Climate control knob upgrade

Also, in case anyone's wondering if made the little white arrows on my knobs by just cutting little pieces from a spare sheet of white vinyl which was super easy.

 

The dash center console or the shifter thingy?

Not sure about the shifter but I'm sure google/YouTube will give me that answer.

The dash part is simple, I just used a little plastic prybar that came with a window breaker I keep in the truck. A plastic putty knife would work too. Just pry from the bottom so the two tabs there come out and then it's really easy to pop the whole thing out.

 

Just the dash center console.

 

Ordered a black set of control knobs. Will post pictures after the install is complete, 2013 tacoma.

Disclaimer: Today is March 3 ... est delivery March 25-April 28.

 

I've ordered from AliExpress multiple time with no issues

 

I had never purchased anything from them and it was totally smooth.

Which is good because now I have another place I can get things online but on the other thing my wallet isn't too stoked on that prospect.

 

F.Y.I. For the shifter console...unscrew the shift knob, grab both sides of the center console and yank, It should pop straight up out of the 4 clips holding it.

 

I upgraded my knobs and also went with a black center surround. I ordered the Metra kit to replace my old, beat looking scoshe kit and that was a mistake. I don't know if I was doing something wrong or if the metra kit is just trash but it took me over an hour to get it all together and I had to end up using the scoshe brackets with the metra front. It seemed like the metra brackets weren't made to correctly position the headunit? I ended up having the glue the center headunit surround piece into the wider dash piece and used the scoshe headunit brackets to bolt the pioneer into the dash.

I would definitely recommend using the scoshe kit vs the metra, the scoshe went together perfectly and melded into the dash very well. The metra doesn't follow the dash as well and if it was silver it would look much worse IMO.

I followed the suggestions posted here and just painted the a/c control panel black using some artist/hobby paint and brushes.

Despite the rigged up installation, it all looks pretty good IMO and there aren't any rattles or squeaks from anything. This was probably the best cheap upgrade I've ever done and IMO it makes the inside look much better.

 

maybe I am just not getting it I tried to read the last few pages but didn't get the exact info so now I am here asking you guys. I think the knobs look good. But i saw something about problems with installing lights? so if you put these knobs in you also have to put in new lights or is that just for a color change option? I would think about doing this if it is just remove old knobs put on new knobs but if it requires putting in new lights that are probably crap quality that will burn out in a year or two and cause me a head ache down the road. I am a little hesitant about putting some Chinese knobs on my truck but they sure do look good. But if they are loose and fit incorrectly as some of you have said I will not do this also. I just don't want to upgrade the looks and downgrade the functionality.

 

You do NOT need to do anything with lights, the stock lights work well. As for the fit, somebody posted a little while back about taking the metal insert out of the OEM knob and putting it into the new for a perfect, stock fit. I haven't done that yet but probably will eventually. The new knobs dont' fit loose but they do move more than the factory knobs.

 

Thanks maybe i will take the 12 dollar risk lol worst comes to worst I'm out 12 bucks...

 

Save 25% and order directly from Aliexpress, my total was $8.37

 

Mind posting a link that would be awesome!

 

O.K. The stock lights work just fine if you have no problem with the ring on the knobs being illuminated white. Toyota does sell factory bulbs in amber, but they are not cheap. On my 2006, the new knobs slipped on the shaft just fine, without having to use the metal insert from the factory knobs. Mine have NO wiggle, they don't feel loose, and the operation feels solid and I can feel the factory "click" in each position. But, that's just on my truck. Others have mentioned the knobs feeling a bit loose. A drop of clear silicone, or hot glue should fix any loose feelings. When I did mine, I just pulled the factory knobs straight off without removing ANYTHING else, and pushed the new knobs on, and that was it. Done in 45 seconds!

 

Mine just got to Chicago this am. Finally in the states!

 

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/fre...32759839980.html?spm=2114.13010608.0.0.Bfegcd

And since I'm not 100% sure that will take you straight there, go to www.aliexpress.com and search for "aluminum knob toyota vela"

 

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Only issue with the lights is if you try (like me) to "upgrade" to LED which is completely optional thing.

For me (at least), the replacement T4 lights that are LEDs (see the link below to ebay with the $5.92 price, those are what I got) DID NOT FIT into the OEM holes on the back of the HVAC module.

So I stuck with the original bulbs. But now... They don't work now for some reason which is completely separate from everyone else's experience despite me turning them 180˚. I think there's another issue completely unrelated to the bulbs but I need to get my multimeter and see this weekend. I was having some issues before which I thought changing the bulbs would help but I'm kind over it at this point to be honest.

Anyways, if you change the knobs to these things I think there is an aesthetic improvement... even if they don't light!

The only comment I'm going to make after having them in for about a week and a half is that I think I may paint over the chrome or possibly sand them like someone else did to knock the shininess down.
Kind of stands out which I'm not a fan of in my interior.

 

Ditto. Exactly my experience.

 

Here's my attempt at fixing a light that won't come on (fan control knob). In my attempt at fixing it the first time a corner of the plastic circut board broke off essentially severing the connection to the other light. My fix is to solder wire from bulb to bulb and piggyback them to each other on the exterior rather than within the circut board.
Tested them with a battery and both lit up just fine. I'll find out in about 15 minutes when I get out of work if my plan was successful!



By the way, it broke trying to get those LED's into the holes so be careful not to do what I did!!