GX470 Roof Console install

[honda_nos]

Guys,

I plan to be working on this project in the next couple of weeks. Making this thread as a placeholder. I've had the GX470 console for some time but just haven't gotten around to it.

Here is a pic comparison. I'll be saving a few spots on this thread for space to do a write up.

 

[honda_nos]

Alright guys had a chance to install part of this job today. Here is the writeup.

Vehicle:
2008 Toyota 4Runner Limited JBL, no nav.

Background:
My T4R didn't comes with factory nav, so I don't have a microphone. Additionally the map lights in the front do not light up when the door is opened. To solve both of these issues, I decided to install the GX470 roof console. The GX470 console has a built in microphone as well as a switch which enables the map lights to also function as "door" lights. It also has ambient lighting LEDs. Because of additional functions, additional wiring is needed. In the console, I'm able to also retain my homelink functionality.

Also want to call out Brad M (t4r member) for his help in sourcing the roof console for me as well as providing me a good start of diagrams and schematics.

Procedures: (warning: do at your own risk)
1. First, spend some time on figuring out what each wire does by using a multimeter and by visual inspection.

Basically the 4Runner comes with 5 wires that connect to the console. They are in this order: white/blk |white/blk | green | grey | red

white/blk on the outer is ground for the map lights
white/blk on the inside is the common on the sunroof switch
green is open side of sunroof switch
grey is close side of sunroof switch
red is 12V+ for the map lights

Initially, I had planned to build a harness for this with factory connectors. I bought a bunch from Eastern Beaver: http://www.easternbeaver.com/Main/Elec__Products/Connectors/connectors.html but as it turns out, I didn't get the right 5 pin connector for the 4Runner side... So I decided to just cut off the connector (I saved enough to put it back if I ever need to).

2. I did however get the right connector for the Lexus console side. So first I had to make a pig tail and connect the wires to the pins. I used some wiring I had left over from a Viper alarm install I did a while back for a buddy.

This is what it looked like after I was done. (I only connected 6 wires, I have not connected the wires required to get my ambient lighting and "door" light mode). It took a while to get the pins crimped right.

Then I crimped on some butt connectors (be careful with this image, there are 6 wires, but you can only see 5. )

3. Now you need to figure out what wire does what on the Lexus console side. This is how I believe it is:

green is ground for map lights
grey is 12V+ for map lights
red is common for sunroof switch
pink is sunroof open
orange is sunroof close
yellow is 12V+ to ambient LEDs
black is ground for LEDs
blue is for the varying ground which controls the "door" light circuit

I have not connected yellow or blue. I shorted black and green together.

This is what the back of the Lexus console looks like:

4. Now connect up to the 4Runner wiring. You should be able to figure out what the mapping of the wires are here.

5. Now clean it up a little with electrical tape:

6. Final product with map lights on:

Because the "door" light and ambient LED function will require me to run wires up to the console via the A pillar I'll do that another day. (Although, I have the compass mirror so there has to be an ignition or acc wire there. I doubt the LEDs draw much current.)

Also one nuance, the mic/sunglasses holder sticks out lower so you can see a *part of it in the OEM rear view mirror. I solved that by adding a Broadway 270MM convex mirror.

Cheers, I'll write up the other bits when I get to that part of the project.

 

[honda_nos]

+++++

 

[Jeff T]

And what exactly are you gaining by doing this swap??

 

[Seatown]

maybe room for larger sunglasses...got to fit those aviators somewhere:lol:

 

[Bftfan]

And what exactly are you gaining by doing this swap??

Wondering the same thing. Looks almost identical to me. Any difference in functionality?

 

[2004TR4-SR5]

notice the switch for the lights!! he would now have option to have them turn on when he opens the door

 

[DC runner]

I was thinking the same thing. Everyone has their own likes, though, but to me the ridges on the GX version looks gawdy and worse.

Side by side comparisons makes me like the 4runner version even more. The buttons to control the sunroof have been shrunk on the GX version which in my mind reduces, not increases, functionality. When you are driving, you need large buttons that you can find with a finger easily so you don't need to take your eyes off the road.

 

[TRDCal]

And what exactly are you gaining by doing this swap??

Wondering the same thing. Looks almost identical to me. Any difference in functionality?

Theres a light switch to have the reading lights come on with the doors, it has ambient lighting on it,and I believe there's a built in bluetooth mic.

I'd be interested in this mod if I could find one in grey.

 

[honda_nos]

Wow, wasn't expecting this much feedback already. Here goes:
- The ridges, the OEM mic is behind there, I'll use that when I upgrade to Nav/BT
- the light switch, it is setup to work with the domelight, you notice the factory 4Runner console lights do not come on "door" mode?
- the two small holes contain 2 LEDs, these provide some light at night (my wife's Lexus has this).

 

[Casper421]

Is that a mic in the sunglass holder? Maybe hands-free?

EDIT: Damn, honda answered before i could ask.

 

[Mr. Banks]

Re:

Wow it never crossed my mind to check out the Lexus version. I was concentrating on the upgrade to the 4runner limited part in stone, or gray, whatever they called it. You got the part number for the limited, stone colored homelink panel? I'd like to order that while I'm deployed so it is waiting for me when I get home.

Good idea though, I am also interested in how this works out.

 

[honda_nos]

Sorry didn't take down the part number. I told it to a fellow t4r member.

Wow it never crossed my mind to check out the Lexus version. I was concentrating on the upgrade to the 4runner limited part in stone, or gray, whatever they called it. You got the part number for the limited, stone colored homelink panel? I'd like to order that while I'm deployed so it is waiting for me when I get home.

Good idea though, I am also interested in how this works out.

 

[T4RUSAF]

Good mod... this is what I did when I upgraded my Nav to the newer 06+ unit. The mic was the main reason, though the ambient lighting is a major plus for me. They are just hard to find!

 

[honda_nos]

updated second post with details.

 

[Seatown]

The ambient lighting is definitely a plus....pretty sweet mod man, at first I was skeptical, but the functions gained are solid. Can't wait to see if you are able to integrate the BT mic.

 

[TRDCal]

Nice install...I thought you had a tan colour console, is it just the picture that makes it look grey or did you get another one? Also does the broadway mirror block your compass?

 

[honda_nos]

TRD, it is Taupe. I live in Seattle, everything is grey this time of year! (actually it was wash out from the camera flash)

 

[A/V1]

Hey Kev. I'm glad my info & pics turned out to be so handy. I do like that you got a different connector & pins to mate with the Lexus overhead unit. As you know, I went the cheaper route and simply reused my original 4runner overhead's connector. I did this in part so that if I ever wanted to reinstall another 4runner O/H, I could without much fuss.

This next pic I believe I sent to you, Kevin, when you bought the overhead, but thought it might help clarify here as well. It shows the wire colors on both mating ends of the connectors.


As you see in the first pic I also used a D-sub connector for the additional wires (blue, door; yellow & black, ambient LEDs; and the mic wiring). I later changed the D-sub out for a mini-Molex connector. And yes, I was able to get the mic to work. I still use it with my Kenwood. The other connector that I soldered the original 5 wires to, I ended up simply wrapping with electrical tape to eliminate exposed contacts.

Wow, I can't believe there's so much negativity here about this mod! I'm certainly happy with my mod, and would definitely do it again in a heartbeat. Personally, I always thought the Lexus version was, well, more "refined". One of the main reasons I did the mod though was to get the lights on with door open, and I love my ambient lighting!

Kevin, I don't think you will have the results you are wanting by grounding the LED black wire to the green wire. It's true that the green wire is the ground for the map lights, however, the ground is supplied through the body ECU, and therefore may not be constant. Well, most likely ISN'T constant. The body ECU is what controls the lamp fade (power for the lamps goes through it as well, but that is only for the ECU to remove power to shut them off after they've been left on after so many minutes).
I would run three regular unshielded wires, and one shielded twisted pair for the mic if you are going to use it. It's pretty simple to run wires up the A pillar - just be sure to run them (and secure them) behind the side curtain airbags. Ground the black wire to a chassis ground. I ran the yellow wire to the lighting wire of one of the dash panel switches (I did this when I relocated my DAC switch, which I was coincidentally doing at the same time). The brightness on my LEDs varies with the dash light switch this way. Pretty nice to be able to adjust them.
The ground with door open (blue wire) I wired to the body ECU, middle plug - pin 6. This allows the lamps to fade out just as the other dome lamps do, and is a common ground output for all of the doors (if you notice, each door has a separate ground to the ECU so it "knows" which one is open). If you were to connect to one of these outputs, the map lights would only come on when that one door was opened.


And if you truly wanted to, you could actually take the sunglass holder off the 4runner one, and swap it with the Lexus one so it doesn't stick down. But it hasn't bothered me in the several years since I installed mine.


And yes, that is grey! LOL

 

[jimmied]

Just thinking about the sunglasses holder forms second. Does Toyota have any vhicles with a "conversation" mirror we could swap in place of the factory one?