What have you done to your Tacoma today? 1st Gen Edition

Keep in mind im also changing throttle bodies drive by wire->drive by cable and deleting vsc/abs while at it since on my 4 runner its all one harmonious system that would throw a shit fit if i just changed out transmissions

(I could just pull fuses and have abs/vsc/trac lights on but may as well physically remove the hardware since its all going to be bricked anyway)

From what ive seen no ones done that they've only worked around it by buying 4x4 parts from the last 2 years of 4 runner 01/02 or tacoma 03/04

 

Sounds like you're adding variables to an equation you don't understand yet...

I'll sum up why people go through the effort of swapping out the auto ecu for a manual one: check engine light. The ECU tells the automatic transmission when to shift and waits for a response from various sensors. That won't happen with your manual trans and so the ECU turns on the light. I haven't heard of anyone's ECU enabling the safety mode... yet.

 

This.

There's people who swap and keep the auto ECU, other than the check engine light I haven't seen any issues.

 

So what @Running Board Man seems to have left out but asked in the Lunch Table thread is he is asking about the difference between a manual 2wd ECU and the 4wd manual ECU.

If he retains the auto 4wd ECU, then it's a matter of using a few resistors on various sensors to make them happy from what I quickly read in that thread @JasonLee posted.

 

An 01/02 manual 4 runner doesnt exist from factory so i cant buy parts from one to make it work and havnt found a thread of anyone swapping it in after the fact with tacoma parts

Plus i liked the response that my cable tb tacoma had vs the drive by wire my 4 runner has to do that i need to change out everything pretty much (ecu, powertrain harness and everything that connects to it)

 

01/02 4 runners are different lets just say the one thread i found was suggesting using 03/04 tacoma parts but thats the same drive by wire tb i despise

Im just doing a sanity check... manual 2wd ecu on the engine it should be on with the electronics it should have should do fine with a transfer case it doesnt know is behind it right?

 

That's going to make things more difficult. We're there any cable tb on 4runners? I'd probably go that route with the ecu. And remove/re pin.

 

That's the thing with the different tb came a

different harness (old one wont work),

different injectors (old ones wont work right),

different igniter module to my knowledge,

different ecu,

all the vsc bullshit (computer takes over throttle even if your foot is to the floor),

electronic vs vacuum add actuator,

so pretty much everything in 01 on the 4 runners changed not to mention the transmission also changed from a line pressure cable to electronics

Not to mention my t case is computer controlled for the awd setup

Comparing to my 95 tacoma the 01 4 runner trans feels like its slipping but really thats just the way its tuned for refined smooth shifts

To do the tb swap would require everything a manual swap would entail and more

I have a few parts from my 95 tacoma id just need the manual ecu (auto trans ecu doesnt like on and off the throttle when shifting), and powertrain harness

 

Let's take a step back. Are you in a city/state/county that requires emissions testing or state inspections where you are required to have a functional, stock OBDII ECU?

If not, save yourself the hassle and go with an FIC or other aftermarket ECU that is tunable. If you're going to have to repin, build harnesses, and other stuff you have done most of the work needed for an aftermarket ECU.

 

Valid point that flew over my head

Had i bought a 96-00 it would have been like any other swap and would have had the cable tb setup already

 

I also had ants under the driver side front carpet because it was wet. I learned that after pulling so many different cables through the firewall grommet, I had created a path for water. If you open the hood and look at where the water drains, it drips right onto that grommet. Stock is sealed, but once you punch a hole through there its going to funnel the water down under your carpet.

Ants love water, that's why they will find a way in.

This was back when I lived in Florida. After living in Philly for 2 years, they died off. Now I'm in TX so hopefully they don't come back.

 

The timing tables are definitely different. You might be leaving a noticeable amount of performance on the table if you didn’t swap to a manual ECU.

 

Damn, that quarantine boredom is hitting hard, huh?

What kit are you running outside the frame? I am assuming you are still on a smaller tire?

 

Fox 2.0 12" on the @ARCHIVE hangers
yeah, those are my smaller set. 265 75r16 i think. i'm on 285 70r17 now, but will be going 255 80r17 in the next week or so.

 

Decided it was a good day to order up a supercharger for my 2.4.. figured why not?!

https://www.lceperformance.com/2RZ-2-4L-Low-Boost-Supercharger-Kit-2000-2004-TRD-p/7015199.htm

This will be going into Trudy's engine bay shortly after I get my lowering springs installed, going by the estimated 2-4 week ship time.

 

No rubbing? Spacers assumed right? Tire width is the only thing that kept me from going outside.

 

Yeah the 285's rub at a full articulation (not alot but enough that i don't run them crawling) The smaller ones don't rub at all. I'm hoping the 255 will be money. I've got 2" spacers now, i know, not ideal, but they work (i've been running 1.25 up front forever and never had issues so i don't mind running them in the back) make sure they are always torqued with Loctight. Eventually i'll want a wider axle, but those days are in the distant future. thats gonna be another can of worms i don't want to open just yet. For now the setup is tits.

 

Keep in mind the ECU doesn't run everything.

ABS for example has it's own computer.

Trac might too, not super certain of that. But in these older truck's it is very common to have seperate modules for everything. The ECU usually is just the engine management and transmission. So just doing a 4wd V6 Manual ECU could very well be possible without affecting your other systems. Look up a wiring diagram or just pull apart your kick panels and part of your dash to look for modules.

 

Abs and trac are the same computer, they’re on the abs module itself. He should be fine to just swap the ecus.

 

not surprised since trac manipulates the ABS to work so that makes sense.