Issues with New Switches and Wiring

Howdy folks,

I am hoping that some people who have a good working knowledge of electrical wiring can provide me with some insight.

Okay, so I am getting ready to add a bunch of new CH4x4 push switches (I already installed several in previous years) for various accessories for my Tacoma, mostly for new pod lights in different locations. That's easy, done it a million times before.

The deal is though, I want to also get brand new CH4x4 switches for things like traction control and the 120V bed outlet and swap out the old OEM switches for the fancy new CH4x4 switches.
You'd think that would be pretty cut and dry, right?
Well, a previous experience I had is making me think that there could be some serious problems with trying this. And before I decide to swap out the old OEM Switches for aftermarket switches, I want to have all my ducks in a row and know what will and will not work.

So, that "previous experience" I had was when I was installing new LED fog lights on my Tacoma a few years ago. I also got a new CH4x4 push switch that lights up the same color as the new fog lights (amber). The truck already had OEM fog lights, so naturally there was also already an OEM fog light wiring harness and push switch. So I get the new fogs installed and clip them into the stock wiring harness. I then proceed to pulling out the OEM fog light switch and swapping in the new switch (connected the same OEM wires). Mind you, everything was hooked up correctly. Triple and quadruple checked.

This is where my problems began...

Long story short, every time I pushed the new switch, I blew a relay (and I'm pretty sure a fuse too). A freaking RELAY!!! Not just a fuse!
I was absolutely befuddled. I figured that there must be an issue with the new fog lights that is causing this to happen. But nope.
The problem was with the way Toyota decided to design the wiring within the truck.
I can't remember all of the specifics of all the information I found, but after doing a ton of research, I learned that Toyota uses some kind of reverse-polarity wiring or something like that (please pardon my ignorance, I am not super knowledgeable with electrical stuff) for their switches and wiring. So basically, OEM Toyota push switches do not work the same as normal aftermarket switches (which typically work the same way most other switches do).
I remember it specifically having to do with the polarity of the switch/wiring or something along those lines.

Basically, I could not simply use existing OEM wiring for aftermarket components without blowing relays.
The solution for this was installing a brand new aftermarket wire harness for the new fog lights and switch. Needless to say, this solved my problem. No more fried relays.

SOOOOOOO, my fear is that if I swap out my old OEM traction control and outlet switches for new aftermarket switches, then I am going to fry my freaking ECU or something insane like that. Like, how the hell do I figure that out?
And if the OEM traction control and outlet wiring/switches end up being the same bulls*** as the OEM fog light harness and switch, is there a way I can... like... reverse the polarity in my new switch to work with the existing wiring, or something like that?

I know this may or may not be a big can of worms to sort through, and I seriously appreciate your guys' insight on this. Before I do what I'd like to do, I just need to be damn sure I'm not going to f*** up my truck.

Thank you again for your help, y'all.

 

Unless you have the *EWD for your Tacoma or Download what you need from All Data to see just what you are working with. Your working blind.

No telling though worst case a visit from the Local Fire Department to keep the fire that was your Truck from spreading.

I will not touch a job like this without the correct prints.

Best of Luck!

*EWD Toyota Electrical Wiring Diagrams

 

Some of the circuits Toyota used negatively switched designs. If using a switch which has a lighted diode in line with the switch this will not work. You have to look at each switch design and circuit application to determine replacement, it’s not a common switch design for all applications that Toyota uses. Some are also momentary, and some are latching so take that into consideration before just blindly replacing with a generic replacement.