Backup Lights Wiring Question

[GearJunkie88]

On my old 2017 4runner I had installed some LED lights on my rear bumper. I had them wired via a relay to an AOB switch in the dash. These backup LEDs would only turn on when the car was in reverse AND the AOB switch was pushed "on". In other words, the LEDs did not turn on every time I put my car in reverse. I now have a 2022 4Runner and want to add backup lights just like I did before. For the life of me, I cannot figure out how I did it. I have spent hours digging through posts on this forum and can't find it.

So here go my dumb questions... I'm using this wiring diagram I think was originally posted by [MENTION=103267]Saker[/MENTION] many years ago:

1. Do I really need run a wire through the firewall to the battery? Can I just get +12V from the black wire on the trailer harness? Wiring diagrams say this wire is +12V Battery.

2. If I can use the black wire on the trailer wiring harness, do I need a fuse between the +12V (black wire) and the relay? I would think the trailer wiring harness has fuses and stuff already built-in.

3. Can the +12V "trigger" that is connected to the AOB switch be the yellow wire on the trailer wiring harness? From what I understand this yellow wire is +12V when the car is in reverse.

4. The LED lights positive wire needs to go to relay #87. Can the LED lights negative wire go to the white wire on the trailer wiring harness?

Thank you for your help.

 

[Saker]

On my old 2017 4runner I had installed some LED lights on my rear bumper. I had them wired via a relay to an AOB switch in the dash. These backup LEDs would only turn on when the car was in reverse AND the AOB switch was pushed "on". In other words, the LEDs did not turn on every time I put my car in reverse. I now have a 2022 4Runner and want to add backup lights just like I did before. For the life of me, I cannot figure out how I did it. I have spent hours digging through posts on this forum and can't find it.

So here go my dumb questions... I'm using this wiring diagram I think was originally posted by [MENTION=103267]Saker[/MENTION] many years ago:

1. Do I really need run a wire through the firewall to the battery? Can I just get +12V from the black wire on the trailer harness? Wiring diagrams say this wire is +12V Battery.

2. If I can use the black wire on the trailer wiring harness, do I need a fuse between the +12V (black wire) and the relay? I would think the trailer wiring harness has fuses and stuff already built-in.

3. Can the +12V "trigger" that is connected to the AOB switch be the yellow wire on the trailer wiring harness? From what I understand this yellow wire is +12V when the car is in reverse.

4. The LED lights positive wire needs to go to relay #87. Can the LED lights negative wire go to the white wire on the trailer wiring harness?

Thank you for your help.

Please check everything with a test light or a multimeter before making hard connections....if in doubt!!!!!!!!!!

1. A) No B) Yes
2. I am pretty sure they are fused, but you could add a fuse for light amp draw if so desired!
3. You should be fine with that if that is the reverse circuit.... I cant remember if that was the color. (Sorry)
4. As long as that is the negative, you should be fine.


Please check everything with a test light or a multimeter before making hard connections....if in doubt!!!!!!!!!!

I am not an engineer nor did I sleep at holiday inn express, EVER!


EDIT: Installed Rigid Back-Up Lights

 

[GearJunkie88]

I am not an engineer nor did I sleep at holiday inn express, EVER!

LOL! Love it! Thanks for the info. It helps to have another person confirm my suspicions... hopefully I don’t burn my truck to the ground this weekend!

 

[GearJunkie88]

For the next person who comes along...

The wiring diagram above says to connect the AOB switch blue and black wires to the windshield wiper warmer switch illumination circuit green and gray (ground) wires, respectively. Apparently things have changed in the 2022. There is no gray wire. And green is ground. White is now +12V when the dash lights are on. So, you’ll go AOB blue to wiper warmer white and AOB black to wiper warmer green.

Other things that may help...

I mounted the relay in the jack compartment. I ran constant +12V from the 7-pin trailer harness black. This way I didn’t have to run a wire all the way from the battery, through the firewall, under the step panels, through the back cargo area (a lot of extra wire). For the trigger wire that goes to the AOB switch, I used an add-a-circuit in the kick panel fuse box labeled towing backup.

 

[Saker]

For the next person who comes along...

The wiring diagram above says to connect the AOB switch blue and black wires to the windshield wiper warmer switch illumination circuit green and gray (ground) wires, respectively. Apparently things have changed in the 2022. There is no gray wire. And green is ground. White is now +12V when the dash lights are on. So, you’ll go AOB blue to wiper warmer white and AOB black to wiper warmer green.

Other things that may help...

I mounted the relay in the jack compartment. I ran constant +12V from the 7-pin trailer harness black. This way I didn’t have to run a wire all the way from the battery, through the firewall, under the step panels, through the back cargo area (a lot of extra wire). For the trigger wire that goes to the AOB switch, I used an add-a-circuit in the kick panel fuse box labeled towing backup.

[MENTION=92436]GearJunkie[/MENTION] is absolutely correct on the wiring color.
That diagram was for my 2014 when I made it.

Please see the following pic as the wiring colors have changed. E.G.: 2021

 

[GearJunkie88]

[MENTION=103267]Saker[/MENTION] - thanks! I’m going to wire a front light bar. In the olden days, we used the green wire with a black stripe on the headlights (high beam) for the trigger. Has that wire color changed?

 

[Saker]

[MENTION=103267]Saker[/MENTION] - thanks! I’m going to wire a front light bar. In the olden days, we used the green wire with a black stripe on the headlights (high beam) for the trigger. Has that wire color changed?

I actually cant answer that as I have not tied into it or even looked at it.