Hello everyone, I have found parts already stripped off of a donor 2000 sr5 with the manual trans. It was a godsend. I found it in the next state over about 100 miles away. This has everything needed for the swap, pedal, interior trim pieces and all. My question is this, the seller has the m/t 4x4 ecu, this is NOT compatible with the multimode transfercase correct? I would need a 2000 limited 4x4 ECU just for the sake of keeping same year, for the multimode transfercase to work? OR what I would rather do is run the m/t ecu and standalone wire the tcase, is this possible?

Also, for anyone that has done this swap are there any MAJOR tips you have for shortening this process or something you ran into to that you can help me avoid?

Even listing the BEST manual swap threads would be appreciated, I have ran through a lot of them however some guys on here have been on the forum for a long time and may know a gem of a thread. Any input would be appreciated, thanks.

My goal with this thread is to turn it into a full rebuild thread with how to pics and specs straight from the toyota fsm. Initially I was going to do this with an auto trans but I changed my mind.

I plan on including information for rebuilding the tcase regardless of multimode or jshift and trans. Then of course to the best of my ability I may or may not Include installation data.

Attached Images

   

Also, with any swap I can run my elocker correct? I will have that wired standalone as well. Not incorporating the factory wiring

Yep - should work just fine if it's wired as a standalone.

I am researching swapping a multimode into my '98 currently

The ECUs between different trims of 4Runners are exactly the same, meaning a 2000 A/T 4x4 Federal Spec Limited will have the same ECU as a 2000 A/T 4x4 5VZ Federal Spec SR5. There is no special ECU for limited models with multimode. The multimode transfer cases have a stand-alone 4wd ECU located in the driver footwell area.

Just keep your wiring harness, plug in the Manual ECU from the donor vehicle (which is plug-and-play for your year), wire in all the clutch switches and reverse lights, and you’ll be good to go. There is no special wiring needed for multimode to work.

My multimode on my 1999 works perfectly after my 5-speed swap.

One thing you will have trouble with though is the immobilizer in your Limited will not work with the Manual ECU as is. You’ll need a locksmith to re-flash it. Take a look at my build thread for more details.

This right here. The 4WD computer is completely separate from the Engine/Trans ECU. Get EVERYTHING you can think of, including a cutout of the trans tunnel opening, engine harness, dash harness, etc. You won't need it all, but you'll be glad you have it!

There may be a few little wiring bits that are challenging if you haven't done wiring before (cruise, clutch start, etc.), but we are all here to help.

-Charlie

Okay!!! Now I'm getting somewhere this is golden information. So to clarify, install the m/t ecu and then when I go to pull the multimode from a different donor vehicle I need to grab the ecu that's specifically for the t-case? I will do that. I like how its is a standalone.

Currently all I have access to as far as wiring is the old engine harness. Is the dash harness vital to this swap? The wiring Is what I'm looking forward to the most because it's what I know nothing about. I know how to properly terminate or splice / solder etc but I've never personally followed a wiring diagram for a vehicle.

If I have an SR5 is this still going to be the case? I havent heard of anyone getting an ecu flashed as part of this swap

The dash harness isn't vital, but you do need the clutch switches (top and bottom), the clutch cancel switch, etc. and I don't think the plugs will be there on your Limited dash harness. You wouldn't be able to use the complete SR5 dash harness due to the differences in the HVAC system, but it is always nice to have more parts than you need... (like the ability to add pins to a connector with OEM parts if you need)

-Charlie

Sorry I misread your original post, I thought you had a Limited (all of which came with an immobilizer standard) already with the multi-mode transfer case.

Some SR5s did come with an immobilizer though, if you have a blinking red light on your center dash next to your ECT button, or just left of the steering column, then you have an immobilizer and makes ECU swapping difficult because you have to re-flash the ECU. If you don't have any blinking red lights, then you don't have to worry about re-flashing.


I don't know of anyone off the top of my head that has swapped a multi-mode transfer case into a non-multi-mode 4Runner. There are quite a few wires that go into the multi-mode ECU plus the wires that would need to be routed to the transfer-case and main ECU, which can be a daunting task. I would grab the wiring harness from the Limited you are getting the transfer case from and swap that harness into your 4Runner, it'll make re-wiring a little easier. Then all you have to wire are the clutch release switch, clutch depress switch, clutch start cancel, and reverse lights.

Good luck!

Oh no crap, see what you're saying by immobilizer now. I do have the toyota "VIP" security system but the light has never blinked I always wondered about that lol. I'm also assuming that I should wait to install remote start untill after all this being swapped seems like it would be all for nothing if I installed that now. I will also grab that harness as well when i pull the tcase. And start to map this thing out.

The VIP security system is separate from the immobilizer. The VIP light is normally in a switch hold on the left side of the dash. The immobilizer light is next to the passenger seatbelt warning light on the center of the dash.

-Charlie

Then I do not have an immobilizer Haha unless the bulb is out which could actually be a possibility

It sounds like you have quite a bit of research to do.