Swimmerboy2112's Build Thread

[JBurt]

It appears that is the case. I know yours is a 96, not a 97 but here is someone elses experience:

WabFab 2 door 1990 4Runner SAS and 3.4 swap - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

 

[danthemanx07]

It appears that is the case. I know yours is a 96, not a 97 but here is someone elses experience:

WabFab 2 door 1990 4Runner SAS and 3.4 swap - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

Interesting thread. I may be in the same boat as you then when I go take a look at mine. I have never pulled the auto one out to verify. I do have a 1998 Tacoma manual ECU and 1998 4runner manual ECU on the shelf though. I think they are the same. I need to pull mine out I guess and take a look.

 

[Swimmerboy2112]

Of course. Wasn't thinking when I read that.

This still doesnt sound right. Let me look at mine this evening. I have a manual ECU from both a 4runner and a Tacoma. I am almost positive that both have 3 rows of pins.

Where did you get the ECU from? Is this the one out of the 1996? I have a hard time believing that it has something to do with the limited trim level, but I could be wrong. It more than likely has to do with the model year, 1996.

Ah - if you still have the manual shift, I would recommend putting that in as much of a pain as that might be. Those electric shift cases rely on a solenoid to engage. More electric items to screw up. If you keep the electric case, you may check over on ttora for some threads on the matter. Those cases were fairly common in Tacomas as well, and I think I read a thread or two on it back when I did my swap.

I got my ECU from a 1997 4Runner, bought it off ebay.

I do still have the manual shift, and to be honest, i'd rather have the manual shift in there but will it work with my current setup? I guess what my question is, is, what engages the front diff with the manual shift t-case?

It appears that is the case. I know yours is a 96, not a 97 but here is someone elses experience:

WabFab 2 door 1990 4Runner SAS and 3.4 swap - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

Mine is actually a 97' the only thing that is from a 96' is the transmission. The ECU is from a 97'. Looks like buying a wiring harness is the way to go.

Interesting thread. I may be in the same boat as you then when I go take a look at mine. I have never pulled the auto one out to verify. I do have a 1998 Tacoma manual ECU and 1998 4runner manual ECU on the shelf though. I think they are the same. I need to pull mine out I guess and take a look.

Yeah take a look, seems like the best course of action would be to buy a wiring harness.

 

[Swimmerboy2112]

4x4 works!!

I read what I could on the VSV and went on with my day.

I figured i'd re-connect everything on the truck and go from there. Hooked up the driveshafts, jacked the front wheels off the ground (the rear is already on jackstands) and again attempted to engage 4x4. Still nothing. So I put the 4Runner in first gear and slowly let off the clutch and low and behold I have 4x4!!! YAY!

I really appreciate the help! I'm glad there wasn't anything wrong though!

 

[danthemanx07]

Well sun of b.... 1998 Tacoma Manual ECU on the left. 1998 4runner Manual ECU on the right. Guess the only thing left to do is pull mine out and see which one it matches...

 

[Swimmerboy2112]

Well sun of b.... 1998 Tacoma Manual ECU on the left. 1998 4runner Manual ECU on the right. Guess the only thing left to do is pull mine out and see which one it matches...

Woah! 98 4Runner manual is 3 row!?

 

[danthemanx07]

Woah! 98 4Runner manual is 3 row!?

Appears that 1998 4runner automatic transmission models did too... Far right is the one I pulled from my automatic.



Any chance your seller sent you a Tacoma ECU? The 1997 Tacoma automatic has 3 rows of pins. The manual has 2 rows.

 

[Swimmerboy2112]

Appears that 1998 4runner automatic transmission models did too... Far right is the one I pulled from my automatic.



Any chance your seller sent you a Tacoma ECU? The 1997 Tacoma automatic has 3 rows of pins. The manual has 2 rows.

It is possible that I got one from a Tacoma but the ad specifically stated it was from a 4Runner. I am trying to get ahold of the guy I sold the rest of the 96 to, to see if that manual ECU is also 2 row.

 

[danthemanx07]

Some motivation for you. Just pulled wires from the wiring harness and swapped in the manual ECU. Should have done this three years ago...

 

[Swimmerboy2112]

Some motivation for you. Just pulled wires from the wiring harness and swapped in the manual ECU. Should have done this three years ago...

Damn you! Looks like i'm going to either have to take a gamble on going with a 1998 M/T ECU or swap harnesses. The 97 manual ECU from the 4Runners is most definitely a 2 row pin setup. :crybaby:

 

[danthemanx07]

Damn you! Looks like i'm going to either have to take a gamble on going with a 1998 M/T ECU or swap harnesses. The 97 manual ECU from the 4Runners is most definitely a 2 row pin setup. :crybaby:

Before you do that man, it may be worth your while to find the wiring part of the factory service manual and see if you can re-pin your 3-row connectors to a 2-row ecu. You would still need to get the plugs from somewhere, but at least you wouldn't be gambling much. Any 1995.5 - 1997 tacoma with a manual transmisison should have the right connectors.

If you get a 1998, I have a pin diagram for the ECU. You could get the wiring information for the 1997 and compare them and then re-pin the harness if there were any differences.

 

[Swimmerboy2112]

Before you do that man, it may be worth your while to find the wiring part of the factory service manual and see if you can re-pin your 3-row connectors to a 2-row ecu. You would still need to get the plugs from somewhere, but at least you wouldn't be gambling much. Any 1995.5 - 1997 tacoma with a manual transmisison should have the right connectors.

If you get a 1998, I have a pin diagram for the ECU. You could get the wiring information for the 1997 and compare them and then re-pin the harness if there were any differences.

That sounds like a lot of work but I guess it's worth a shot. Although I am NOT electronically inclined.

 

[danthemanx07]

That sounds like a lot of work but I guess it's worth a shot. Although I am NOT electronically inclined.

Well. I think you would have to do it anyway if you picked up a 1998 ECU. As I mentioned in another post, there are variations between years, and you risk doing damage to the ECU and maybe doing something else by just plugging something in.

Re-pinning is not hard at all - even for the electrically challenged like you and I. All you would need to do is compare the pins and their functions and switch the harness to match the functions of the pins on the ecu. Removing the pins from the harness is super easy.

 

[Swimmerboy2112]

Well. I think you would have to do it anyway if you picked up a 1998 ECU. As I mentioned in another post, there are variations between years, and you risk doing damage to the ECU and maybe doing something else by just plugging something in.

Re-pinning is not hard at all - even for the electrically challenged like you and I. All you would need to do is compare the pins and their functions and switch the harness to match the functions of the pins on the ecu. Removing the pins from the harness is super easy.

And for that reason I would not plug in an ECU from a 98. The 96 & 97 are identical I believe but the 98 differs.

Hmm, thats actually not a bad idea. Now, where to find the pinouts....?

 

[danthemanx07]

And for that reason I would not plug in an ECU from a 98. The 96 & 97 are identical I believe but the 98 differs.

Hmm, thats actually not a bad idea. Now, where to find the pinouts....?

I can get you the one for the 1998, but you would need a FSM to figure the 1997 out.

 

[Swimmerboy2112]

I can get you the one for the 1998, but you would need a FSM to figure the 1997 out.

Hmm, another issue I though of would be where would I even get the plugs? I think replacing the whole harness would be best.

 

[danthemanx07]

Hmm, another issue I though of would be where would I even get the plugs? I think replacing the whole harness would be best.

Maybe so. I figured the plugs could be had at a junk yard. Not sure how swapping the harness would work, so I don't have any input there.

 

[Swimmerboy2112]

Maybe so. I figured the plugs could be had at a junk yard. Not sure how swapping the harness would work, so I don't have any input there.

You rarely find them in a junkyard here. I think i'm just going to swap harnesses. It's something like 15/20 plugs, pretty simple.

 

[Swimmerboy2112]

Picked up a set of BFG A/T's in the 285/75 R16 flavor, I really wanted to run 255/85 R16's but I couldn't pass these up!

 

[JBurt]

Pics or it didn't happen.