Starlink mini dash mount for 2020 RAV4

We got a Mini for free with our fixed location residential Starlink account. I made this dash mount to fit using the "display pod" to hold the mount in place flat on the dash. It is made of 1/4 plywood and covered with fabric that pretty much matches the dash color. There are a couple pins on the forward part that go down in the defroster vent to help hold it in place. Mount lifts off easy. Got a black cover on it so it doesn't reflect off the windshield.Great to have fast internet no matter if we had cell coverage or not.;">

Dash donut recover GMC motorhome

 

                                     Making patterns

                                     Getting machine ready

                                 Getting setup for glue

                                     Weldwood Landau top adhesive

                                 

Heated towel rack using hot water to shower

We made a towel rack out of 3/4" copper pipe that uses hot water from the water heater going to the shower valve. It only heats when the shower in flowing. Installed with bypass and isolation valves in case it goes wrong.

Refurbish dash pad on the GMC motorhome

The original pad had shrunk and the ends curled up. We made a new fiberglass backing that fit where the pad was and installed upholstery on the backing. This was done with West Epoxy resin. We used clear packing tape on the dash to keep the new backing from sticking when laying up the glass. The dash vents forms were vacuum formed over a wood pattern.

Master cylinder modifications, remote reservior and stroke changes

Goal was to get 16 and 26 cc's from the ports also remote reservior fittings

Infinite baffle subwoofer install

18 inch Dayton subwoofer

Defeat P268115 Toyota code for defective flow shutting valve assembly 16260-F0010 Bypass the darn thing - update 03/2025 still going strong

Our 2020 Rav4 limited non hybrid had a dash message "Engine maintenance required" "see dealer" that wouldn't go away unless the car was shut off with the heater on and then would stay off until the AC was turned on. This was caused by part number 16260-F0010 valve having too low a coil resistance. Ours measured 2 ohms and should be 14 to 16 ohms. I got the resistance spec from a Russian manual on the web. Later I learned from the Rav4 world forum that another service manual reads the valve resistance should be around 25 ohms. We tried the 25 ohm value and it works also.

These valves are on backorder in the US. The message stayed on and you couldn't switch to a different useful dash display. They were used on other Toyotas also and Toyota can't keep replacements in stock. Are the replacements any better who knows? The valve is normally open and only effects the flow to the heater core. I read it was used to make the engine warm up faster for emissions. Apparenty it is supposed to shut or modulate flow when the AC is on also. My plan was to bypass the valves coil connection with an acceptable value so the nag message would stay off. The AC does still work after the bypass. Purchased on Ebay was a 15 ohm 25 watt resistor shipped for $7.70. https://www.ebay.com/itm/334592248331 A 25 ohm resistor we tried later did work the same. I had some wire and a paper clip to make pins to mate with the valves connector.

Assembled bypass

15 ohm resistor mounted

25 ohm resisitor mounted, This worked too.

No more nag message and the AC works