Fitting active front spoiler

[spartan]

Well, after finding a complete active spoiler set-up to fit to my car (see Wanted - active front spoiler), I've already gotten over what I saw as being the biggest obstacle to fitting it - finding the wiring loom/sockets behind the dash.

 

For those who have looked for these and failed to find them, I would say that's because they're not there! In my case, the socket for the ECU was lurking at the back, right-hand-side of the transmission tunnel, tucked in very close to the ABS unit*. It couldn't really be anywhere else as the length of loom available with the ECU socket is very short - just barely enough to get it plugged in with the ECU in position.

 

The socket for the spoiler switch was taped back against the loom for the TRAC switch/auto gearshift wiring, tucked in behind the dash panel that is next to the driver's left knee.

 

It took all of 5 minutes to locate the wiring/sockets, mount the ECU and switch and connect up.

 

After plugging everything in, as expected, the big red warning triangle lit up (do we have an accepted acronym for this light on the forum? Like the "Blue Screen of Death" = BSD that is used for Windows?) and the spoiler switch light flashes intermittently. Presumably because it can't detect what state the spoiler is in (up/down) because I haven't fitted it yet (the snow did come after all).

 

* I think it has been mentioned before that if you have ABS then the wiring for the active spoiler should be present. I certainly haven't proved that but it is a fact that the mounting for the spoiler ECU (unique sliding rail thingy!) is incorporated into the mounting for the ABS unit on top of the transmission tunnel. So, you certainly wouldn't have a simple push/click mounting for the Spoiler ECU without the ABS module being present.

 

One other thing I found is that my car (1997 RZ-S VVTi) that had the bigger brakes and 17" wheels fitted as a factory option, also appears to have the "Sports" ABS system fitted (only standard on the RZ at that time) - besides the ABS module fitted below the spoiler ECU there is a separate module in front of this (behind the TRAC and spoiler switches) that appears to be a G-sensing unit. My Japansese is rusty but in my 1997 Supra brochure, there appears to be a note that these two go together - bigger wheels/brakes and sports ABS or, at least, if you want the latter you must have the former.

[spartan]

Well, it took a lot of pushing and pulling but I got it fitted and it works perfectly (up, down, correct speeds, everything). The plug on the other end of the wiring loom was taped up, just under the o/s headlight.

 

If you take out the headlights (being careful not to drop the nuts!), there's easily sufficient access to fit the active spoiler without messing around with the bumper itself.

 

The last few bolts/screws that affix the front of the new undertray to the bumper could only be put in place with the spoiler in the lowered position (a couple of extra holes were required to be drilled here because of the different trim pieces on the facelift front bumper aperture). I also found that it was necessary to trim the ends off some plastic shrouding around the towing eyes, in order that they cleared the spoiler activating rod and brackets.

 

One thing I did, which I think made fitting slightly easier, was to remove the hanger from the non-motor end (my active spoiler came as a complete assembly) and then reattach it once the spoiler is more or less in place with the motor end hanging (from the dowel Toyota very thoughtfully have put in place) on the frame by the 'hook' on the bracket.

[NeoMagic]

Good effort, sounds like a choice mod.

 

Do you think the N/A's with ABS (like mine) would have the loom?