DIY Tacoma fog light switch mounted on the column, an OEM+ mod

Hey first gen owners,

This is a pretty slick OEM+ mod which allows the installation of a fog light switch on the column turn signal/headlight combination switch. The mod saves switch space and looks factory, because it is factory! One could wire the switch to control whatever they want, in my configuration it controls my LED light bar relay.



I purchased a used combination switch off eBay which originally came from an early 2000’s Lexus RX300. I believe there are some early 4runner models which would also be compatible. The connector to the switch is located under the steering column and requires removal of the column trim. To replace the switch, just remove two bolts and the connector. Here is a comparison of the male connectors on the switch. They are identical. The new Lexus switch is plug and play and can be used with full functionality before completing the fog light wiring.




The female connector is labeled as C14 in the Tacoma wiring diagrams (part number 90980-11672).



On the Tacoma, pins 10 and 11 are absent, despite the presence of corresponding male pins on the Tacoma switch…so not exactly sure if they have a function or are just dead. But anyhow, on the Lexus switch pins 10 and 11 control power through the fog light switch. All other pins are the same. The Lexus switch also has an “Auto” headlight function, which I did not explore. I could probably figure out how to use this to control something else but did not spend the time.

These pins are different sizes, one small and one larger. I happen to have a couple different Sumitomo female terminals lying around and perhaps a reader might be able to supply those part numbers. I acquired these pins when building my jumper t-harness for my switchback turn signal-fog light mod and when installing my remote start. So if one purchased the 22 pin body ECU connector and pin set (90980-11915) and blinker connector and pin set (

$11 90980-11020 Wiring And Clamp Connector F Housing

90980-11020) from ALiExpress, where I got mine, they will come with the necessary female terminals. Sorry about that…

Next, I built a little wiring harness. The wiring harness would need to be built depending on how you have your relays set up. In my configuration I have an accessory fuse/relay block in my engine bay and a Blue Sea fuse block to organize low current switch wiring. My relays require 12V in from the switch and so I connected pin 11 (current flows into the switch) to a 12V ignition powered source and connected pin 10 (current flowing out of the switch) to my relay which controls my LED light bar. I would suggest making the 12V source ignition switched, to avoid having your LED light bar possibly inadvertently kill the battery if left on. I pinned these into the empty slot on connector C14. Of note, the bigger pin 10 must be the ground pin (current out) otherwise something weird happens within the switch and will make all your lights dim.






This is my Bussman RTMR fuse/relay block in the engine bay for powering accessories and Blue Sea fuse block which I use to consolidate all my low current switch wiring. Its clean AF.





Next just replace all the trim put on your shades on and go for a drive in the dark.

 

I did that a few months ago and I'm happy with it.

 

What do you have the "fog light" switch controlling?

I have thought about also wiring it into my cluster high beam indicator, since there is no other lighted indicator and I could imagine blinding some oncoming driver inadvertently.

 

I bought some Diode Dynamic SS3 Pro's and just connected the wiring that came with them to the two brown wires on the wiper stalk. It was very easy.

I used this thread, there's a guy near the end of it that made it dummy proof lol

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...n-column-headlight-switch-stalk.471193/page-2

 

Holy smokes I had not seen that thread lol...All the time I spent on this project wtf!

 

I dont blame you for not seeing it, the title is typed in a weird way that you wouldn't be able to find it if you searched unless you knew exactly what to type.

 

Haha yea I saw that other thread and did this a few years ago. BUT, you did an excellent write up with a lot of good details and photos. So it definitely improves this site.

 

I agree

 

Thanks for the write up! I will be now looking for one of those stalks as I have the light bar pending install. Also have a Blue Sea pending install as well, that is a clean install you have there, very nice.

 

Thank you!

I recognize your truck from the revier mirrors thread. I'm currently working on that now and you were my inspiration with the gorgeous color matched paint. You can see my unpainted mirrors in the image above. Its taking a while to sort of all the different functionalities and make the wiring harnesses but I'm just about ready to color match.

Perhaps I'm getting a bit off topic, but may I ask what type of paint you used?

 

It seems to be a good setup. My preference is generally OEM+. I want someone to sit in my truck and not realize things aren't factory. I've used other non Tacoma Toyota, Lexus and Land cruiser switches to accomplish this goal.

Let me know if I can be of any assistance.

 

Hey, I just did this exact same mod! In addition to the Fog lights, I bought a cheap auto headlight kit from Amazon and wired it in. I believe it's pin 12 on your diagram, and connects to the same ground as the rest of the switches (minus the fogs).

Edit: in case anyone else is looking for this part, I got mine off an '06 Solara.

 

How is the install for the auto headlight kit?

I'm just noticing that my headlights and daytime running lights are dim at times...I'm thinking it may have to do with the auto portion of the headlight switch that I did not wire in. Oddly it seems to be intermittent. I've order another OEM Toyota switch from a tundra that does not have auto headlights and was going to give that a shot.

 

It required some relay trickery to get it working the way I wanted it to, but otherwise it was pretty straightforward, although I'm sure there's more elegant ways to do it. The one I bought had a button attached to the light sensor to toggle the system which I bypassed in favor of having the stalk switch toggle the ACC power to the auto headlight module.



The light sensor in this schematic is represented by a switch since the simulation app I used doesn't have a photodiode. Also, the schematic isn't a perfect representation of the circuits in our truck, but it's a "close enough" version to show what I was getting at. Basically you need to splice into the harness going to the switch and route the headlight and parking light wires through relays in series before the switch, with an ACC line to toggle the relays.

 

Thanks for the diagram. That's impressive and bet that took some time to figure out. I'll study it and I appreciate your description!

 

Just be careful when you get to splicing the wires. There's multiple White/Black wires, and you need to splice the right one.

 

I used paint from automotive touchup and 2k spray max clear.

these are all quoted from my build thread.

 

Your truck looks awesome! I'll plan to do the same once it warms up outside enough for me to paint.