Fog light switch install - removing blank from dash

My base 2015 access cab does not have fog lights. It does have the connection at the bumper, so hoping it is pre-wired to the cab. Ordered lights from Kustom 54 Lighting and waiting on delivery.

How do I remove the blank from the dash? I tried reaching up from below as suggested in other threads, but there is definitely a solid panel of some kind in between the two rows of switches.

 

You first need to remove the lower steering wheel dash, then you can remove the upper dash.

 

I just got a lot less excited about installing the switch.

 

The little blank covers just push out. You might be able to squeeze your hand up there through that opening.

 

these instructions come from @Up2NoGood (I hope he doesnt mind me posting this without his permission).

Once you get the lower removed, the upper is easy with two screw tabs on the top, and then pull the upper dash off.

 

It's really quite easy. I just did this couple weekends ago.

 

Yup.

Gotta remove that lower dash. No way you can do it from that opening there.

I even got the neighbors kid to try and do it.

Nope.

 

Shit an that's the easy part.

 

Ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Thanks for the link with the instructions. Also plan to add intermittent wipers, so guess I will wait for that part and do at the same time.

 

i don't think you need to remove the lower panel for the intermittent wipers

 

Now I see. It looked like I had to remove the same screws behind the steering wheel, but that was a to get to key ring.

 

I used this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyEDHtdHx2M

The video describes the process to switch out the dash lights from orange to blue. I did not do that, but he shows how to pull off that section of the dash you need. Starts at around 1:10 time mark.

He makes it look easy. It actually is if you proceed with confidence. I always try to be careful not to break stuff and I pull things apart, for these dash pieces you need a bit more force than I wanted to use at first.
Honestly it is really simple.

Good luck!

 

He does make it look easy. Thanks for this link.

 

When I added my bed light switch (next to factory fog light switch) I used some clay (for cleaning paint prior to polish) and stuck it on the blank and it pulled right out. I was then able to feed my wire from the fuse panel up to the switch without removing any dash panels.

 

I like this idea and will definitely try it before removing any panels.

 

The clay trick did not work for me. Read other post where the guy drove a screw into the blank and used it to pull it out, but I wanted to save that $7.00 piece of plastic.

I followed the video link in post 12 from Canoehead and pulling the dash was not as bad as I thought it would be. I appreciate the comment about having to pull a little forceful on the panels. I too was being overly gentle at first.

Best of all, the wire was connected to the back of the blank! Now waiting on the lights from Kustom 54. In the mean time, need to order a switch and relay or find a donor at the salvage yard.

Anyone have suggestions for switch and relay options aside from OEM?

 

Looks like I was late. But I just used a sharp knife and pried the blank out very slowly. No dings to the trim at all.

 

Thanks for the tip. Now that I have seen the inside up close, I was thinking a piece of steel packing band might slip in between and release it. Oh well, done for this time.

 

I really appreciate all the great advice and tips on Tacoma World that have helped me conduct some repairs and mods on my 2014 Tacoma Access. One of my recent mods was the installation of fog lights. I was fortunate that my truck was pre-wired for fog lights but I had a heck of a time removing the switch blank. It was my wife who suggested using a paperclip. Here is a short video on how I removed the blank with a paperclip. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0oO84Ko3Zk&feature=youtu.be

 

Yes! Thanks!