How To: Interior Tailgate Switch

[seantrewick]

Hey all,

This is my first post on the forums, hope someone finds this useful.

I regularly camp and sleep in the back of my 4Runner, and it's a pain to get out of the side doors or roll down the back window to open the tailgate, so I wanted to install an interior tailgate switch.

This write up is great, but it's not applicable to 5th gens:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/70995-interior-rear-hatch-release-button.html

For 5th gens, follow that write up, but instead of splicing into the wires he mentions, splice into the light green and grey wires as shown in the attached pics. I used standard red splices with the ends chopped off so they fit between the connector and the harness sleeve.
I only installed the momentary push switch, and not the toggle switch. I figured the tailgate doesn't open when in drive (I think) and the hidden location would prevent it from accidentally opening when in park. You need to push the tailgate while holding the switch down so it's a 2-hand job as it is.
You also probably want to wire in a connector near to the control unit so that you can disconnect the switch when you take the rear panel off.

Let me know if you want any more info.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[GuitarPlayer]

Thanks for this writeup! I am going to do this to my 18 4runner this weekend. If its not too much trouble can you help clarify which connector you spliced into is? The pictures from the original thread you linked are no longer visible. It just says the rear door ECU. I think this is what it looks like in the 5th gen when the panel is removed but it is not immediately obvious which connector is shown in your close up pics:

I assume the ECU is the black Electronics package in the middle of the door, but I am not positive and there are two connectors to it.

Maybe it will be obvious when I open it up...? Or maybe there are only one light green and grey wires in either connector..?

Also, is it necessary/recommended to disconnect the battery before doing this mod?

Thanks again!!

 

[Dillusion]

I needed this. Figure I could close my hatch and get out fast enough if my fishing bell went off. Figured out it was a pain the hard way.

Also correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't the doors/hatch lock when driving so you wouldn't need to worry about it opening when driving? or does it override regardless.

 

[GuitarPlayer]

Figured it out and wired it up this weekend. This is so cool. What a useful mod for those of us who sleep in the back. I did not have to disconnect the battery and it was pretty easy to figure out what harness it was. It was labelled 70 just like the one shown above. Here is a picture of my switch. I think this switch looks great. Almost looks factory.

 

[pDubs]

Wait so you tap into each one of those wires, and just have each one go to the connections on a momentary switch? Doesn't matter which goes to which?

 

[On Point]

Great post. Thank you!

 

[willo]

Nice. I like how subtle the switch is.

 

[GuitarPlayer]

Wait so you tap into each one of those wires, and just have each one go to the connections on a momentary switch? Doesn't matter which goes to which?

No. It doesn't matter. All the switch is doing is connecting the two wires when pressed. So just connect a splice off the light green to one connection on the switch and a splice off the grey to the other connection on the switch.

The scariest part for me (I haven't done this before) was drilling a hole in the plastic panel. But you can make sure the switch is working and all is good before taking a drill to the panel. Also I tested the diameter of the drilled hole required by using a scrap board first. The old measure twice cut once principle.

 

[GuitarPlayer]

I think this is the switch I used.

https://www.amazon.com/Ulincos-U16A1-Black-Button-Switch/dp/B015X34IP6/ref=pd_day0_hl_263_5?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B015X34IP6&pd_rd_r=a74ab7c0-14f7-11e9-ae07-8b68912c8bcc&pd_rd_w=CeiOB&pd_rd_wg=3j0lv&pf_rd_p=ad07871c-e646-4161-82c7-5ed0d4c85b07&pf_rd_r=FEK29SS6TVMDNDBHMZ05&psc=1&refRID=FEK29SS6TVMDNDBHMZ05

 

[97BlackAckCL]

Very cool mod, thank you for sharing

 

[pDubs]

No. It doesn't matter. All the switch is doing is connecting the two wires when pressed. So just connect a splice off the light green to one connection on the switch and a splice off the grey to the other connection on the switch.

The scariest part for me (I haven't done this before) was drilling a hole in the plastic panel. But you can make sure the switch is working and all is good before taking a drill to the panel. Also I tested the diameter of the drilled hole required by using a scrap board first. The old measure twice cut once principle.

That's what I figured but thanks for the clarification! I ordered that same switch already but in the silver color. I figured when the hatch is up you won't see the switch, and no one normally would see if that sits in the back seat.. but if I need to get out in the middle of the night to pee, I figured having the switch be more visible may be helpful... who knows, lol.

 

[seantrewick]

Oops.. apparently I don't check my posts often enough. Glad to hear you all got it to work!

Happy trails.