

 

[eatSleepWoof]

Does anyone else's cruise control, not in radar mode, skip certain speeds when using the stick to adjust up or down? In the following video if you watch the set speed it skips 67mph. It often skips this speed, but not always. Have had it do the same for 71. Now I can deal with this weird glitch, but I'm curious why it's happening. Some strange artifact within the code of that module?

2013 Landcruiser, for what it's worth.

My '14 LX will "round" to the nearest 5km, and then move up/down in 5km intervals.

Say I'm doing 73kph and press the stick up, it'll set the speed to 75kph, and each subsequent movement up/down will adjust the cruise speed by 5kph.

Is it possible there's some sort of kph->mph->round it off = cruise speed conversion going on with the US vehicles?

 

[bloc]

My '14 LX will "round" to the nearest 5km, and then move up/down in 5km intervals.

Say I'm doing 73kph and press the stick up, it'll set the speed to 75kph, and each subsequent movement up/down will adjust the cruise speed by 5kph.

Is it possible there's some sort of kph->mph->round it off = cruise speed conversion going on with the US vehicles?

Mph->kmph rounding occurred to me. When in radar mode I can set it at any number (ie 67) but any up/down gets rounded to the nearest 5, then everything is in 5s thereafter. Manual mode allows integers.

Even if rounding errors are the cause, it seems odd it wouldn’t happen every time. Or that it can pick different numbers at random. Though they do always seem to be odd numbers. That may just be a function of me often cruising at the same speeds so noticing those errors more.

 

[SQRRRL]

Does anyone else's cruise control, not in radar mode, skip certain speeds when using the stick to adjust up or down? In the following video if you watch the set speed it skips 67mph. It often skips this speed, but not always. Have had it do the same for 71. Now I can deal with this weird glitch, but I'm curious why it's happening. Some strange artifact within the code of that module?

2013 Landcruiser, for what it's worth.

I’ll run mine in the am and report back