What is this and how do I remove it?
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slimjj
New member
Correction: the technical term is "grip handle", my bad. Looks like there are some covers you remove and probably some fasteners inside to loosen.
https://parts.conicellitoyotaofcons...as-engine/body-cat/interior-trim-pillars-scat
https://parts.conicellitoyotaofcons...as-engine/body-cat/interior-trim-pillars-scat
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The bolts holding the handle are behind the trim piece. The trim piece itself is held on to the b-pillar with plastic tabs/clips that hold almost all trim panels on.
Thank you both for the comments. I just came in from messing with it. I was afraid Id break the trim just trying to yank it off. I was able to get the trim off with a little flat bar and think I managed to avoid breaking anything. The seat belt height adjuster seems best in the lower position, the lower edge of the trim seems firmly behind the lower trim, the top edge of the trim is behind the headliner and the piece seems to need to flex in the middle to come out. I could see the 10mm bolts holding the handle on with the trim only half off but couldnt get to both of them. Theres a white plastic piece bonded to the grey at the top, I think it will survive, I thought it came off....
It just occurred to me that taking pics may help someone else down the line, I'll try to get some when I put the handle back on. The trim I needed to remove seems to be called the B pillar interior trim (just realized you mentioned that above). I didnt have that term before, but I still couldnt find info to remove it after learning the name.
OK, now on to the the hillbilly stuff. The handle was in the way of the window AC. I was going to try to put the AC in the rear cargo box, but in the side window looks simpler, no ducts and no cutting the cargo box away to nothing so the AC can breathe. Looks like the Honda generator will be OK in the cargo box with an intake air vent in the bottom and the exhaust/engine cooling air directed right out the side.
Have to do a cross country trip with the dog and have always worried about stopping or breaking down with the dog in the dark vehicle in the summer. Now the fashion is to break windows out if anyone sees a dog in a vehicle. Honorable intention, but it may not always been needed, like when the dog is fine and the temp is still in the 60s or low 70s in the vehicle.
It just occurred to me that taking pics may help someone else down the line, I'll try to get some when I put the handle back on. The trim I needed to remove seems to be called the B pillar interior trim (just realized you mentioned that above). I didnt have that term before, but I still couldnt find info to remove it after learning the name.
OK, now on to the the hillbilly stuff. The handle was in the way of the window AC. I was going to try to put the AC in the rear cargo box, but in the side window looks simpler, no ducts and no cutting the cargo box away to nothing so the AC can breathe. Looks like the Honda generator will be OK in the cargo box with an intake air vent in the bottom and the exhaust/engine cooling air directed right out the side.
Have to do a cross country trip with the dog and have always worried about stopping or breaking down with the dog in the dark vehicle in the summer. Now the fashion is to break windows out if anyone sees a dog in a vehicle. Honorable intention, but it may not always been needed, like when the dog is fine and the temp is still in the 60s or low 70s in the vehicle.
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Bigshankhank
New member
Um, so do you mean that you are going to leave your dog in a closed car with a running generator? I mean, sure duct out the exhaust but I’ve never seen a generator (even a Honda) that didn’t have a small exhaust leak. Not to mention the heat coming off the cylinder & head would probably overwhelm the window unit.
I mean, you do you I guess but don’t ever tell anyone you asphyxiated your dog inside a cold car, people don’t like to know that stuff about other people.
flighht2k5
New member
The generator will be in a cargo box on a hitch mounted cargo carrier, not inside the vehicle. It may be fine just venting it out the side in the engine heat dump vent, but am also looking at exhaust extensions that can get it further away. I havent gotten it complete yet to test.
Why a window AC? I looked at the cooler of ice with a fan things, they dont do much, dont last long, and require a bunch of ice, not something that can be used on demand without warning, like a flat or breakdown, or sleeping in it overnight when its hot out. Nothing else seemed able to actually do what a small window AC can do. Leaving the vehicle running with the AC on and leaving it is inviting it being stolen, and isnt legal in some states, or so I was informed by a nice police officer that was checking on my dogs once. Looked at solar with window AC, it can work, barely, but clouds or shade or battery problems and you have little or no reserve on demand to run a window AC unit of 5000 btu. The RVers and boat people use the small Hondas quite a lot, so long as they are well vented, they seem to do well. Some use them for AC, some for cpap units overnight, or whatever you can imagine. I use a 5k window AC in my cabin, which can become very hot in the summer. It works fine for the cabin, it should be OK for the 4runner. They also use less power than the large rooftop RV AC units from what Ive gathered from researching the options on how to keep the rig cool if stopped.
I prefer travelling in the cooler months, but right now dont have any choice. I have to stop for bathroom breaks (average 4 minutes) or to eat sometimes and get gas. I cant speed up the allegedly fast food. I keep a thermometer in the vehicle so I always know what the temp is and never let it get above mid 70s. I can usually do OK if nothing unusual happens, they remember how to make tacos or whatever. Sometimes they dont remember how to make tacos or hamburgers and it takes a long time. I usually go in, and need to move some regularly so my hip doesnt seize up. The AC in the 4runner is usually set on 66 or whatever the lowest setting is when driving. Still, I want to be able to keep it cool without having to rush every second.
https://www.google.com/search?q=win...n6rcAhVNhq0KHfMDD4oQ_AUICygC&biw=1242&bih=577
Why a window AC? I looked at the cooler of ice with a fan things, they dont do much, dont last long, and require a bunch of ice, not something that can be used on demand without warning, like a flat or breakdown, or sleeping in it overnight when its hot out. Nothing else seemed able to actually do what a small window AC can do. Leaving the vehicle running with the AC on and leaving it is inviting it being stolen, and isnt legal in some states, or so I was informed by a nice police officer that was checking on my dogs once. Looked at solar with window AC, it can work, barely, but clouds or shade or battery problems and you have little or no reserve on demand to run a window AC unit of 5000 btu. The RVers and boat people use the small Hondas quite a lot, so long as they are well vented, they seem to do well. Some use them for AC, some for cpap units overnight, or whatever you can imagine. I use a 5k window AC in my cabin, which can become very hot in the summer. It works fine for the cabin, it should be OK for the 4runner. They also use less power than the large rooftop RV AC units from what Ive gathered from researching the options on how to keep the rig cool if stopped.
I prefer travelling in the cooler months, but right now dont have any choice. I have to stop for bathroom breaks (average 4 minutes) or to eat sometimes and get gas. I cant speed up the allegedly fast food. I keep a thermometer in the vehicle so I always know what the temp is and never let it get above mid 70s. I can usually do OK if nothing unusual happens, they remember how to make tacos or whatever. Sometimes they dont remember how to make tacos or hamburgers and it takes a long time. I usually go in, and need to move some regularly so my hip doesnt seize up. The AC in the 4runner is usually set on 66 or whatever the lowest setting is when driving. Still, I want to be able to keep it cool without having to rush every second.
https://www.google.com/search?q=win...n6rcAhVNhq0KHfMDD4oQ_AUICygC&biw=1242&bih=577
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Bigshankhank
New member
OK, I missed the external part of the cargo box, my bad. Still, is this a one-time trip kind of thing? How will you be attaching it to the passenger door, such that it will stay put while driving/going over bumps without some serious anchorage, all for a one time trip? If you are only leaving it for brief periods of time like going inside a restaurant to pee or grab some food, leave the windows at half mast and make sure your dog has plenty of drinking water, you'll be in there 10 minutes tops. Bring your food out to the car, crank the engine and AC and maybe bring your dog some fries so the two of you can eat together. Maybe rig up a small oscillating fan with a solar panel on the roof rack so the dog has some air movement while he waits for you. Seems like there is a simpler way to skin this particular cat if you'll forgive the metaphor.
Its not strictly a one time thing. This is something Ive wrestled with for years. My normal cut-off point for taking the dog to town is 65 degrees. I live about 35 miles from town, so when I go, I often have a lot to do. With windows cracked, it doesnt get uncomfortably hot for her at 65 deg outside temp, and with a steady breeze, I feel even better about it. I used to leave the suburban running with the AC on, the motor would get hot. I had an extra electric fan installed in the radiator, it helped with leaving it running when parked for short periods, but I didnt do it for long. Where I live there isnt much of a vehicle theft problem, but I wouldnt leave it running on the road. Its also not legal in many places.
I later saw where people had taken one rear window from the barn doors from vans and suburbans and put a window AC unit in with a little generator on a hitch carrier. I was planning to do that when my suburban cratered. Looking for a spare rear hatch door for the 4runner wasnt economically feasible, I wanted to cut a hole for an AC unit. The rear windows arent very conducive to putting it in there with how I have the dog platform in the back of the 4runner. I was going to put the AC in the cargo box and duct it into the rear window, but to get enough free venting for it, Id have to pretty much remove most of the box around it. As hillbilly as it will look, in the side window looks like the simplest way, and will give me fairly easy access to the controls. I may figure out a way to get it on the rear carrier, but I need to make a trip soon and dont have R&D time to mess with it now.
Ive also looked around at junkyards for tops from 05s to try to make a tropical roof like some land rovers had, but none I called had any or they wanted too much. The tropical roofs were a second skin with about an inch of air space over the regular roof. I bought a roof basket cargo rack to put a plywood layer in to make shade, but it made so much wind noise I took it off. It also made a noticeable difference in my fuel mileage. I get 22-24 on the road most of the time. The rear cargo box hasnt made any noticeable difference in mileage. Will have to see if the side window mounting of the AC will have any effect.
Short stops I can deal with, its partly the unknowns, like a flat or breakdown on the road, or if I have to spend more time somewhere for whatever reason that I want to have the AC for. I can also just take the dog anytime I want around town in the summer without it being a problem with the AC.
I have some aluminum angle that im going to make brackets to mount the AC in the side window, and fill in around it with lexan. Looks relatively simple and mostly not permanent to the vehicle.
I later saw where people had taken one rear window from the barn doors from vans and suburbans and put a window AC unit in with a little generator on a hitch carrier. I was planning to do that when my suburban cratered. Looking for a spare rear hatch door for the 4runner wasnt economically feasible, I wanted to cut a hole for an AC unit. The rear windows arent very conducive to putting it in there with how I have the dog platform in the back of the 4runner. I was going to put the AC in the cargo box and duct it into the rear window, but to get enough free venting for it, Id have to pretty much remove most of the box around it. As hillbilly as it will look, in the side window looks like the simplest way, and will give me fairly easy access to the controls. I may figure out a way to get it on the rear carrier, but I need to make a trip soon and dont have R&D time to mess with it now.
Ive also looked around at junkyards for tops from 05s to try to make a tropical roof like some land rovers had, but none I called had any or they wanted too much. The tropical roofs were a second skin with about an inch of air space over the regular roof. I bought a roof basket cargo rack to put a plywood layer in to make shade, but it made so much wind noise I took it off. It also made a noticeable difference in my fuel mileage. I get 22-24 on the road most of the time. The rear cargo box hasnt made any noticeable difference in mileage. Will have to see if the side window mounting of the AC will have any effect.
Short stops I can deal with, its partly the unknowns, like a flat or breakdown on the road, or if I have to spend more time somewhere for whatever reason that I want to have the AC for. I can also just take the dog anytime I want around town in the summer without it being a problem with the AC.
I have some aluminum angle that im going to make brackets to mount the AC in the side window, and fill in around it with lexan. Looks relatively simple and mostly not permanent to the vehicle.
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Tanker Yanker
New member
We have two big American Akitas....I feel your pain and can totally relate to outside temperature dictating when and if the dogs can go for a ride. Our babies live 100% inside....my house stays 64-65° F all summer. Poor dogs don't hardly want to go outside to potty. I hate summer!
Tanker Yanker
New member
In the winter though, they get daily visits to the parks and conservation areas nearby. 20° above and snow on the ground, they are perfectly happy to jump in the river and run around soaking wet. My wife doesn't work and can spoil them rotten while I'm in the truck!
My old dogs would hang out in the cabin in the AC when it was hot. Current dog loves being outside too much and will just go under the porch and snooze in the heat until it gets 95 or more, then she'll come inside for a while. The heat usually breaks after the sun goes behind the mountain, then we can go for a walk. They also all have loved getting in the irrigation ditch and laying down to cool off. The very best thing is to go up on the mountain and play in the leftover snowbanks. They usually hold until some time in August up around 10,000 ft or so.
I'm just a one human family at this point, so its only me to take care of the dog. I take her as much as I can, and if this works well, I'll likely use it all summer long so she doesnt have to stay home when I'm tooling around town. When I get more time to work with it, I'm hoping it can be a bit tidier in final form.
I'm just a one human family at this point, so its only me to take care of the dog. I take her as much as I can, and if this works well, I'll likely use it all summer long so she doesnt have to stay home when I'm tooling around town. When I get more time to work with it, I'm hoping it can be a bit tidier in final form.
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Full Hillbilly
Have finished the generator and window AC install. Seems to work fine so far, but may need to get a hard start capacitor if I want to run the gen on Eco mode.
Update: I did end up having to use a hard start capacitor to get the AC to start reliably on ECO mode on the generator. It was $12 locally. I just zip tied it to the side of the AC unit and ran the wires and connectors in through a hole and piggybacked them on the existing small capacitor. Theres a lot of info on them on various RV and boat forums.
This is it, I think I got it at Home Depot. The local heat/AC supply places also had them.
Supco SPP6 Compressor Hard Start Booster Capacitor
A google search will show how its done, I dont think i saved the info I found about installing it, but its very simple.
Have finished the generator and window AC install. Seems to work fine so far, but may need to get a hard start capacitor if I want to run the gen on Eco mode.
Update: I did end up having to use a hard start capacitor to get the AC to start reliably on ECO mode on the generator. It was $12 locally. I just zip tied it to the side of the AC unit and ran the wires and connectors in through a hole and piggybacked them on the existing small capacitor. Theres a lot of info on them on various RV and boat forums.
This is it, I think I got it at Home Depot. The local heat/AC supply places also had them.
Supco SPP6 Compressor Hard Start Booster Capacitor
A google search will show how its done, I dont think i saved the info I found about installing it, but its very simple.
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