4DThinker

Thanks, Roland. The local shop is putting the speakers in as I type this. They made new panels from 5/8" truepan (lightweight MDF), and are running down some longer push-in clips to match the factory ones. I mentioned your concern about weight, but with so many clips they weren't concerned. If it becomes an issue I know they'll fix it. This shop is impressing me with their attention to detail so far. 4D

Sorry. Mine self locked once too, although it wasn't with the keys in the ignition. I was playing with the yellow levers without knowing what they were for. I shut the doors and in a 1/2 minute or so heard them lock. Sure enough I needed the key to unlock them again.

I'm having 6x9s put in my rear doors too. The installer offered to cover the stock panels in carpet to improve the look, along with some dynamat behind them to help the sound. Any idea if the 1/8" masonite is strong enough to hold speakers with no other help? I think they have the tools and materials to make replacement from 1/2" MDF.

It probably has to do with the child safety lock system. Check your owners manual, as I think the doors lock after a certain time period. There is also a way to de-activate it using the key.

Backup sensor use? Mine beeps until I get straightened out while backing out of my garage. I don't know how to trust the sensors though. - Do the beeps get closer together (faster) as you get closer to something? - Any way to determine your distance from what they detect based on the beep rate? I guess what I'd really like would be a radar image of everything behind the TC, with distances indicated by color on the screen. Hopefully my rear view camera will give me the sense of back-up security I crave.

I'm having a flush mounted camera installed in my rear door today. 170 degree (diagonal) view, low price, and night vision mode too. There is a slightly recessed flat spot right of and just above the license plate level. About as close to the centerline of the rear as reasonable. I'm having a local audio shop do the job as I don't have the right tools. The camera seems to have good specs and reviews. I'll know in a day how good it is. Link. 4D

For the door handle, there is a small hole on the underside edge. You can stick a toothpick or small jewler's screwdriver in there to leverage the cap out a bit. As for the power mirror control, I for the life of me couldn't get mine unplugged. If someone knows a trick I'd love to hear about it. I simply rotated the panel inward and propped it on the seat still connected so I could work on the speaker. The passenger side is much easier. I also have a blue XLT Wagon. It is getting a new Pioneer DVD/Nav/Bluetooth unit installed tomorrow. I'm adding a rear view camera, small monitor on the overhead shelf for the back seat to view, and if an old stereo amp I have will work then a couple of 6x9 speakers in the rear door panels.

I had trouble at first. The points on the end of the keys need to be pointed inward when inserted. It helps to angle them toward the outside a little as they go in. They need to wedge a spring loaded hook toward the inside unitl they hook over it. You should feel/hear them snap over the ends when inserted enough. Then there should be about 1 inch of the shaft still out before handles when they won't come out. Once hooked in all four corners, it helps to drop a long screwdriver down though both keys on a side. I used two screwdrivers, one for each side. Grab the shafts of each, then angle the keys a little toward the outside and pull. The keys are holding sprung retainers inward to allow the head unit to come out. All four need to be engaged at the same time. It is all much easier to understand when you have the head unit out. Once it's out you can manually depress the retainers to release and remove the keys one at a time. Hope that helps. 4D

I've pondered the problem too, and my best idea would be a folding "X" brace that has a way to connect/clamp to each door on it's ends. A single bar wouldn't be enough in my opinion. An X would lock the geometry and keep the doors parallel to each other. Attach to doors horizontally above the cargo load. Maybe add a storage rack for this brace when not used to hold the doors.

I'd love to have an OEM rear camera too. I've got the wagon version but the center divider between the rear doors seems like it perfectly hides cars that have come up behind me. That said, the monitor will have to work even when the TC is moving forward, as opposed to only when in reverse.

Those vents above the door openings look to be the outlet for the round plastic vent inlets on the rear corner pillars just inside the doors. Probably serve at best to equalize pressures between inside and out. One thing I'd love to have is a roof vent of some kind. My previous car has a sunroof that I'd crack open after the car had been parked in the sun to let all the heat escape out the top. It's a shame the TC's roof is ribbed. I'd seriously consider adding an electric slide-open sunroof if it was possible.

It is a shame there isn't a ready-made camera to fit in that spot. The location seems ideal except for being so high. I'm on the same quest, although the back-up camera will hook into a Pioneer AVIC-Z120BT I bought to replace the stock radio/CD player. The Pioneer also has a secondary video input, which I'm thinking about hooking to an interior camera that will overlook the cargo area or rear seat. Keep posting pictures. I think you're on the right track. 4D

Hi Christa! Welcome. Is your Connect a company car or personal?

Thanks! I'm pretty happy with it so far. Replaced the front speakers and have a new head unit coming. One thing I love about it is the big window view. I actually have been frequently taking my wife for rides around town/for ice-cream, something I never wanted to do with my previous car. 4D

I never put more than 50 miles on my cars. 5 minutes to work, 5 minutes back. 5 minutes to any retail area in my town. I would love to have the electric TC, but of course no one would sell me one. My gas TC sits in a garage right next to a 220vAC wall socket. I could even keep it charged from a solar cell array on the roof.

Looks like a wonderful solution, Bob. Did you have to bend the antenna or does it naturally flex that much? I was thinking along the same lines, but wondering if someone made an L adapter to screw between the antenna and it's mount. Wouldn't even need to be 90 degrees to get the antenna down a few inches. 4D

I was also afraid my TC wouldn't fit under the garage door. The door frame was plenty high. The panels when up are high enough. I realized the door's bottom edge didn't open up as high as the frame opening. On the opener rail there are adjustable stops that tell the opened where to stop the door at both the open and closed positions. I had an extra foot or so I could move the open stop, so I moved it. Now my door's bottom edge stops a little bit above the door frame. My TC slides through with ease, antenna and all. My point? The solution may be to adjust your garge door. It worked for me.

225 lbs over four mounting points is 56.25 lbs/point. Tip a 225lb load up to dismount it at the curb and the whole weight would be on the two right mount points, or 112.5 lbs each. Does this mean 225 is the rated max, but twice that is still within structural tollerance? I'd like to know what the REAL maximum load is that each mounting point can support.

I discovered that armrest rachets up a few notches in height. You can pull it up ~2.5" total in three steps (4 positions). Pull it all the way back to reset it to go down all the way.

This concerns me as well. When I first looked at a TC I took my tape measure to see what would fit inside. My motorcycle is too long and too tall (windscreen) so I asked the salesperson about towing it. He quickly stated that a tow package would surely come along as they have them in Europe, but there were none available now.

Anyone know where to by the overpriced electric TC?

I noticed my hood isn't aligned today. Not as serious as a water leak, but annoying none the less. About 1/8" to the left at the front when facing the hood. Obvious gap difference on the sides. I'm guessing there is some adjustment range at the hinges.

Hello everyone! I picked up my Blue XLT Wagon on Saturday 6/12/2010. Took extra care to make sure it would fit in my garage. The TC I got doesn't have the Nokia BT part, although the radio/CD looks like it supports it. Does anyone know a part number for it? My dealer had no idea. Also, has anyone installed it themselves? Looks like a mic in the pillar, the control unit on the steering wheel, and wires between it all. I've looked at the Motorokr T505, but would rather have something that doesn't rely on FM to the head unit. Nice to meet everyone. 4D