What is this center console part called?

Some SR5 Offroad models came OEM with heated seats. Mine didn't. Installing aftermarket heated seats isn't difficult, just time-consuming. I've installed Rostra heated seats before. Those come with round rocker switches for on-off-heat level. Other brands offer rectangular switches that resemble the dash switches on our Tacomas.

There's a dash panel in the center console that contains the 4-way flasher control, an info display, and a couple of lights. With the heated seat models, the switches are included. Without heated seats, that space is empty but without knockouts. (Grrr.) This picture illustrates the situation.

What is the part circled in red called? Does anyone know if it can be bought separately from the switches and powered parts? As near as I can tell from the 2016 and up factory manual, that part is combined with the panel that includes the HVA controls, and costs circa $700.

I can drill switch-sized holes in the blank spaces, so long as there is no expensive circuitry in those spots. (I'd be pulling the panel off first, though, in part to run wiring.) But I would like to just buy an empty bezel and populate it. Thanks.

 

The factory switches are not power handling switches, not even enough to drive a relay. The part you are looking at seems to be called the "A/C Control Assembly". A digital signal leaves the A/C Control Assembly and goes to the "A/C Amplifier" which in turns controls the seat heaters.

I have taken that panel apart to paint the Emergency Flasher button Red, but do not recall what space is there to work with for some aftermarket switches.

My above supposition comes from this schematic:
Note: LIN is much like the CAN BUS, but with only one wire and much slower.

 

Thanks to both of you.

Any seat heater circuit would go through a relay!

 

Yup. Here it is. At nearly $1,000 MSRP, I think something else is going to have to work.

 

OEM Heated seats are for the "high" end version. Maybe the circuit is there (haven't confirmed it) and all that you'd need are the switches relocated. And of course relay, terminals, wiring and heat pads.

 

OP I gotchu. I got a spare climate cluster I’ll sell you for $100 plus shipping. PM if you interested

Like others mentioned it’s more of one piece rather than a bezel that you can simply pass a wire through.

 

PM on its way.

 

You might have to do some evisceration job...

Reading material:
Help: AC Heater Temperature Control Unit Upgrade (Manual to Auto)

 

I suspect the same.

He will have "real" switches instead of those silicon carbon buttons against PCB traces to work with though; those silicon buttons can't carry much current. One side of both switches are unfortunately wired to the microprocessor. Perhaps the software is there by default in the A/C Amplifier and the output connections at the A/C Amplifier can be used. I don't yet understand the workings of the A/C Amplifier module or the OEM Seat Cushion Heater Assemblies.

I've had my dash apart for some time now, so I popped my A/C Control out, opened it to see where the buttons and LEDs would be.

 

Thank you, Tacoma2021, for the inside look. Based in part on caribe makaira's aptly named evisceration project and also on an incoming Meso retrofit part, I think I will be going a different route.

I enjoy a challenge. But I don't enjoy an impossible project that won't work in the end and costs a thousand bucks to put back to OEM.

Also, the inside view indicates that the circuit board is lead free. That indicates some potential for connection gremlins into the future. Even 1% lead in the solder reduces the propensity for the spontaneous formation of solder spikes that short to other connections.

 

Don't let the Thread caribe makaira posted later disturb you much - that thread was concerning a change from "Manual" to "Auto" A/C. From your first post picture it seems you already have Auto A/C.

If I were you, I would put the $100 control panel in (that is if you have ordered it yet) and see if the A/C Amplifier gives any kind of output you could use with an aftermarket kit; or pick up all the parts for OEM. If you can make any use of the A/C Amplifier that would be great. The schematic has already been posted. While schematics are great, they are no substitution for a "Theory of Operation" statement which I do not have access to. Each Seat Cushion control has five wires: power, ground and three others. Of those three, supposition says one is thermostat, one is an on/off and the third is interconnected between the two seat cushions and the A/C Amplifier and I have no clue as to its function.

The remark about "lead" shows you are equipped to handle the theory.
I however, have been impressed by the PCB manufacturing of the modules on this vehicle; most I have opened are made by Denso or Continental, this however, is the first module I have seen with only the Toyota name on it.

The three wires the Seat Heater schematic says are necessary from the A/C Control panel to the A/C Amplifier for the Seat Heaters is already present on my vehicle. Which are power, ground and LIN; all used for other functions of the A/C system.

Edit: the paragraph below is incorrect, see next post:
In my investigation of other projects I do know the wiring between the drivers kick panel and the power seat is not present for Heated Seats; but it is only five wires to add to each side. At least some of the main dash wiring harness is set up as I have found terminals/connectors populated with pins for the seat heaters.

 

Correction:
The five wires between the kick panel and the seat are present after all on the driver’s side. Not in the seat of course since I too do not have heated seats.

 

Don't give up that easy, verify what you have. Compare it. A few details are missing now, like if the original is manual A/C or auto. Post a pic of the connector of the A/C that your Taco has.

 

Damn. Now thats a fucking solid.