What have you done to your 200 Series this week? (19 Viewers)

[RT Cruiser]

Why?

If a car has an electronic key fob to unlock the doors, it's easy for a thief to swipe the code with easily-attainable electronic devices either by copying it when the driver uses the fob to lock/unlock the doors, or, pinging the fob if the fob is within range of the thief's device. If the car is also a push-button/electronic start, then the thief can easily steal the vehicle. All of this happens without the thieves having physical access of the key fob.

My wife's cousin's truck was broken into when thieves pinged his key fob inside his house while he was asleep. For some reason they didn't steal the truck... maybe because it was a Chevy

The best way to prevent this is to:

• Use the door-lock knob to lock the vehicle, and
• Secure the key fob in a faraday bag so thieves can't ping it.
• Secure the vehicle in a garage.

Driving | Life & Style

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If a thief wants something bad enough they'll find a way. However I'm perfectly happy with taking a few extra steps to prevent my rig from being stolen or broken into while we're traveling and at home.

YMMV.

 

[04UZJ100]

If a car has an electronic key fob to unlock the doors, it's easy for a thief to swipe the code with easily-attainable electronic devices either by copying it when the driver uses the fob to lock/unlock the doors, or, pinging the fob if the fob is within range of the thief's device. If the car is also a push-button/electronic start, then the thief can easily steal the vehicle. All of this happens without the thieves having physical access of the key fob.

My wife's cousin's truck was broken into when thieves pinged his key fob inside his house while he was asleep. For some reason they didn't steal the truck... maybe because it was a Chevy

The best way to prevent this is to:

• Use the door-lock knob to lock the vehicle, and
• Secure the key fob in a faraday bag so thieves can't ping it.
• Secure the vehicle in a garage.

Driving | Life & Style

Expert reviews, news and insights on cars and motoring from The Times and The Sunday Times. Latest on vehicle models, driving tips, industry trends and road safety.

www.driving.co.uk

If a thief wants something bad enough they'll find a way. However I'm perfectly happy with taking a few extra steps to prevent my rig from being stolen or broken into while we're traveling.

YMMV.

Cant you just take the battery out of the key and use manual keyed entry and proximity to The start button to start the truck? As you recall, when the fob’s battery is dead you simply hold the key next to the start button.

 

[RT Cruiser]

Cant you just take the battery out of the key and use manual keyed entry and proximity to The start button to start the truck? As you recall, when the fob’s battery is dead you simply hold the key next to the start button.

Indeed you can. Several people on this forum have their spare key somewhere in their rig with the battery out of the fob. The other issue is keeping someone from pinging our key fobs at our home while we're asleep. We'll put the fobs in the bag during the night when we're at home instead of taking the batteries out. This bag meets several applications.

 

[flipperc]

I made a faraday bag for our upcoming highway trips. It's not the prettiest or the most manly-looking bag. But it'll work. I wrapped a plastic quart-size bag with aluminum foil twice, put that into another quart-size bag, then used duct tape to keep the foil from tearing. The top easily folds under the outer plastic bag. When I've used this on a few trips I'm sure I'll find a better way to make one.

It holds my phone, wallet, and key fob which we'll use for when we're in a hotel, restaurant, etc, and also at home.

Hey cool idea. Just curious why you put your phone in instead of just shutting it off? And also the wallet, Does it have RFID cards in it? Because they can’t be read from far away.

Check out my friend’s company, I use his stuff: Mission Darkness™ Window Faraday Bag for Phones

 

[RT Cruiser]

Hey cool idea. Just curious why you put your phone in instead of just shutting it off? And also the wallet, Does it have RFID cards in it? Because they can’t be read from far away.

Check out my friend’s company, I use his stuff: Mission Darkness™ Window Faraday Bag for Phones

Nice bags!

I hear ya. The reality is I'll need my phone alarm. One of the reasons why I'll put my wallet in the bag is for simplicity. Our family has learned to hard way that when we travel it's best to keep the morning we depart as easy as possible.... I'm sure no one else has dealt with messy and chaotic mornings on a travel day, right?

Now that I think about it, it's probably gonna be really weird to wake up in a hotel I've never been in before and grab for my phone and then wonder why someone put it in a bag wrapped in aluminum

 

[Kashflyer]

Looks . What are you doing for a spare?

We’re getting a swing out installed with Dissent so we have another 35 that will get mounted on the back. Currently carting the spare around in the cargo area.

 

[gelbus]

Changed the spark plugs at 117,000 for my pre 120,000 service.

Gave her a nice a bath too. Full detail inside as well. Love this truck!

 

[Bullgump]

Cool! I’ve been thinking about installing a built-in, but I already have a few of these.This looks like the way to go.

Ran this setup at LCDC. Did mostly red trails with a few "whacks" on armor and slams on rear bumper. This setup never moved. Very happy with it.

 

[Simpleman]

Changed the spark plugs at 117,000 for my pre 120,000 service.

Gave her a nice a bath too. Full detail inside as well. Love this truck!

How easy was the spark plug job for you? Got a few miles to go before it's time on mine so I haven't searched the forum yet. Will probably do myself.

 

[gelbus]

How easy was the spark plug job for you? Got a few miles to go before it's time on mine so I haven't searched the forum yet. Will probably do myself.

Took about three hours. If I had not gotten confused by the unnecessary step of trying to move the firewall I would have been done in 2.5. If I had to do it again tomorrow I could do it in about 2 hours. Still learning how to wrench. Driver side is easy enough each coil has something in the way of getting it out clean but if your patient there are not any real issues. I removed the plugs from my fuse box to get to the first spark plug but that was just because my wrench wouldn't fit with extension attached. You probably wont need to do that.

The passenger side is more work. There is good thread on MUD for it. ( Changing the spark plugs ) However, I didn't do it exactly like he did. Just move the air box like he does and then move the electrical box slightly after you unscrew it. The three bolts you have to undo to move the coolant hoses should then be accessible. The one in the middle is a PITA but I just used a 3/8 drive and 12mm socket, a beer and some muscle. It'll come loose. After the hoses are loose it helps to have another set of hands to move the hoses while you work on the back plug that was covered. After that the next three are easy and you just have to replace the screws to your electrical box and air box.

 

[gelbus]

Took about three hours. If I had not gotten confused by the unnecessary step of trying to move the firewall I would have been done in 2.5. If I had to do it again tomorrow I could do it in about 2 hours. Still learning how to wrench. Driver side is easy enough each coil has something in the way of getting it out clean but if your patient there are not any real issues. I removed the plugs from my fuse box to get to the first spark plug but that was just because my wrench wouldn't fit with extension attached. You probably wont need to do that.

The passenger side is more work. There is good thread on MUD for it. ( Changing the spark plugs ) However, I didn't do it exactly like he did. Just move the air box like he does and then move the electrical box slightly after you unscrew it. The three bolts you have to undo to move the coolant hoses should then be accessible. The one in the middle is a PITA but I just used a 3/8 drive and 12mm socket, a beer and some muscle. It'll come loose. After the hoses are loose it helps to have another set of hands to move the hoses while you work on the back plug that was covered. After that the next three are easy and you just have to replace the screws to your electrical box and air box.

I should have made a video for it. There is not one on YouTube. The thread is good but I would have benefited from some more visual explanations. If I had a GoPro I would probably go back next weekend and show how to get to that plug. Its not hard once you can figure out what needs to be done.

 

[kennyao30]

No turning back now. Arb summit bumper install in progress.

 

[NoClue]

Hello. I'm new to the forum. I recently purchased a 16' with 37K on the odometer and have been doing regular maintenance.

Engine oil and filter (valvoline 0W-20 and toyota A4)
Flushed and filled radiator (Toyota SLC)
Engine air filter (toyota oem)
Cabin filter (got fleeced for an oem toyota cabin filter)
Front and rear differential (75W85 Redline synth)
Transfer case (75W Ravenol)
4WA
Road force balanced all 5 tires

I also gave the frame some TLC. I knocked all the surface rust off with various wire wheels and brushes. I then cleaned the frame twice with simple green and a steam cleaner. I sprayed the frame and rear member with two coats of rustoleum rust reformer, waiting 24 hours between coats. After two days, I coated the rust reformer with two coats of cosmoline RP342 black. I guess time will tell if my efforts are worthwhile. Currently researching a lift kit, wheel/tire combo, sliders, and underbody protection. Thanks for reading.

 

[psnyman]

Hello. I'm new to the forum. I recently purchased a 16' with 37K on the odometer and have been doing regular maintenance.

Engine oil and filter (valvoline 0W-20 and toyota A4)
Flushed and filled radiator (Toyota SLC)
Engine air filter (toyota oem)
Cabin filter (got fleeced for an oem toyota cabin filter)
Front and rear differential (75W85 Redline synth)
Transfer case (75W Ravenol)
4WA
Road force balanced all 5 tires

I also gave the frame some TLC. I knocked all the surface rust off with various wire wheels and brushes. I then cleaned the frame twice with simple green and a steam cleaner. I sprayed the frame and rear member with two coats of rustoleum rust reformer, waiting 24 hours between coats. After two days, I coated the rust reformer with two coats of cosmoline RP342 black. I guess time will tell if my efforts are worthwhile. Currently researching a lift kit, wheel/tire combo, sliders, and underbody protection. Thanks for reading.

View attachment 2392836

Nice job, did you have it lifted when you did the job?

 

[NoClue]

Nice job, did you have it lifted when you did the job?

Thank you, it was on a lift

 

[flipperc]

If a car has an electronic key fob to unlock the doors, it's easy for a thief to swipe the code with easily-attainable electronic devices either by copying it when the driver uses the fob to lock/unlock the doors, or, pinging the fob if the fob is within range of the thief's device. If the car is also a push-button/electronic start, then the thief can easily steal the vehicle. All of this happens without the thieves having physical access of the key fob.

My wife's cousin's truck was broken into when thieves pinged his key fob inside his house while he was asleep. For some reason they didn't steal the truck... maybe because it was a Chevy

The best way to prevent this is to:

• Use the door-lock knob to lock the vehicle, and
• Secure the key fob in a faraday bag so thieves can't ping it.
• Secure the vehicle in a garage.

Driving | Life & Style

Expert reviews, news and insights on cars and motoring from The Times and The Sunday Times. Latest on vehicle models, driving tips, industry trends and road safety.

www.driving.co.uk

If a thief wants something bad enough they'll find a way. However I'm perfectly happy with taking a few extra steps to prevent my rig from being stolen or broken into while we're traveling and at home.

YMMV.

I use this Mission Darkness™ Faraday Bag for Keyfobs
when I’m not able to park in the garage.

 

[wiseinvestor]

I use this Mission Darkness™ Faraday Bag for Keyfobs
when I’m not able to park in the garage.

So this is probably not the intended use for this device, but it raises a question in my mind. If you wanted to store your spare key inside the vehicle during a road trip, would this bag hide the key from the truck. I notice that I can not use the door handle lock button when the spare is inside. The truck is preventing me from locking my key in the car.

 

[KLF]

So this is probably not the intended use for this device, but it raises a question in my mind. If you wanted to store your spare key inside the vehicle during a road trip, would this bag hide the key from the truck. I notice that I can not use the door handle lock button when the spare is inside. The truck is preventing me from locking my key in the car.

I have a couple of these cheaper bags for my other car that I don't drive often. Tried it with my spare key in a bag inside the Cruiser, and yeah it could no longer detect the key. So this seems like a viable way to keep a spare key inside the truck. Not sure how you'd get inside if you lost your primary key and don't have the mechanical key available.

 

[wiseinvestor]

I have a couple of these cheaper bags for my other car that I don't drive often. Tried it with my spare key in a bag inside the Cruiser, and yeah it could no longer detect the key. So this seems like a viable way to keep a spare key inside the truck. Not sure how you'd get inside if you lost your primary key and don't have the mechanical key available.

That is a fair point. A new key from a dealership is not always an easy or quick proposition when the primary key is lost. A locksmith can break into your car for you and you can use the spare inside to continue on your journey. A magnetic key box hidden under the car is always an option, but one I have never felt super comfortable with.
Anyway, I really appreciate you going to the trouble to answer my question. I will be ordering one of these.

 

[afgman786]

Ebay special, some sanding and rattle can
Such a tough task...