I did some searching in the archives but could not find a definitive answer. I've found a potential donor with taillights intact and could pull all appropriate parts - if I knew what I needed to pull. I know the actual taillight assembly or shell is a direct bolt in, but there seems to be some discussion about the light sockets and wiring harness being different and not interchanging. Will I need to take the bulb sockets, the wiring harness or both to use them? Thanks.
What do I need to swap 01-02 taillights onto my 00?
- Thread starter Spktyr
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Dezert4Runner
Senior Member
Yes, you’ll need the 01-02 harnesses as well. They unclip form behind the trim panels. I think there’s a 8 or 10mm bolt you need to undo as well.
Search wasn't terribly helpful on that, any idea where I could find pictures of what I'd need to do to pull the harnesses out?
Dezert4Runner
Senior Member
I’m not sure where to dig up pictures of the process but it’s pretty straight forward. I would say all you need is a Philips or JIS, needle nosed pliers, a trim removal tool (optional), and like I said there’s a small bolt that needs to be undone too. A closed end wrench or a small ratchet will work. I did this swap earlier this year but it’s been a while and I didn’t take pics, so going off memory alone.
Take out the cargo trim piece that covers the carpet with a Philips. This will allow you to get to the bottom corners of the quarter panel trim pieces. Unbolt the cargo cover hook trim piece and start popping the clips out where it meets the carpet horizontally, and also vertically up to the window. It’s doable with just a few of the clips popped out on each axis but definitely easier of the whole trim panel is removed. Then the harness unclips and unbolts and gets pulled out with the rubber grommet that’s behind the tail light. The photo attached pretty much shows it all, at least interior panel wise.
Take out the cargo trim piece that covers the carpet with a Philips. This will allow you to get to the bottom corners of the quarter panel trim pieces. Unbolt the cargo cover hook trim piece and start popping the clips out where it meets the carpet horizontally, and also vertically up to the window. It’s doable with just a few of the clips popped out on each axis but definitely easier of the whole trim panel is removed. Then the harness unclips and unbolts and gets pulled out with the rubber grommet that’s behind the tail light. The photo attached pretty much shows it all, at least interior panel wise.
Attachments
Okay, thanks. Looks like I can do that - normally I'd probably just start taking stuff apart until I got far enough in, but I cut my left hand pretty badly last Sunday and currently have stitches in. I wanted to make sure I could get in there and access the harness with basically one good hand.
4Runner4Leon
Senior Member
Yup, the harnesses don't go far into the body, there are connectors just a few inches past the grommet in the sheetmetal behind the taillights. Here is what you'll be looking at:
4Runner4Leon
Senior Member
That is true, you can splice the wires to make the older harness work with the newer taillights. I started down that path too before I realized that the harness connector is just behind the sheetmetal, rather than somewhere deep in the truck.
To me, I prefer to not splice wires if I don't have to, but it's definitely an option. Here are the two harnesses side by side - like stated above, you need to splice the reverse bulb from one to the other, as they are different sizes. Also, the turn signal amber clear bulb needs to be replaced with amber.
This is great to know. Thanks!
other than the looks, are the newer lghts better....brightness etc ?
i guess one could also go the other direction since they are plug and play, meaning put in the earlier lights into a 2001/2
reason, I have a 2001 but it might be finding a new home, got an offer going to buy a 99. Could put the 99 lights into the 01 and the 01 into the 99. Doubt people around here would notice when I go to sell the 01.
i guess one could also go the other direction since they are plug and play, meaning put in the earlier lights into a 2001/2
reason, I have a 2001 but it might be finding a new home, got an offer going to buy a 99. Could put the 99 lights into the 01 and the 01 into the 99. Doubt people around here would notice when I go to sell the 01.
A non enthusiast buyer wouldn't notice or care. Both harnesses need to be swapped is what I heard of and no rewiring needs to be done for them to work. They just look better and I think the brightness might be improved a bit.
