Another Manual Transmission Swap Question

[St Runner]

I would also grab the manual ECM and engine harness. It only takes a couple hours to change the engine harness out and when you are done three out of four plugs on the ECM are guaranteed to be correct and your reverse light is wired in correctly. It probably depends on how comfortable you are with repining. For me I was not that comfortable with repining the whole thing and went with the replacement method

 

[kolelt]

There are a lot of things to consider. Not only are auto and manual wiring harnesses different, but just from 97 to 98 the manual wiring harnesses are different. I just did a body swap from 97 to 98, both SR5 3.4L 5spds and one thing that was a problem was that the clutch safety switch on the 97 provides the ground to the starter relay, in 98 it provides the power to the relay. Took me a while to figure out why the starter fuse kept blowing every time I stepped on the clutch. I used my 97 engine wiring harness because the 98 was missing the engine and harness. It would not plug into the 98 ECM. I put in my 97 ECM, but the one connector from the dash harness wouldn't plug into it. Cut off connector from my 97 body, but there were a few different wires and I ended up with no start, no comms. Swapped in my 97 dash harness had comms with the ECM, but no crank now. Found out about the clutch switch and rewired the fuse box. Now the engine would start, but I had to re-pin the connectors behind the kick panels because the passenger side was completely different and wouldn't plug in and the driver's side was the same, but the wires were arranged differently in the connector.

I don’t disagree. But I repinned my auto harness to accept a manual ecu along with new connectors. Much much easier. How I know ? Because I repinned it. Personal preference.

 

[MaineRunna]

I don’t disagree. But I repinned my auto harness to accept a manual ecu along with new connectors. Much much easier. How I know ? Because I repinned it. Personal preference.

Where did you find connectors? I was going to go that route but couldn't find them.

 

[kolelt]

Where did you find connectors? I was going to go that route but couldn't find them.

The dealer.

Repinning an auto harness for use with a manual ECM

 

[MaineRunna]

The dealer.

Repinning an auto harness for use with a manual ECM

I think I gave up to easy when my Toyota dealer told me that the ECM part number I had told them didn't match the VIN of the T4R it came out of so they couldn't look it up. Good parts dept that I like a lot too. Oh well I went the route I did because I had to take the dashes out of both vehicles to swap heater boxes due to mouse damage.
How did you get the clutch safety, cruise cancel, clutch safety cancel and b/u light switches to plug in? Are the post 98 wiring harnesses universal for auto and manual?

 

[kolelt]

I think I gave up to easy when my Toyota dealer told me that the ECM part number I had told them didn't match the VIN of the T4R it came out of so they couldn't look it up. Good parts dept that I like a lot too. Oh well I went the route I did because I had to take the dashes out of both vehicles to swap heater boxes due to mouse damage.
How did you get the clutch safety, cruise cancel, clutch safety cancel and b/u light switches to plug in? Are the post 98 wiring harnesses universal for auto and manual?

I did not really care for the clutch switch. However [MENTION=124742]St Runner[/MENTION] helped me. It’s on my build thread. It was a while ago. Basically had to split of the clutch switch and ground it. Something like that. Works perfectly if I use it. 99% I dont use it.

 

[kolelt]

My parts guy already knows not to bother with a vin. All parts between auto or manual the same minus few things like this.

 

[daYoda]

I have a '99 Auto with 221k mi. I want to do a manual swap, so I picked up a '96 manual with 126k mi and the RR locker, complete [frame rotted to hell!]. Both are 4wd SR5's.

So far I've removed the tranny, crossmembers and yanked the 5ve-fe from the '96. Took me a couple weekends and some friends.

The '99 is sort of my DD, but I have another car. -> this is my summer project.

Reading thru the thread I noticed a lot of comments about the differences between the wiring harnesses for the differing years. On another thread, I saw some people had issues when swapping engines from different years.

It appears that since the '99+ 4r's came with OEM Anti-Theft that something about the Body ECU doesn't play nicely with older ECM's. Is this true? Are there work arounds?

I was planning on taking pretty much the whole wiring harness and ECM. The '96 has an aftermarket "Python" branded Anti-Theft. I was hoping to just drop the ECM/Wiring harness in and go with it. Will this work? Is it worth my time?

 

[phattyduck]

I was planning on taking pretty much the whole wiring harness and ECM. The '96 has an aftermarket "Python" branded Anti-Theft. I was hoping to just drop the ECM/Wiring harness in and go with it. Will this work? Is it worth my time?

Toss the aftermarket anti-theft unit in the trash.

The ECM and wiring harness are incompatible between '97 and '99. Dash plugs and a number of other things changed.

Also, it depends on the emissions package your '99 had what ECU will work for you...

-Charlie

 

[daYoda]

The ECM and wiring harness are incompatible between '97 and '99. Dash plugs and a number of other things changed.

Right. I will be using the Engine wiring harness (with transmission connections, etc) and ECU from the donor ('96) engine (and the engine/trans, of course).

Are you also saying that the ignition (from the Fuse Panel/ 'Body ECU') harnesses are different too? That only appeared to be 1 (fairly large) Molex connector.

How do I know what emissions package I have?

Do I have to through the process of removing all of the wiring harnesses?

 

[Team_Jake]

Right. I will be using the Engine wiring harness (with transmission connections, etc) and ECU from the donor ('96) engine (and the engine/trans, of course).

Are you also saying that the ignition (from the Fuse Panel/ 'Body ECU') harnesses are different too? That only appeared to be 1 (fairly large) Molex connector.

How do I know what emissions package I have?

Do I have to through the process of removing all of the wiring harnesses?

There's no need to change the wiring harness / transmission connectors if you have a '99, find a '99 M/T ECU and the pinouts should be the same as the auto, so it's plug and play (at least on the 5VZ 4x4 California Spec ones they are). And the only thing electrical that connects to the M/T is the reverse lights, just cut and connect a couple wires, you do not need an entirely new wiring hardness for that.

To check your emissions package, pop the hood and see if there is a California emissions sticker on the under side of your hood. If you don't have that sticker, then it's federal emissions.

 

[phattyduck]

Right. I will be using the Engine wiring harness (with transmission connections, etc) and ECU from the donor ('96) engine (and the engine/trans, of course).

Are you also saying that the ignition (from the Fuse Panel/ 'Body ECU') harnesses are different too? That only appeared to be 1 (fairly large) Molex connector.

How do I know what emissions package I have?

Do I have to through the process of removing all of the wiring harnesses?

The wiring for the complete truck is different between '96 and '99. Window/lock controls, back window control, gauge cluster, sunroof, lighting, etc.

Get the right ECU that matches your '99 truck, wire up the reverse light switch on the trans and drive happy.

The mechanical side of the swap is much more straightforward/compatible.

-Charlie

 

[daYoda]

I looked into much of the discussion of the various updates for the years. Much was changed for the '99, mostly on the interior and crash safety, which is why I started to question how to best go about this swap.

I was also planning to replace the '99 engine w/ the '96 since it has roughly 1/2 the mileage. I don't think that 5vz-fe -> 5vz-fe would be much different, at least under-the-hood. Meaning, I will use the '99 under-hood harness for the '96 engine and modify the reverse lights as suggested. Care to comment?

I found a few 99 M/T ECM's on the ol' flea-bay. I guess I'll pick one up and see how that goes.

 

[Team_Jake]

I looked into much of the discussion of the various updates for the years. Much was changed for the '99, mostly on the interior and crash safety, which is why I started to question how to best go about this swap.

I was also planning to replace the '99 engine w/ the '96 since it has roughly 1/2 the mileage. I don't think that 5vz-fe -> 5vz-fe would be much different, at least under-the-hood. Meaning, I will use the '99 under-hood harness for the '96 engine and modify the reverse lights as suggested. Care to comment?

I found a few 99 M/T ECM's on the ol' flea-bay. I guess I'll pick one up and see how that goes.

221k is not a lot of miles. I don't know the history of your DD or your donor, but I would definitely stay with the 221k engine if I know it had been well maintained over a mystery engine with ~1/2 those miles.

But if you really want to do the swap, I suggest you go over to Toyota's Technical Information Systems (TIS) website (link), get a subscription (it's something like ~$15 for 24 hours) and download the Electronic Wiring Diagrams for both the 1996 and 1999 4Runners and study out every difference between the two years under the 5VZ-FE Engine Control section. If I were to go this route, I would KEEP the wiring harness you already have in your 1999, and make whatever changes are needed to the different connectors on the 1996 engine, and get a 1999 M/T ECU.

But if I were doing this I wouldn't swap engines.

 

[phattyduck]

If I were to go this route, I would KEEP the wiring harness you already have in your 1999, and make whatever changes are needed to the different connectors on the 1996 engine, and get a 1999 M/T ECU.

But if I were doing this I wouldn't swap engines.

Similar thoughts here - pull that '96 engine, spray a little oil in the cylinders to lube them up and cover/keep that engine safe for when you need it. A 220k mile engine should still have plenty of life left.

There are no differences in the engine itself. A few accessories changed, but those are easily swapped when doing the engine, some time in the future (vacuum line routing, power steering pressure idle-up, MAF sensor, etc.).

-Charlie

 

[brisamh]

Buy the whole 4Runner. Pre 98 manual and auto had different ECM electrical connectors. You will need the wiring harnesses. I just went through this I put a 98 body on my 97 frame, both were 5spds. In 98 Toyota made the manual ECM have the same connectors as the auto ECM. Prior to that manuals and automatics had different shaped plugs at the ECM.

Sorry to jump back in to an old-ish thread... but I have a clarifying question. I bought a 2000 4runner a few years ago, PO did a MT swap from a 98. I have the perma CEL and for the sake of fuel mapping have been interested in getting the right ECU to correct this. I found a 2000 4x4 MT ECU but it has no wiring harness. If i'm reading your post correctly..... the ECU from a 2000 MT will be plug and play if I R&R my 2000 AT ECU? No need for me to also seek out a wiring harness if the MT is a 98 and my truck is a 2000?

 

[TheDurk]

Sorry to jump back in to an old-ish thread... but I have a clarifying question. I bought a 2000 4runner a few years ago, PO did a MT swap from a 98. I have the perma CEL and for the sake of fuel mapping have been interested in getting the right ECU to correct this. I found a 2000 4x4 MT ECU but it has no wiring harness. If i'm reading your post correctly..... the ECU from a 2000 MT will be plug and play if I R&R my 2000 AT ECU? No need for me to also seek out a wiring harness if the MT is a 98 and my truck is a 2000?

I'm not sure, but I can tell you this. There is not a single wire on the 2000 6cyl Engine Control circuit that is different from MT to Auto/ There is for Cali, vs. Fed, Theft-deterrent or not, and even Digital vs manual A/c. I hope you matched cali/Cali or Fed/Fed, otherwise that ECM is useless to you. Apparently theft deterrent is an issue,too, but I am no expert there.

 

[Chim]

I'm not sure, but I can tell you this. There is not a single wire on the 2000 6cyl Engine Control circuit that is different from MT to Auto/ There is for Cali, vs. Fed, Theft-deterrent or not, and even Digital vs manual A/c. I hope you matched cali/Cali or Fed/Fed, otherwise that ECM is useless to you. Apparently theft deterrent is an issue,too, but I am no expert there.

hmm.. so if I wanted to swap into my 02 with digital climate and theft I am hosed for a ecm swap?

 

[brisamh]

I'm not sure, but I can tell you this. There is not a single wire on the 2000 6cyl Engine Control circuit that is different from MT to Auto/ There is for Cali, vs. Fed, Theft-deterrent or not, and even Digital vs manual A/c. I hope you matched cali/Cali or Fed/Fed, otherwise that ECM is useless to you. Apparently theft deterrent is an issue,too, but I am no expert there.

Thankfully I haven't made any purchases yet... for this very reason. I didn't want to buy a new ECU until I'm solid on the set up. My car has a fob but I'm not sure if it's factory anti theft or the PO had it done... how would I confirm which? As for Cali vs Federal... according to the carfax report i ran before I bought it ... carfax says "Title or registeration issued first owner reported tititled or registered as corporate vehichile" and the source is "Virgina Motor Vehicle Dept. Brea, CA" ? So I'm assuming this means it is CA emission standards, even though the owner is listed as Type: Corporate Location: Virginia?

 

[TheDurk]

Thankfully I haven't made any purchases yet... for this very reason. I didn't want to buy a new ECU until I'm solid on the set up. My car has a fob but I'm not sure if it's factory anti theft or the PO had it done... how would I confirm which? As for Cali vs Federal... according to the carfax report i ran before I bought it ... carfax says "Title or registeration issued first owner reported tititled or registered as corporate vehichile" and the source is "Virgina Motor Vehicle Dept. Brea, CA" ? So I'm assuming this means it is CA emission standards, even though the owner is listed as Type: Corporate Location: Virginia?

I would not rely on that info. Count your cats (two = Cali., one = Fed. ) or post a pic of your emissions sticker under the hood and I'll tell you. They're confusing.

I don't know anything about the anti-theft. Sorry.