Cup Holder Light

chronicanomaly

New member
I read a few posts a few weeks back about there being lights in the front cup holders. I looked in mine the other day, and although I see the white/clear squares at the bottom of the cupholders, there doesn't seem to be any light whatsoever coming out of them.

Am I correct in believing that they should be lighted whenever the headlights are turned on, just like the rest of the dash? If so, is there any way to find out the part number for the light, or how difficult it would be to replace? Thanks for any advice!
 
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I believe these are what I think should be lighting up?
 

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It is true that the lights will light when the headlights are activated. As far as the part number I do not know. I am sure that the Toyo dealer would know. To get to those lights, I believe you start by prying up the middle from the center console. There are threads in the forum that will show how to do this carefully. I will try and find the specific thread I am talking about.
 
CRDT4R said:
It is true that the lights will light when the headlights are activated. As far as the part number I do not know. I am sure that the Toyo dealer would know. To get to those lights, I believe you start by prying up the middle from the center console. There are threads in the forum that will show how to do this carefully. I will try and find the specific thread I am talking about.

Dont mess with the stealership. First check the plug. Mine was unplugged when I first bought my T4r. If that isnt the case the light should be a simple LED, that radioshack or a similar electric dealer can provide for CHEAP!! When I had to replace my back lights in the A/C and 4WD knobs they we just LEDS. I bought 5 of them for $8. Good luck.
 
Thanks, I'll look at that first. Unfortunately I just got home for Thanksgiving break, and got a ride with someone else, so the 4Runner is back down at school. Guess I'll just wait a week.

On another topic, I was just looking for CB Radios for a Christmas present, and I just saw that you have a Midland with a speaker behind the grill? How much did that set-up run you, how easy was installation and electrical connection, etc.? Thanks again.
 
Before you take the console apart, have you checked the dimmer? It's very dim unless dimmer is halfway or more.
 
I always keep my dimmer at the brightest it can be, so I don't believe that is the issue.

Mike, thanks for letting me know, but my cup holders are pitch black right now, so I'm pretty sure it is an issue with the bulb being burned out, or even not plugged in. Guess I have to wait a week to figure it out :-/
 
4runr30 said:
When I had to replace my back lights in the A/C and 4WD knobs they we just LEDS. I bought 5 of them for $8. Good luck.
My feeling is, it is not the LED lights. They are suppose to last a long time. I can see one going out, but to have both go out, it could happen, but I am thinking it is something else. A loose wire or connection, or something else???

That is something you probably don't want to hear.
 
Kicking myself for not bringing it home so I can't figure this out now...

Instead of doing it when I have nothing better to do than watch the ACC debacle, now I'll have to try and figure it out during school. I'll check the connection before doing anything else, wish I didn't have to remove the entire middle console to do that, hopefully it won't be too challenging.
 
chronicanomaly said:
Thanks, I'll look at that first. Unfortunately I just got home for Thanksgiving break, and got a ride with someone else, so the 4Runner is back down at school. Guess I'll just wait a week.

On another topic, I was just looking for CB Radios for a Christmas present, and I just saw that you have a Midland with a speaker behind the grill? How much did that set-up run you, how easy was installation and electrical connection, etc.? Thanks again.

It is a cheap midland only about $30. The PA speakers were $15 a piece and wiring was only $10-15. This is a pretty cheap mod. The hardest part was dismantling the entire center console to drill a hole and run wire. Im still lookin for a pic of it on my computer.
 
Great, thanks, I'm looking into it now. Just have to decide where to mount the speaker under the hood, and what kind of antenna to get based on where I can mount that, not sure where the standard places are.
 
I've always wondered why lights are needed in the cupholders. Seems kinda pointless and also seems kinda stupid that we get lights in the cupholders but no lights on the power window switches (except one). Strange priorities.
 
well obviously drinking has a higher priority than windows... the truck has 10 cup holders for 5 people
 
The cupholder lights are a gimmick and but probably sold as a "cool" feature, just like how the RX330/350/400h has the blue ones in its cupholder. I suppose Toyota designers found in themselves not being able to put their cups or bottles back in the holder at night.

For the same reason that Acura RLs and the BMW X5 has lights in their door handles in the interior that are always on.

I find most of the controls in any of my cars by muscle memory. Sometimes it is a bit odd when I jump in my Camry put it in gear and then I move my left foot for the e-brake (only to realize, it's right by the shifter).

I wonder how many 4th to 5th gen owners will complain if the 5th gen lacked cupholder lights.
 
i've actually said the exact same thing to my gf the other day~ lol

pipspeak said:
I've always wondered why lights are needed in the cupholders. Seems kinda pointless and also seems kinda stupid that we get lights in the cupholders but no lights on the power window switches (except one). Strange priorities.
 
No luck

Well, just tried to figure out the problem. Got everything removed that I thought I needed to, but still couldn't get to the lights. All of the plugs seemed secure, I traced the cord going from the back of the cup holder as far as I could until it disappeared into the bottom wires below the shifter. Still couldn't figure out how to get to the lights themselves, and the write up here: http://www.castulucci.com/projects/carpc/oemnaviaccess/ didn't give any explanation on how to get the cup holders themselves out.

I know it's pretty pointless and not a big deal, I just like everything in my cars to be working and get annoyed when it isn't. Hopefully someone else has a suggestion, otherwise I guess I'm SOL:confused:
 

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