What the hell is this conundrum (Canadian)

[afg10000]

Just bought this '98 Limited to replace my destroyed '96. Started swapping all sorts of things today and found this sticker attached to the underside of the dash cluster. I already know it was born in Canada, that's not my issue. The 4WD symbol doesn't work on the cluster and I was swapping LED's anyway, and bulbs did not fix the problem, (OEM or LED). Also, the right turn signal light won't work no matter what bulb I put in there. The low gas light came on after I put a new LED in the socket. All the other bulbs swapped just fine. I'm thinking I have a wiring problem from whomever pulled the cluster and changed the odometer. Any input?

 

[afg10000]

While were at it, what the hell is this thing?

 

[hambob]

I don't see why the wiring would change on a swap like this. The instrument cluster swap is plug and play no? They must have flashed it to get the mileage info changed but the wiring would be the same?

 

[hambob]

That thing looks like a cruise control module.

 

[afg10000]

I don't see why the wiring would change on a swap like this. The instrument cluster swap is plug and play no? They must have flashed it to get the mileage info changed but the wiring would be the same?

I don't know. Why would some of the lights not work regardless of bulbs? Seems like one of the harnesses is angry or something. That thing by the airbox I don't recall seeing on my other 2 4Runners nor the thing on the vacuum tube underneath it (below the circle on the pic).

 

[habanero]

It is the cruise control, they look a little different on the 96. The thing by the airbox....are you talking about the MAF? The only vacuum tube I can see is the one that runs from the air box to the moo box- er- charcoal canister thingy...and that's not really a vacuum tube.

 

[Grenvilleter]

What worked and what didn't before you started your swap?
For instance, are you sure the 4x4 light was not turning on but the unit was working??

Step back and take a breath and go at this 1 problem at a time.

Check the signal light harness behind the battery. The harness gets brittle in this area for some reason and it could be a simple broken wire.

Regarding the 4x4...you know the drill. Confirm the drive train by physically exerting vacuum on one of the 2 lines going down to the front diff from the solonoids on the driver inner fender and confirm 4x4 operation and possible indicator lights. Troubleshoot back from there to reasons why it's either not switching on command or actually a blown/non-functioning dash indicator light.

My '98 and '97 were both made in Japan.

 

[afg10000]

What worked and what didn't before you started your swap?
For instance, are you sure the 4x4 light was not turning on but the unit was working??

Step back and take a breath and go at this 1 problem at a time.

Check the signal light harness behind the battery. The harness gets brittle in this area for some reason and it could be a simple broken wire.

Regarding the 4x4...you know the drill. Confirm the drive train by physically exerting vacuum on one of the 2 lines going down to the front diff from the solonoids on the driver inner fender and confirm 4x4 operation and possible indicator lights. Troubleshoot back from there to reasons why it's either not switching on command or actually a blown/non-functioning dash indicator light.

My '98 and '97 were both made in Japan.

I'm with ya. 4WD light did not work when I bought the truck. I can confirm that the ADD engages just fine (4H,4L,locker). I suspected it was just a bulb, but apparently not. I'll look for that harness behind the battery. It's got DRL's as well. It has a box in the fender next to the battery so I don't think I need to snip any wires to disable. Thanks for the advice, I might get back at today.

 

[Grenvilleter]

Err...a couple more questions and a little advice.

First the advice....

Get the damn thing working the way it was originally designed first and then think about making mods after the fact. Don't be fooling around with DRL modules when it not likely has anything to do with the rt. signal not working. It's easy to disable after you have a known good system. you also run the risk of adding more problems to an already "broken" system and it will be 2x harder to troubleshoot.

Regarding the 4x4 issue, you know the system is basically good so lets go back from there.

1. Does the unit go into 4wd via the shifter switch but not indicate on the dash in 4-Hi? Confirm via very noticeable while driving on hard surface and turning or lifting wheels and visually watching driveshaft/wheel turning.

2. Does the unit go into 4wd on it's own by just moving xfer case to 4-Lo regardless if 4wd button is depressed? Indicate via cluster?

3. Will the diff lock engage while unit is in 4-Lo displaying in cluster along with ABS disable(yellow)?

We can then go from there in more intricate troubleshooting the various parts and their effects on the system.

 

[TheDurk]

Check the sending switch on the front diff for continuity. See if you have 12V+ on one of the wires if you do.

 

[afg10000]

Err...a couple more questions and a little advice.

First the advice....

Get the damn thing working the way it was originally designed first and then think about making mods after the fact. Don't be fooling around with DRL modules when it not likely has anything to do with the rt. signal not working. It's easy to disable after you have a known good system. you also run the risk of adding more problems to an already "broken" system and it will be 2x harder to troubleshoot.

Regarding the 4x4 issue, you know the system is basically good so lets go back from there.

1. Does the unit go into 4wd via the shifter switch but not indicate on the dash in 4-Hi? Confirm via very noticeable while driving on hard surface and turning or lifting wheels and visually watching driveshaft/wheel turning.

2. Does the unit go into 4wd on it's own by just moving xfer case to 4-Lo regardless if 4wd button is depressed? Indicate via cluster?

3. Will the diff lock engage while unit is in 4-Lo displaying in cluster along with ABS disable(yellow)?

We can then go from there in more intricate troubleshooting the various parts and their effects on the system.

I'm with ya on the advice. I'm not a greenhorn when it comes to this. The 4WD system works. I know how it should feel and what it does on pavement. Trying to turn with the locker engaged makes it skip like a mofo. It's all working. The ABS light on the cluster does come on and the RR diff light when engaged, just not the 4WD symbol. It's not the end of the world, as long as the mechanical functions work (which they all do). But it's nice to have the lights working properly. I had a buddy suggest swapping the dash cluster from my '96 into the '98 to see if these problems subsist and diagnose from there.

 

[afg10000]

Check the sending switch on the front diff for continuity. See if you have 12V+ on one of the wires if you do.

TheDurk, I was hoping you'd chime in. Can't chase down wiring issues today, weather is poopy. Thanks for the advice, I'll check. Can't even really drive the thing until I get it plated and get my other tires and wheels put on it.

 

[Grenvilleter]

I'm with ya on the advice. I'm not a greenhorn when it comes to this. The 4WD system works. I know how it should feel and what it does on pavement. Trying to turn with the locker engaged makes it skip like a mofo. It's all working. The ABS light on the cluster does come on and the RR diff light when engaged, just not the 4WD symbol. It's not the end of the world, as long as the mechanical functions work (which they all do). But it's nice to have the lights working properly. I had a buddy suggest swapping the dash cluster from my '96 into the '98 to see if these problems subsist and diagnose from there.

Yea... I knew you were not a greenhorn. I got the impression you were just a bit frazzled and leaping around instead of focusing on a given problem.

From your earlier posts it was impossible to pinpoint where you should even start to look at the problems.

I agree with TheDurk's comment as the instrument cluster is directly tied to this sensor. In other posts TheDurk's has made regarding this topic, it will lead you right to the problem .

I would not be swapping dashboards out..you could be introducing more faults into the system that you didn't have earlier however, everyone troubleshoots a little differently I guess.

 

[wc11]

These were all made in Japan (thank god) but the sticker may suggest that the importer just plugged in a US cluster and it may be more involved than just that.

Have you put a meter on the line to check for voltage when activated?

 

[afg10000]

These were all made in Japan (thank god) but the sticker may suggest that the importer just plugged in a US cluster and it may be more involved than just that.

Have you put a meter on the line to check for voltage when activated?

That's kinda what I was thinking. Perhaps the US cluster swap went awry. I've got a lot of swapping and work to do to get this truck up to where my '96 was so I've got plenty of time. If some inoperable dash lights are the worst thing I find, then I think I'm doing pretty good. Definitely all good advice from you guys. I really appreciate it. Probably be a bit until I can get back to it. I'll keep the results posted.