Author Archive for Jason Lancaster
Jason Lancaster is the editor and founder of TundraHeadquarters.com. He has nearly a decade of experience on the retail side of the auto industry, and another decade of experience of the part and accessory side of the industry.
10 Great Videos That Explain How Car Parts Work
It’s one thing to know how something works, but it’s another to be able to explain it. When I find myself struggling to explain the mechanical function of a turbocharger, for example, I often head to YouTube.com to see if I can find a nice video that explains it for me.
Here are 10 nice videos that explain how car parts work – everything from the basic 4-stroke engine to turbos to clutches to differentials – quickly and easily.
How A Rear Differential Works
This is an excellent explanation of how a rear differential works, produced by Chevrolet back in 1937. It’s a must-watch video if only because the explanation is conducted so clearly…but it’s not the only great video I’ve found.
Rob’s RBP CrewMax
Rob's 2010 Tundra Crewmax could be a show truck for RBP
When you find a company that identifies your truck and personality, you’ve got to jump on board. Rob has created a magnificent Tundra that could be a show truck for RBP (Rolling Big Power), a premium truck accessory manufacturer. Check it out:
Electronically Bypassing The Tundra’s Air Injection System (Hypothetically Speaking)
UPDATE: We have recently become aware of a module that “fixes” this issue. See https://tundraheadquarters.com/2012/10/24/air-injection-system-bypass-module for more details.
If you own a second generation Tundra, something you should be aware of is an apparent design flaw in the Tundra’s air injection system. While the likelihood of having this problem is probably pretty low (most of the dealers we talk to report this as a fairly rare problem), you never know if it could strike your Tundra.
Some trucks are covered under warranty (see the link above for more details), but if your truck has this problem and it’s not covered, you don’t have a lot of options. You can either rebuild the pumps and/or remove and clean the valves yourself, or you can pay your dealer a few thousand bucks to put in new parts…or maybe, hypothetically speaking, you might be to bypass the issue altogether…
Search terms people used to find this page:
- https://tundraheadquarters com/electronically-bypassing-tundra-air-injection-system/
Tundra Caters To “Sophisticated” Buyers?
The Truth About Cars (TTAC) usually does a nice job of presenting ideas that aren’t necessarily “main stream” automotive news, and for that they should be recognized. However, their recent blog post The Toyota Tundra: The Quiche Truck is a bit of a blunder. Not only does it mis-represent some key facts about the Tundra, it seems to recycle some commonly held views that don’t match reality. Here’s where it falls apart:
Stinky Air Conditioning and A/C Misting Services
Does the air coming out of your climate control vents smell like your grandma’s cellar? If so, you’ve probably got a little mold or mildew growing in the evaporator and/or duct work. To get rid of it, you’ve got three options:
1. You can shut off your A/C a mile or two before your destination but leave the fan speed set to HI. This will help dry out the system and keep the little guys from growing. Hopefully, they’ll die out.
2. You can use some chemical weapons on the fungi, bacteria, etc.
3. You can take the A/C apart, clean up the evap and any duct work you can get to, and then put it all back together.
Ready to get started? Here’s how you go about it:
