What is this switch for? 2002 4wd Limited

[whiskytango]

Does anyone recognize this switch or have a guess about what it would be for? My wife bought this 4Runner used in MN but now it lives in AL. I am not aware of any added accessories that switch would power, and I can't figure out if it does anything when I flip it. However, it does not appear to be stock? It just says Off and On. It's the switch right beside the gas tank lever in the photo. Any ideas? Thanks.

 

[SpidermanGeek]

That looks aftermarket. Probably installed there by the previous owner.

Try following the wiring?

 

[SpidermanGeek]

What's the clear/blue box behind your center console?

That almost looks like a Scosche Line-Out Converter. Maybe the previous owner had an amplifier hooked up to the stock stereo and the switch is for the amp (which is probably no longer there)

 

[whiskytango]

That looks aftermarket. Probably installed there by the previous owner.

Try following the wiring?

Yeah, I'm afraid that's what I will have to do. I was just hoping someone could point me in the right direction first ray2:

Planning on installing new head unit soon and I will have to route the bluetooth microphone, so maybe I can figure it out then when I drop the panel. Thanks.

Edit: The clear blue box is an OBDII bluetooth adapter. It works with my android phone and the Torque app. Best $12 I ever spent. Lets you read and clear codes and use the app to monitor things you don't have a gauge for like transmission temps and such.

 

[SpidermanGeek]

Yeah, I'm afraid that's what I will have to do. I was just hoping someone could point me in the right direction first ray2:

Planning on installing new head unit soon and I will have to route the bluetooth microphone, so maybe I can figure it out then when I drop the panel. Thanks.

That's probably your best bet.

Could have been for something as simple as a set of after market fog lights that were once installed, but since removed. Some people are just too lazy to put everything 100% back to the way it was. :shrug:

 

[whiskytango]

That's probably your best bet.

Could have been for something as simple as a set of after market fog lights that were once installed, but since removed. Some people are just too lazy to put everything 100% back to the way it was. :shrug:

Tell me about it. We just got a 2005 Sequoia. While installing the new aftermarket head unit I bought, I found all kinds of funny behind the dash when I thought the stereo was pure stock. Turns out PO had satellite radio and had hidden it behind the dash. Before they sold it, they pulled the tuner and left everything else. They had taken a female 12v power outlet with a little pigtail and tapped into the 12v going to the head unit. That was used to power the tuner which had a male 12v plug. All of this was BEHIND the dash. Really gave me a chuckle.

My wife has driven this one since 2006 and I never had opportunity to really question this switch. But now that she is driving the sequoia, I get the 02 4runner and will probably be selling my 97 4runner. So if I am driving this, i want to know what it does.

 

[Wikki]

LOL push it and see what happens

 

[Doc2012]

LOL push it and see what happens

Just hold on, or be ready to jump when you do. Lol.

 

[slides]

Im betting its traction control. Here in MN the traction control will stop you dead in your tracks when there is a lot of snow on the ground, its very debiltating.

 

[krenaud33]

I am guessing someone tried to wire up the fog lights to that switch.

 

[whiskytango]

Im betting its traction control. Here in MN the traction control will stop you dead in your tracks when there is a lot of snow on the ground, its very debiltating.

You might be on to something there. I mentioned the vehicle is from MN because I wondered if it has something to do with driving conditions there. Good tip, thanks.

 

[Wikki]

Just hold on, or be ready to jump when you do. Lol.

You might be on to something there. I mentioned the vehicle is from MN because I wondered if it has something to do with driving conditions there. Good tip, thanks.

LOL only one thing left to do Test it out! haha JK.

 

[kevin8629]

What's the clear/blue box behind your center console?

That almost looks like a Scosche Line-Out Converter. Maybe the previous owner had an amplifier hooked up to the stock stereo and the switch is for the amp (which is probably no longer there)

Its an OBDII bluetooth code reader use with torque and other apps to monitor your vehicle and read codes

 

[whiskytango]

LOL only one thing left to do Test it out! haha JK.

Ok, so you got me thinking. Did a quick search and came across this: VSC / TRAC defeating - is anyone closer? - Page 18 - YotaTech Forums

I thought maybe someone had done this mod. So I ran out to the parking lot, popped my hood and looked, but I don't see where anyone has interrupted the connection to the ground wire on the master cylinder wire harness. Also, when I flip the switch, my VSC, TRAC, and ABS lights do not come one. So the verdict is still out on that one but I will have some time (finally) to do some work on it this weekend and I will figure it out I hope.

That link I just posted is an interesting mod though and I may end up doing it anyway, lol.

 

[JWaldz]

Stop guessing and trace the wires... and stop pressing it until you find out what the heck it does. It could be anything.

 

[ToyotaBrah]

 

[96 ToyRunner]

There was a switch just like that in the movie the hurt locker :AK47:

 

[whiskytango]

Lol.

Stop guessing and trace the wires... and stop pressing it until you find out what the heck it does. It could be anything.

Yep, that has always been the plan. Just wanted to know if anyone could point me in a direction which several have. I don't think it involves the VSC/TRAC/ABS, but I'm gonna check that out further. Also could be related to something that is no longer installed such as an amp. I had not considered that. Fairly certain it was not fog lights as the factory ones are still there and no indication that others ever were, but maybe there were. I'll find out tomorrow.

And it's not like I pressed it while riding down the highway.

 

[whiskytango]

Ok, so I pulled the panel under the steering wheel, followed the wires from the mystery switch, and here is what I found. The wire was hard to follow because it was heavily taped up, but it seems to disappear into a bundle of wires leading to some black boxes right behind the fuse box. Something about the way these black boxes are situated under there does not look stock to me, but then again I don't know much about the electrical yet on the 4Runner. I did not unravel the wire bundle because there is so much tape and I was worried I would damage a necessary wire.. Does anyone know what these black boxes are? Not sure if you can tell exactly from the pics but it was hard to get good ones.

Also, i know that it looks like the mystery wire is going into the plastic wire loom in one of the pics, but it appears to have actually just been taped to that loom for some support, then the wire doubles back to the wires going to the black boxes.

I got a look at the same location in my brother-in-law's 2WD 2002 SR5 4Runner today, and his does not seem to have all these wires or the black boxes. So anybody recognize these? Are they maybe for something that 4WD has that 2WD doesn't or that Limited has but SR5 doesn't? Thanks for your input.

 

[gamefreakgc]

Just a wild guess, but my 3rd Gen Pickup had a "black box" and it was part of the wiring for the tow package. Perhaps this could be similar? Once again a total guess though.