2012 Illuminated 4x4 switch woes

I had a lengthy post for this thread written and after I reviewed the post I closed the window instead of submitting it and lost everything. That makes me SOOO happy.

At any rate, I read the post by mhagie, 2012 Illuminated 4x4 selector switch, (found here: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/207924-2012-illuminated-4x4-selector-switch-3.html) and was convinced that I needed to perform this same mod on my 2012 DCSB.

I purchased a 2010 4Runner 4x4 selector switch (dial-not cheap) in the summer of 2013 and finally decided I would complete this mod...6 months later.

The 4Runner dial and the OEM Tacoma dial aren't EXACTLY the same size but so close that this is very nearly a plug -n- play mod with the exception of adding a ground wire and a power wire to the back of the dial wiring harness (there is a thread with very good photos explaining how to do this but I can't recall precisely where I read it).

Once the ground & power wire are added to the harness it's just a matter of plugging the 4Runner dial in and turning on your lights. Voila...a lighted 4x4 dial!

Like mhagie, I removed the amber-colored rubber cover from the stock 4Runner bulb but the indicators were still too amber-ish for me. I tried the exact same LED bulb mhagie used and I liked the color but it lit the H4 indicator much more than the H2 or L4 indicators. This is because the dial illumination bulb is located directly behind the H4 indicator and LED bulbs have a narrow beam angle for the light they emit.

I ordered a couple of bulbs from superbrightleds.com that had a 360 degree viewing angle but unfortunately both bulbs burned out as they couldn't handle the amperage of the 4x4 dial.

I put the OEM bulb back in and will learn to live with amber-ish colored indicators until I find an LED with a very wide light beam angle, or another bright filament-type bulb, that will work in this application.

Like mhagie I preferred the color of the LED light but my dislike of the difference in brightness was greater than my dislike of the difference in color from the stock Tacoma dash colors.

I realize I have only one photo (showing the difference in color between the 4Runner dial and my OEM Tacoma dash lights)[/SIZE] but there are many good photos already posted for all the instructions needed to perform this mod.

P.S. There is NO way to illuminate a 2012 OEM Tacoma 4x4 dial. I took mine completely apart and the indicators are painted on and there is no way to transmit light through them since they are painted on to solid plastic.

P.P.S. Sorry for how blurry the photo is. I was rock steady when I took the photo but apparently my camera's autofocus doesn't work so well in the dark.

 

I want to do this! any pics of install, wiring, etc?

 

How well exactly does the switch fit? What was the price of the 4runner switch?

 

I periodically bookmark mods I want to attempt some day on here. This is one of them. I think this was the thread you were looking for to link in your OP:

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/technical-chat/3681-diy-gen-2-illuminated-4wd-switch.html

And 4Runner switch on Camelback Toyota (~$76)
http://partsfactory.camelbacktoyota.com/oem-part/toyota/4runner/2006/sr5/4-0l-v6-gas/body-hardware/cluster-and-switches/control-switch/84724-35020

 

thats for the 05-11's. not the 12-14's. ours are different

edit: but i guess the wiring is the same

 

mhagie did a write up on on the wiring for his install. It is locatable in the OP link. The cost of the 4Runner 4x4 dial I will search for but if I recall it was somewhere in the $73 range. It was 6 months ago and I might be remembering wrong but I will search. I'll also search to see if I can find the wiring write up I read, it had really good photos included.

 

I didn't answer that question. The 4Runner switch fit like it was made for the Tacoma. At least mine did.

 

Yes the wiring principle is the same.

 

JdevTac, yes that is the wiring write up and photos I was referring to. The write up was for an pre-'12 Tacoma but the wiring was the same. Now to find the cost for the switch...

 

I put a link in my post above to Camelback Toyota parts department. Switch is $76 on their site.

 

After doing some searching I think I purchased my switch from Camelback Toyota. Their current price for the switch is $76.61 which, if I recall correctly, is what I thought I paid. The switch is for a 2009 4Runner (I thought it was a 2010 switch but apparently it wasn't) and the part number is 8472435020.

That's about all I can share for this mod although I'll answer any questions I can. I do know it is nice to have the 4x4 dial lit when it's dark. I can't believe Toyota cheaped out by not putting an illumination bulb in the 4x4 dial. What an inexpensive and very useful feature.

 

I also changed out my switch! I really wanted the lighted one...if you EVER find the right bulb that's works let me know!!!!

 

Anyone try putting wax paper to distribute the light evenly? Some how? I've seen it used in gauge clusters when they have the same problem of the uneven light distribution.

 

After reading up on the illuminated 4wd selector switch mods, I went with the hilux version rather than the 4runner. It was cheaper and comes already in blue light. Down side, you have to add a bezel ring as it is slightly smaller. I bought mine from another tw member who is selling them. As for the led's burning out, you can add a resistor inline that will keep it from burning out. Get the specs for your led (voltage, forward current, ect.) There are led resistor calculators on the net that tell you which one is correct for yours. I got the led calculator on my phone through google play store for free. Used it several times and it works like a champ.