9 Hidden Features and Tips for Your Toyota Tacoma
Summary:
This video reveals 9 hidden features and tips for the Toyota Tacoma to enhance the ownership experience.
- Learn about the folding rear headrests and an alternate holder behind the seat for improved rear visibility.
- Discover clever pockets to secure rear seatbelt buckles, preventing them from getting lost beneath the seats.
- Find out how to activate a delayed shutoff timer for the bed light, providing illumination for up to 20 minutes for safety and convenience.
- Utilize anti-rattle clips for rear seatbelts to eliminate noise when driving with windows down.
- Discover a designated holder for the gas cap to prevent scratching and gas spills while refueling.
- Learn the purpose of the removable cup holder divider, specifically designed to secure coffee mugs with handles.
- Activate Siri on Apple CarPlay by holding down the grid icon on the infotainment system.
- Adjust the dashboard brightness using the odometer button for personalized visibility.
Folding rear headrests and their storage behind the seat [ 00:01:35 ]
Rear Seat Features for Enhanced Visibility and Storage [0:26]
Folding Headrests for Improved Rear Visibility [0:26]
- Toyota Tacomas have rear headrests that fold down, significantly improving visibility through the rearview mirror.
- This is especially useful for drivers who find the rear visibility obstructed by the raised headrests.
Rear headrests folded down in a Toyota Tacoma, providing improved visibility through the rear window [ 00:00:50 ]
- This is especially useful for drivers who find the rear visibility obstructed by the raised headrests.
Alternate Headrest Holder for Flat Storage [1:01]
- For even greater space and a completely flat surface when the rear seats are folded, the headrests can be removed.
- To remove a headrest, push both clips at its base, take it out, turn it around, and insert the posts into two designated holes on the back of the seat frame.
- These holes allow the headrest to be stored securely and out of the way, enabling the seatback to lie perfectly flat.
- This creates a much larger flat storage area, ideal for groceries, gear, or a dog canopy, protecting the seat fabric.
- The flat, durable backing of the folded seats is great for muddy dogs, preventing dirt and hair from getting on the upholstery.
A user demonstrates how to store a removed headrest into designated holes on the back of the seat frame [ 00:01:25 ]
- The flat, durable backing of the folded seats is great for muddy dogs, preventing dirt and hair from getting on the upholstery.
- To remove a headrest, push both clips at its base, take it out, turn it around, and insert the posts into two designated holes on the back of the seat frame.
Rear Seatbelt Buckle Holders to Prevent Loss and Rattling [2:31]
- Many Tacoma owners with fold-up rear seats struggle with seatbelt buckles getting lost under the seat when folded back down.
- Toyota Tacoma 3rd gen models include small pockets on the sides of the rear seats where the seatbelt buckles can be neatly tucked in when not in use.
- This prevents the buckles from slipping beneath the seat, making them easily accessible for passengers.
- It also eliminates the need to stop and search for buckles, improving convenience and safety.
The user demonstrates placing the seatbelt buckle into a dedicated pocket on the side of the rear seat [ 00:04:05 ]
- Toyota Tacoma 3rd gen models include small pockets on the sides of the rear seats where the seatbelt buckles can be neatly tucked in when not in use.
Functional Enhancements for Safety and Convenience [4:17]
Bed Light Delayed Shutoff Timer for Illumination and Security [4:17]
- The bed light switch on the dashboard has a "hidden" feature: when turned on and the car is shut off, the bed light will stay illuminated for approximately 20 minutes.
- This serves as a safety feature in dark parking lots, deterring potential car break-ins.
- It also provides convenient lighting if you need to access items from the truck bed in the dark.
- This feature will not drain the car's battery.
The truck bed light is on, providing illumination [ 00:04:55 ]
Anti-Rattle Seatbelt Clips for a Quieter Ride [5:40]
- Rattling noises, often from seatbelts banging against the interior when windows are down, can be annoying.
- The Tacoma has small clips on the side pillars (where the seatbelt retracts) designed to hold the seatbelt buckle securely in place.
- Simply snap the seatbelt buckle into the clip to prevent it from moving and creating noise while driving.
The user demonstrates clipping the seatbelt into a dedicated anti-rattle clip on the pillar [ 00:06:14 ]
- Simply snap the seatbelt buckle into the clip to prevent it from moving and creating noise while driving.
- The Tacoma has small clips on the side pillars (where the seatbelt retracts) designed to hold the seatbelt buckle securely in place.
Gas Cap Holder to Prevent Scratches and Spills [6:25]
- A common complaint among Tacoma owners is the lack of a convenient place to hang the gas cap during refueling, often leading to it banging against the paint or getting gas on the vehicle.
- The Tacoma fuel door actually features a small recess or hook where the gas cap can be securely placed.
- This prevents the cap from dangling, scratching the paint, or spilling fuel.
The user demonstrates how to hang the gas cap in the designated holder on the fuel door [ 00:07:04 ]
- This prevents the cap from dangling, scratching the paint, or spilling fuel.
- The Tacoma fuel door actually features a small recess or hook where the gas cap can be securely placed.
Interior Features for Comfort and Usability [7:12]
Removable Cup Divider for Mug Stability [7:12]
- The center console cup holder in the Tacoma has a removable divider that many owners might not know the specific purpose of.
- By squeezing and removing this divider, the cup holder is transformed into a larger, more accommodating space for items like coffee mugs with handles.
- This allows a mug to sit flat and securely, preventing it from tipping or rattling, unlike when it's placed in the standard divided cup holder.
A coffee mug sits securely in the cup holder after the divider has been removed [ 00:07:39 ]
- This allows a mug to sit flat and securely, preventing it from tipping or rattling, unlike when it's placed in the standard divided cup holder.
- By squeezing and removing this divider, the cup holder is transformed into a larger, more accommodating space for items like coffee mugs with handles.
Activate Siri on Apple CarPlay [7:57]
- For iPhone users utilizing Apple CarPlay, Siri can be activated without needing to look at or touch the phone.
- On the CarPlay interface, simply press and hold the grid icon (representing the app drawer) on the touchscreen.
- This action will activate Siri, allowing for voice commands like making calls, sending messages, or getting directions, enhancing safe driving.
The user's finger points to the grid icon on the Apple CarPlay interface to activate Siri [ 00:08:19 ]
- This action will activate Siri, allowing for voice commands like making calls, sending messages, or getting directions, enhancing safe driving.
- On the CarPlay interface, simply press and hold the grid icon (representing the app drawer) on the touchscreen.
Dashboard Brightness Adjustment [8:36]
- Many drivers may not realize that the dashboard brightness can be adjusted beyond the standard settings.
- By clicking and holding the odometer button on the dashboard, a brightness slider appears on the multi-information display.
- Pushing the button left or right will decrease or increase the brightness of the dashboard and other interior lights, allowing drivers to customize it to their preference for better visibility or reduced glare.
A finger adjusts the brightness slider on the multi-information display using the odometer button [ 00:09:09 ]
- Pushing the button left or right will decrease or increase the brightness of the dashboard and other interior lights, allowing drivers to customize it to their preference for better visibility or reduced glare.
- By clicking and holding the odometer button on the dashboard, a brightness slider appears on the multi-information display.