Anybody removed the lowest switch backing plate?

the one around the BSM, Parking, USB and so on and so forth?

 

On a 2nd gen you have to dig a lot out. If you just want to get a blank out to install a switch I slipped a small screwdriver under the blank and pry.

 

@mesojdm makes alternate versions.

Note that it is not a plate on the console, but molded in as one piece. You have to cut it out. I did it with a utility knife in place.

 

Yeah, I am trying to replace one of the factory switches with another that I want instead and was curious. I saw one dude on youtube say he had to remove a ton of shit, but I was not overwhelmed with confidence from the video that he knew what he was talking about.

 

Yes. You have to remove a lot of the lower panels on driver and passenger side, and the radio bezel if memory serves me right.

Oh and the console. The panel interlocks with the ones next to it so it all needs loosened up.

 

Are you trying to remove the switch itself or the entire surround? I’m confused on the “lower backing” description

 

Im guessing I would need to remove the plate to get the switches to come out where the wires would be accessible. If you can remove a switch without removing the backing plate, then I suppose that would work too!

 

Nope! Remove the radio trim by pulling. Pull on the very right side of the steering wheel panel to unclip just the rightmost one. Remove the HVAC panel by pulling and wiggling it out from under the radio.

You can unplug the HVAC panel for access.

From there, you can mess with the back side of the switch panel.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/install-heated-seats-3rd-gen.546859/

Its a pain.

 

Edit, tonered covered it above^

If you are just wanting to pop the switches out, no need to remove entire surround. Just pop upper radio bezel out, then the lower A/C panel. Reach your hand down from the backside and push the button out.

 

You should be aware that the switches have different bases, so certain switches really only fit in certain spots without modifications.

 

Sorry, but it isn't. I installed an LSP7 only pulling the radio trim and HVAC panel.

Thanks!

 

I was just looking at your 7 panel. I can see what you mean about removing it all being a pain. Ultimately, I need a place to mount my realy switch for my dual battery setup and I figured since my QI charger thing has never been used, why not use that spot?

But now I like the idea of 7 switches except that I dont have that many right now.

 

Get some. Duh. Lol.

 

Im sure I will at some point. Ive filled up my cubby hole spot already. When I do an ARB and a compressor, Id like to fit those up by the traction control stuff up high. The panel down low seemed like a good spot for a battery switch.

 

@mesojdm makes inexpensive blanks!

 

I saw a guy on you tube use a exacto knife and slided it in blank and pried it out. Then he used a long zip tie to fish the wires through. I have a switch I want to install too so I’m curious how easy it is to do this.

 

I just tried it. It worked.

 

I'm also curious about a non pain way to do this. I'd like to add a switch and those are the only spots left since it's like to keep it as factory as possible.

 

How is this painful:

Unclipping a part of one panel and two other panels in less than 5min?