Starting '99 Console Swap, have a couple of questions

[4Runner4Leon]

I just rounded up the needed supplies for the '99 console swap (roof and floor). I read a number of threads on the process, so the concept is pretty clear to me, but I could use some suggestions in a couple of areas:

1. The console lid on the donor console is abhorrent (this is the leather lid from a Limited). See photos below. On the other hand the lid in my '97 is pristine. I would like to try to swap them, but they have a slightly different shape. I am torn between trying to pull off the leather from mine and put it on the lid in the '99, or trying to use the remnants of the leather seat that I am pulling off of my '97 (I'm reupholstering it), say the back part, and sewing a new lid cover out of it. Any thoughts on this?

2. I don't think I've found a solution for relocating the ECT and Rear Window switches that I am completely thrilled with. Putting them in the dash knockouts is common, but it bothers me that the rear window functionality becomes sort of upside down. So just for giggles I also liberated the ECT and rear window switch panel out of the donor, and am wondering if I can install it somewhere in my center dash, maybe in that black panel next to the current pull-out cupholder. Anyone tried that?

3. Finally, does anyone use the little compartment behind the rear cupholder in the '99 console for anything? At first glance it seems to be very unuseful (useless?), but maybe I'm missing some utility for it.

Here are some photos:

Roof console:



The donor console, before being cleaned up:





Here you can see the worn lid:



Here is the switch panel I borrowed from the donor:



Emergency brake and mounting bracket from the '99, along with some other goodies:

 

[phattyduck]

3. Finally, does anyone use the little compartment behind the rear cupholder in the '99 console for anything? At first glance it seems to be very unuseful (useless?), but maybe I'm missing some utility for it.

I keep an air freshener in there and a few random other little things. It also fits some sunglasses/glasses cases. Another option is putting a blanking plate there so you can install more switches...

I think you'll need the whole radio trim to use that '99+ switch panel on the upper dash.

-Charlie

 

[thecole1098]

If you think that lid is worn, you should see mine lol. Eventually I’ll do the 99+ console mod and get one that hopefully will look better. I wanna do the same with my drivers seat cause it costs way too much to get them professionally reupholstered.

 

[4Runner4Leon]

I keep an air freshener in there and a few random other little things. It also fits some sunglasses/glasses cases. Another option is putting a blanking plate there so you can install more switches...

I think you'll need the whole radio trim to use that '99+ switch panel on the upper dash.

Thanks Charlie! I've considered putting a blanking plate over the rear cubby and mounting the switches in it, so I might do that still if all else fails.

As for the '00 switch panel mounting, I realize that I can't mount it "as is" in the '97, but I'm thinking of chopping it up and using just the switch portions in my '97 dash. I'll investigate this weekend.

 

[4Runner4Leon]

If you think that lid is worn, you should see mine lol. Eventually I’ll do the 99+ console mod and get one that hopefully will look better. I wanna do the same with my drivers seat cause it costs way too much to get them professionally reupholstered.

Haha, right you are. I don't understand why my '97 lid is pristine, and all the other ones I've seen look like they've been attacked by an acid dripping wolf or something. The more I look at the '99 lid, the more I think I might just clean it up and hit it with some SEM paint, as a start.

 

[cblock406]

I did the swap and as often as I rolldown the back window (not that often) having the switch in the dash doesn't bother me one bit. I also had to notch my floor just a little bit with an angle grinder to fit the ebrake handle bracket that bolts to the floor.

 

[4Runner4Leon]

I did the swap and as often as I rolldown the back window (not that often) having the switch in the dash doesn't bother me one bit. I also had to notch my floor just a little bit with an angle grinder to fit the ebrake handle bracket that bolts to the floor.

Good point, I've yet to use my rear window switch! I'll keep that in mind. But I like the look of the '00 switch better for some reason, so I'll probably be stubborn and try to get it to work. Unless I hit a brick wall, of course .

 

[HiluxSurf SSR-G]

you'll also need to replace the center panel assembly in the dashboard to make the new combination switch assy work. also, there are about 2-3 good threads about this project in YT

 

[4Runner4Leon]

you'll also need to replace the center panel assembly in the dashboard to make the new combination switch assy work. also, there are about 2-3 good threads about this project in YT

Thanks, but I don't want to swap the whole dash unit, seems like the defrost switch was a problem for anyone who tried (?). I just want to use the ECT and window switches from the '00 in my '97 dash, but again, I might hit a brick wall sooner rather than later. Oh well, I've done crazier things in the past, we'll see what happens here.

 

[malinwah]

Good luck!
Im hoping to do mine this weekend as well.
Keep us posted!

 

[4Runner4Leon]

Looks like there are two approaches to the roof console - one is to put the '97 switches into the '99 console (first pic), the other is to rewire the switches to make things work with the single '99 switch (second photo).

I don't quite understand how the '99 single switch works - I assume when you push the switch, it first tilts, and then slides? And the opposite in reverse?

To me this seems like a cleaner install than trying to add the second switch (especially if I can't remove the black writing on the clear plastic). Unfortunately I am not sure I cut out enough of the donor harness, so I'll have to see if I can get the single switch to work. Or else go back to the junkyard for the donor harness, fun!

 

[phattyduck]

I don't quite understand how the '99 single switch works - I assume when you push the switch, it first tilts, and then slides? And the opposite in reverse?

It should be opposite. The same side of the button that slide the sunroof closed pops it up. The same button that lowers it slides it back.

So, press and hold to slide it closed, release, press the same button again to pop it up.

-Charlie

 

[4Runner4Leon]

It should be opposite. The same side of the button that slide the sunroof closed pops it up. The same button that lowers it slides it back.

So, press and hold to slide it closed, release, press the same button again to pop it up.

-Charlie

Oh, thanks for the clarification.. Sounds like I'd need to have printed instructions on how to operate it . Or is it fairly intuitive once you try? I guess the question is are there any operational benefits to the dual switches from the '97? I get that there is less rewiring needed, but I don't mind rewiring because I am not crazy about having to make the second cutout for the second switch. But I'd like to know if the two switches are better in operation than one? All of this is frankly silly because I never use the sunroof anyway .

 

[rkymtnman]

We did this swap a couple weeks ago but swapped in the center dash bezel from the '99 in to the '98. Everything works fine except the rear defroster. Planning to relocate it and use the '98 switch - just need to land it somewhere in the '99 center dash bezel.

Came out nice.

 

[octanejunkie]

The sunroof switch mod may require a different body ECU as there are no differences in the push - if you know what I mean

Push and hold and it forward and it cranks the back up, reverse vent

Push and hold backwards (when tilted open) it closes (tilt down)

Push and hold backwards (when not tilted open) and it slides back

Push and hold it forwards (when not tilted open) and it slides closed, but stops about 4" open, requiring another push and hold to close​

I don't know for a fact, I am just supposing since there might be more wires going to the 2 switches than to just one.

 

[Tyler James Inc]

Oh boy, here we go. I'll try to keep it short.
I've done all the swaps, and would do everything exactly the same if I had a '96-98 rig again.

PLEASE don't cut your overhead console up to fit the double switches. It's so much simpler to use the '99 controls.
You absolutely don't need any different body ECU.
It's almost all plug 'n play, but you need to either splice or re-pin a couple wires.
It's all in my '97 thread- toward the end.
You will have a spare constant hot that you'll need to safe off. You could also use this constant for a dash cam or radar detector.
I did the full dash bezel swap, and had a working defroster and ECT/window control.
It seems to be hard info to find, but I found it and did it. You have to keep the earlier switch behind the dash, because that houses the actual relay/timer for the defrost. The newer button is just a momentary button, and has to relay/timer within it. You have to solder some wires onto the board inside the earlier switch, and use the new button to activate it.

 

[HiluxSurf SSR-G]

there were people over at YT who were able to make the rear window defrost switch work by following the procedure shown in the YT threads

Thanks, but I don't want to swap the whole dash unit, seems like the defrost switch was a problem for anyone who tried (?). I just want to use the ECT and window switches from the '00 in my '97 dash, but again, I might hit a brick wall sooner rather than later. Oh well, I've done crazier things in the past, we'll see what happens here.

 

[Tyler James Inc]

there were people over at YT who were able to make the rear window defrost switch work by following the procedure shown in the YT threads

Exactly. That's what I used. It seems to be the one and only thread with info on how to get the defrost working, and it's actually proving to be very hard to find. With the whole Photobucket BS, I wouldn't be surprised if we're totally SOL at this point [emoji30]
Here is a vid I made for [MENTION=84643]JBurt[/MENTION] when he was asking about wiring. Please go full-screen; sorry I took it vertically
https://youtu.be/N2JopkvWd0s
I wish I would have taken the switch apart to show which wires need to be soldered where, but I didn't realize the info was so hard to find. 4Runner is in AK now.
This post briefly describes what I did for the sunroof controls swap. I guess I only had to splice wiring because I added the visor light. All you need is power and ground to the sunroof control, and I believe the wire colors are even the same. It helps tremendously to have the 99+ pigtail/connector for clarity.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/2565975-post13.html

 

[4Runner4Leon]

PLEASE don't cut your overhead console up to fit the double switches. It's so much simpler to use the '99 controls.
You absolutely don't need any different body ECU.
It's almost all plug 'n play, but you need to either splice or re-pin a couple wires.
It's all in my '97 thread- toward the end.
You will have a spare constant hot that you'll need to safe off. You could also use this constant for a dash cam or radar detector.

Thanks Tyler, I'll look for your thread on this swap. I also found another thread, here - http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/239466-99-98-overhead-console-swap-info.html

Here is what he did:

Is this similar/same as what you did?

I plan to do it this way too, although I have to read up a bit and make sure I cut off enough of the donor harness. I hope I did, see below:

I did the full dash bezel swap, and had a working defroster and ECT/window control.
It seems to be hard info to find, but I found it and did it. You have to keep the earlier switch behind the dash, because that houses the actual relay/timer for the defrost. The newer button is just a momentary button, and has to relay/timer within it. You have to solder some wires onto the board inside the earlier switch, and use the new button to activate it.

OK, I'm slowly beginning to come around to doing this as well, I like the integration of the ECT and window switches. I'll need to read up on this, but I think I'll focus on the roof and floor consoles first, or else my head will explode. But thinking ahead, do I want a 99-00 or 01-02 bezel, or are they the same? I'm asking because I pulled the switch assembly from the yard but it looks different from what yours looks like (I think mine was pulled from an '02). They all seem to have slight differences in the portion to the right of the window switch, maybe someone can explain the year differences. Plus I only see one that has the "Security" thing, not sure what the other versions do with that function.

Here is what I took (no "Security"):



And here is what folks seem to have used, slightly different (with some weird gizmo where mine says "passenger"):

And this (with "Security" and "Passenger"):

 

[4Runner4Leon]

there were people over at YT who were able to make the rear window defrost switch work by following the procedure shown in the YT threads

So many posts have dead Photobucket links... Do you have a post on YT you could point me too?