Just did the map light mod...

[importman]

I just did the map light mod and I can't believe how simple it was. It may have taken me 30 minutes at the most. Had I known it was this easy I'd have done it a long time ago. I chose to splice into the white wire in the left A pillar. This was one thing I'd been wanting to do since I got my runner since the lighting sucks so bad. I recommend it to everyone. I went by JA's write up and another one by a user named Kevin something. Here's a link to JA's writeup if anyone wants to do it. Sorry I didn't take any pics or do any kind of write up but if anyone has any questions ask me now while it's fresh in my mind and I'll be glad to help.

Toyota 4Runner Maplight Mod

Edit to add: I just found Kevin's thread again. It helps especially if you have a limited with running board lights and you want to tie into them. Here it is:

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-...imiteds-running-board-lights.html#post1474540

 

[DMX512]

importman
I have been wanting to do this and the independent fog light mod.
Thanks for the info on your experience.

 

[importman]

importman
I have been wanting to do this and the independent fog light mod.
Thanks for the info on your experience.

No problem. I was amazed at how easy it was. If I had known I would've done it months ago.

 

[ads2539]

I did both the map light mod and the independent fog light mod with help from tutorials on this forum. The map light mod is how the 4Runners should have come from the factory!

One of my kids has an ’03-’08 Corolla with a burned out dome light or a blown fuse, and it drives me nuts to open the door at night and have no lights come on. (If he lived with me or closer to me, the dome light would work.)

 

[importman]

Update: A little while after I finished the Map light mod, my wife informed me that my new mirror had been delivered. I bought one off of eBay that has auto dimming, homelink, and compass. After I fixed the garage door opener on my shop last weekend I immediately got busy researching and ended up buying one. Two upgrades in one day, and both of them couldn't have been simpler. Now I get to go home and program the homelink to my opener, and since it'll be dark when I leave work I'll get to see how well the auto dim works, and when I get home I get to see how good my interior lighting is. Next up: probably LED's. (Until I save up enough to get the TRD Pro rims):biggrin2:

 

[importman]

I did both the map light mod and the independent fog light mod with help from tutorials on this forum. The map light mod is how the 4Runners should have come from the factory!

One of my kids has an ’03-’08 Corolla with a burned out dome light or a blown fuse, and it drives me nuts to open the door at night and have no lights come on. (If he lived with me or closer to me, the dome light would work.)

Absolutely! When I first got my 4runner I thought it was broken or I wasn't doing something right.
What is the fog light mod all about?

 

[ads2539]

With the fog light mod, you can turn on the factory fog lights (on the left side steering wheel stalk) whether or not the headlights are on. From the factory, they only work if the headlights (low beams only?) are also on.

 

[importman]

With the fog light mod, you can turn on the factory fog lights (on the left side steering wheel stalk) whether or not the headlights are on. From the factory, they only work if the headlights (low beams only?) are also on.

That makes sense. Do you find that you use them that way enough to make it worthwhile? I think I'll ty to look it up and see what it takes. Thanks!

 

[ads2539]

That makes sense. Do you find that you use them that way enough to make it worthwhile? I think I'll ty to look it up and see what it takes. Thanks!

I don’t use them that much, but the mod was easy enough to do that I just did it.

(My two sets of aftermarket fog lights only work if the headlights are on.)

 

[Whiskey & Wrenches]

Update: A little while after I finished the Map light mod, my wife informed me that my new mirror had been delivered. I bought one off of eBay that has auto dimming, homelink, and compass. After I fixed the garage door opener on my shop last weekend I immediately got busy researching and ended up buying one. Two upgrades in one day, and both of them couldn't have been simpler. Now I get to go home and program the homelink to my opener, and since it'll be dark when I leave work I'll get to see how well the auto dim works, and when I get home I get to see how good my interior lighting is. Next up: probably LED's. (Until I save up enough to get the TRD Pro rims):biggrin2:

Which mirror did you get? I've been wanting to do something like this.

 

[importman]

Which mirror did you get? I've been wanting to do something like this.

I got this one on eBay: 2003-2005 OEM Nissan Infinity Gentex Rear View Mirror Homelink Compass Auto Dim | eBay

There are other choices as well. Mine has orange lettering for the compass which matches the instrument panel. But you can get them with green instead. Also there are some with the backup camera monitor and some that show the temp. I didn't need either of those things. Anyway, I tried it out last night and it works perfectly. It was well worth the time and money to do it, both of which were minimal.

 

[mochacho]

Just did this mod. I regret not putting in the switch like JA did. I'll probably rewire it when I do his footwell light mod too.