An alternative way to "fix" the climate control panel lighting

My runner climate control panel lights went out several times during my ownership, and they are quite pricey to buy from the dealership (from $4 to $6 a piece). Unfortunately, two of them went out again this time.

I took the blown bulb out and looked at them, and thought maybe I can try to replace the bulb only.https://www.toyota-4runner.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=346263&stc=1&d=1571368982.

You can see it is quite an easy light bulb inside, only two metal wires secure/transfer juicy to the light bulb. All you need to do is to untwist the old wire and pull the blown light bulb out of the socket.https://www.toyota-4runner.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=346264&stc=1&d=1571368982

I get several of the "new" light bulbs from Junkyard cars(almost every car around 2002-2010 Japanese cars using the same inserted type light bulbs, but the socket is different, this is why you need to transfer the light bulb), which cost me around $1.

The left two are the "new" light bulbs, the right two are the old bulbs. Also, you may notice there are two yellow caps, which add the color to the lights.
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=346265&stc=1&d=1571368982

Now, just add longer wires to extend the "new" light bulb, making it long enough to reach the base.https://www.toyota-4runner.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=346267&stc=1&d=1571369561

I made two new light bulbs.
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=346268&stc=1&d=1571369561

The temperature panel light up now as you can see from the picture, however, the light of the recirculation button is still not working right. It might be some problem with the "new" light bulb, which I will change it out again later.https://www.toyota-4runner.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=346269&stc=1&d=1571369561

I hope it helps!

Good post, and useful since I’ve known several people who lost one or more lights from that display.

Just a note: mine went out several years ago. I figured the cost would be too much (someone told me it was) so I just accepted it. Well, one night I got frustrated with it and gave it a nice hard tap on the thick vertical plastic running down the right side of the display (down towards the passenger foot well).

And what do I know, the light came back on. I’ve hit it a few more times to turn it on, but only when I needed it because I’m sure at some point whatever is loose will finally come out, and it has worked every time. I haven’t had any issues for 1-2 year, at least)

I actually forgot about this issue until I saw your post. I’d tell the reader to give it a try.

For the record, my name is not Arthur Fonzarelli.

CelticRunner said:

Good post, and useful since I’ve known several people who lost one or more lights from that display.

Just a note: mine went out several years ago. I figured the cost would be too much (someone told me it was) so I just accepted it. Well, one night I got frustrated with it and gave it a nice hard tap on the thick vertical plastic running down the right side of the display (down towards the passenger foot well).

And what do I know, the light came back on. I’ve hit it a few more times to turn it on, but only when I needed it because I’m sure at some point whatever is loose will finally come out, and it has worked every time. I haven’t had any issues for 1-2 year, at least)

I actually forgot about this issue until I saw your post. I’d tell the reader to give it a try.

For the record, my name is not Arthur Fonzarelli.

Click to expand...

Haha, you’re dating yourself with that Fonz reference, lol!:rofl:

No need to re-invent the wheel

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L8BR76A

smyles1632 said:

No need to re-invent the wheel

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L8BR76A

Click to expand...

Good to know!Thanks

CelticRunner said:

Good post, and useful since I’ve known several people who lost one or more lights from that display.

Just a note: mine went out several years ago. I figured the cost would be too much (someone told me it was) so I just accepted it. Well, one night I got frustrated with it and gave it a nice hard tap on the thick vertical plastic running down the right side of the display (down towards the passenger foot well).

And what do I know, the light came back on. I’ve hit it a few more times to turn it on, but only when I needed it because I’m sure at some point whatever is loose will finally come out, and it has worked every time. I haven’t had any issues for 1-2 year, at least)

I actually forgot about this issue until I saw your post. I’d tell the reader to give it a try.

For the record, my name is not Arthur Fonzarelli.

Click to expand...

Haha, Fonz..
Thanks for sharing your experience! I did the same thing before, as I noticed at one time that one of the light bulbs went out, but I knew it was on before I left the car. So I taped the knob with my finger, the light came back on! I thought that would be bad contact caused. But at this time, the light bulb blows out.