How to: Swapping 2012-2015 AC Controls into 2005-2011 Tacoma

Just wanted to thank everyone who contributed to this thread. I was able to find a newer HVAC control for ~$35 on car-part and bought all the parts needed here via Eastern Beaver.

Probably not many folks fixing up/investing in '09 Taco's nowadays but I am until the market calms down.

 

FWIW, I wilk try to add this harness to my store at some point since you did all the legwork. Would you be able to confirm I got it right if I sent one?

I kinda hate soldering boards so it may be a while before I attempt the mod myself.

 

You're thinking about selling soldered boards and harnesses? Or just the harness?

I can confirm '09 and up only because it doesn't require any soldering.

 

I hate soldering so not planning to offer that

But AFAIK it's the same harness for both so I thought that would be a nice addition to the product suite, I would just need some way to verify that the one I build is correct.

 

Right on, I get it lol

It's been awhile, I can't remember what '05 to 08' also requires.

So, pm me with what you'll need for '09 - up and I'll try to accommodate it when I get a chance

 

I just need peer pressure to order connectors and terminals and attempt to build, then I send one to you and keep the other, then you tell me if it works or not.

 

Sounds good.

 

Any trick to installing the pins in the 16-NH connected?

 

They should slide right in if I remember correctly. Terminal pin tools are very helpful too. Don't forget to pinch them real well so there's a solid connection when you plug everything together

 

Thank you theolee! I think my crimping tool wasn't the correct size so was smashing my crimp and preventing them from going in. Ordered another onel

 

got it done, thanks again.

 

Have you built any harnesses yet? I tried to do this but could not make it work.

 

No, not yet, it is on my distant radar though, just way too much ahead of it.

 

I did this mod a few years back. I screwed up the first harness, then built a second which has had no issue. Moral of the story- Order enough parts for a couple harnesses. You can always sell the second

 

Picked up a set of controls. Yay. Next step is ordering connectors and terminals.

And soldering

I think the PCB scrape method might be my plan since that way I can swap back if I mess it up.

 

And, I assume this part is just entirely obvious to anyone who has held them side-by-side, but I'll ask anyway, there's no way to stuff the OG guts of an '05 control into the black plastic of an '12+ controls? As in, none of the circuit board mounting screws line up and if they did, the knobs won't attach to the old style? But swapping the rheostat sort of implies to me that maybe they do? So, mostly a matter of the board mounting differently than before?

Almost seems like a simpler path than this harness stuff for the '05-'08 crew would be a guts swap if we had some sort of bracket to adapt the board to the correct mounting spot?

Speaking of this, @switch I wonder if this might be something you'd be interested in tinkering with? I can harvest my silver controls and get some better side-by-side photos.

I suspect the talk of white LED's vs whatever the silver stuff uses is a big part so a guts-swap is no bueno? Or otherwise would be amber instead of white which would look strange?

 

Unfortunately it won't work. I tried, trust me. The circuit board is shaped differently, the plugs are in different spots and the clips are conveniently different. It's like they legitimately changed things just so you can't simply swap parts lol. Which is extremely annoying because most 2nd gen parts are universal...

Regarding the LEDs, the silver climate control has halogen bulbs while the black one has LEDs soldered to the circuit board. Not interchangeable.

You're better off just soldering for polarity and making the harness.

One major tip* don't lose this little red ball when taking things apart. You'll ruin your day if you do.

 

I sat down with my bro in law to review things.

looks like these old ‘05 controls go for decent money on eBay.

we are thinking maybe we can invert the voltage signal via the harness rather than mucking with the board directly. Then I can potentially build a modular harness with a plugin module for ‘05-‘09 to do the invert. Or ‘05-08 or whatever it is.

hopefully a decent plan?

 

I like it! Report back if it works out.