Installing Universal SWI-JACK on 4th Gen
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tarheeltp17
New member
I have done the installation on a 4th gen but I don't have pictures. You can find pictures on www.pac-audio.com
tarheeltp17
New member
to my knowledge installing a new radio will not effect the illumination of the steering wheel controls. If they illuminate with the factory radio, they should illuminate with the aftermarket.
sant6236
New member
You make a great point. However, to my knowledge there is a existing OEM individual plug that is dedcated to the steering wheel control and once an aftermarket stereo is installed, this plug becomes obsolete, unless tapped into by this universal jack.
So, my question still stands, does the steering wheel control illuminate once tapped into?
So, my question still stands, does the steering wheel control illuminate once tapped into?
tarheeltp17
New member
the only way you are going to find the answer to that question is to either...
A) installing the wheel controls
B) calling PAC
other than that, i don't have an answer.
A) installing the wheel controls
B) calling PAC
other than that, i don't have an answer.
tarheeltp17
New member
by judging from the number of responses and who has responded to your question, I don't think anyone else knows. I'm just trying to lead you in the right direction, but I guess you think a forum will answer all of your questions. Calling the company who made the product makes too much sense. And I have performed the install on multiple 4runners, but don't recall the steering wheels not illuminating nor did I have any people come back and say that theirs no longer illuminated.
sant6236
New member
Ok fair enough.
It makes sense to me as to why it does not illuminate right now.
In the back of the OEM stereo, there was a jack for the OEM steering wheel plug.
When replacing the OEM stereo w/ an after market stereo (Kenwood - KVT-512), one loses the capability of using the plug for the steering wheel, hence the reason it does not illumiate, unless one uses an aftermarket jack such as the SWI-Jack.
It seems your thoughts are that the illumination portion is not directly connected to this plug?
It makes sense to me as to why it does not illuminate right now.
In the back of the OEM stereo, there was a jack for the OEM steering wheel plug.
When replacing the OEM stereo w/ an after market stereo (Kenwood - KVT-512), one loses the capability of using the plug for the steering wheel, hence the reason it does not illumiate, unless one uses an aftermarket jack such as the SWI-Jack.
It seems your thoughts are that the illumination portion is not directly connected to this plug?
tarheeltp17
New member
I know there is a plug dedicated to the steering wheel controls. Why not try this...
Unplug that harness from the factory radio then turn the lights on. If they don't illuminate, then there is your answer. Next you can plug the harness back into the radio and test the wires to see if any of them are supplied with 12volts once the lights are turned on. When you figure out which one does, unplug the harness and test again to make sure that the wire does not register anything. Once confirming that the wire needs 12 volts and is supplied through the radio, you can wire a relay to trigger this wire when the lights are on.
However, I don't see the radio providing illumination. The only connection to the controls is normally data/resistance based. Not to mention that PAC, Peripheral and everyone else making these units would have probably made it known and had an illumination trigger coming out of the SWI-**** box by now. If you can find someone with access to Alldatapro or similiar, you may be able to find your answer.
I still say that installing an aftermarket radio does not effect the illumination.
Unplug that harness from the factory radio then turn the lights on. If they don't illuminate, then there is your answer. Next you can plug the harness back into the radio and test the wires to see if any of them are supplied with 12volts once the lights are turned on. When you figure out which one does, unplug the harness and test again to make sure that the wire does not register anything. Once confirming that the wire needs 12 volts and is supplied through the radio, you can wire a relay to trigger this wire when the lights are on.
However, I don't see the radio providing illumination. The only connection to the controls is normally data/resistance based. Not to mention that PAC, Peripheral and everyone else making these units would have probably made it known and had an illumination trigger coming out of the SWI-**** box by now. If you can find someone with access to Alldatapro or similiar, you may be able to find your answer.
I still say that installing an aftermarket radio does not effect the illumination.
sant6236
New member
You have good points.
My other problem is my scroll dimmer will not dim my guages, but it will only dim the instrument panel.
I wonder if these 2 issues are conencted somehow.
I would be curious to see what happens if I hook my OEM stereo back up and see if the SW control lights back up.
Also, you are basically saying it is the light switch that engages the illumincation of the SW control?
I can tell you as soon as I put the aftermarket stereo in the SW control became unilluminated.
My other problem is my scroll dimmer will not dim my guages, but it will only dim the instrument panel.
I wonder if these 2 issues are conencted somehow.
I would be curious to see what happens if I hook my OEM stereo back up and see if the SW control lights back up.
Also, you are basically saying it is the light switch that engages the illumincation of the SW control?
I can tell you as soon as I put the aftermarket stereo in the SW control became unilluminated.
sant6236
New member
tarheeltp17 ~
This website may help answer my question. http://www.castulucci.com/projects/carpc/oemnaviconnectors/index.html
Correct me if i am wrong, his plug provides a ground but has no power. The power would come from the the main plug which is alread being used but will only illuminate the SW controls if in sync (if the 20-Pin Connector (Rear Controller Audio, Steering Wheel Controls) is connected.
Or the SW control is getting power but just isnt being grounded and needs to be to illuminate.
Make sense?
This website may help answer my question. http://www.castulucci.com/projects/carpc/oemnaviconnectors/index.html
Correct me if i am wrong, his plug provides a ground but has no power. The power would come from the the main plug which is alread being used but will only illuminate the SW controls if in sync (if the 20-Pin Connector (Rear Controller Audio, Steering Wheel Controls) is connected.
Or the SW control is getting power but just isnt being grounded and needs to be to illuminate.
Make sense?
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tarheeltp17
New member
Without a 4th gen in front of me, I can't answer your question. Get a multimeter and test the plug in your vehicle. Ground generally wouldn't be passed through the radio either. Some illumination is triggered using ground instead of 12 volts, so that wire is possible. Again, go test it in your vehicle. If that wire is supplied ground via the factory radio ONLY when it is plugged in, then ground that wire. Simple as that.
fo'runna so blu
New member
I have performed the installation on my '03 limited. If you want the steering wheel controls to illuminate, you must tap into the green wire/ sliver stripe on the oem plug that contains the steering wheel controls. I tapped into the illumination from the green/silver stripe wire on my back window switch to the green/ silver stripe wire on the oem plug and bam, there it was.
fo'runna so blu
New member
NO, you are not crazy. And yes, I have the 20 pin plug on the back of my oem stereo as well and I am using Pins 6, 7, and 8 to pull of the steering wheel controls. Again splice(using a t-tap) into the green and silver wire on the 20 pin harness or your up-down back window switch on the silver colored radio and ac trim(the trim surrounding the radio and ac controls). You will be able to control the illumination just as you would if you had you stock radio in the car. this worked well for me because i have a Avic-d3 and I had to find Illumination or else my radio would be in daylight mode 24/7. Hope this helps!
sant6236
New member
Ok, Im a little confused.
So, is it a fact that these SW controls will not be illuminated if the 20-pin plug was disconnected and not tapped into?
Or, are you saying the PAC SWI Jack will only enable stereo functionality and NOT illuminate the SW controls?
Is the only way of getting back illumination by tapping into the up-down back window switch on the silver colored radio and ac trim( the trim surrounding the radio and ac controls)?
I really appreciate your thoughts.
So, is it a fact that these SW controls will not be illuminated if the 20-pin plug was disconnected and not tapped into?
Or, are you saying the PAC SWI Jack will only enable stereo functionality and NOT illuminate the SW controls?
Is the only way of getting back illumination by tapping into the up-down back window switch on the silver colored radio and ac trim( the trim surrounding the radio and ac controls)?
I really appreciate your thoughts.
fo'runna so blu
New member
Ok, Im a little confused.
So, is it a fact that these SW controls will not be illuminated if the 20-pin plug was disconnected and not tapped into?
Yes this is correct!
Or, are you saying the PAC SWI Jack will only enable stereo functionality and NOT illuminate the SW controls?
Yes, i am saying this too because you can not catch the illumin wire from the swi jack. You can only get it from another switch or location in your car that is illuminating. Again, this is how it is hooked up in my car and others may have done it differently. But this did work for me. Take Care!
So, is it a fact that these SW controls will not be illuminated if the 20-pin plug was disconnected and not tapped into?
Yes this is correct!
Or, are you saying the PAC SWI Jack will only enable stereo functionality and NOT illuminate the SW controls?
Yes, i am saying this too because you can not catch the illumin wire from the swi jack. You can only get it from another switch or location in your car that is illuminating. Again, this is how it is hooked up in my car and others may have done it differently. But this did work for me. Take Care!
