Heat/AC Controls Don't Light Up

sworxx · 01-30-2003, 05:59 PM

I have a 97 T100 Extra Cab SR5 4x4. The heat/AC controls do not illuminate at night. Kind of a pain. I test drove a 98 T100 and it also had the same thing. Cooincidence? Did Toyota forget to light up the Heat/AC controls? Or do I have a bulb or fuse out that I can't see? There is no mention of it in the owners manual. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

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L33T35T 4Runner · 01-30-2003, 06:29 PM

I have the same problem in my 95 4runner. When i got the car (4 months ago) they never lit up. ever since then ive seen them light up ONCE.

they should light up... keyword being "should"

Shane · 01-30-2003, 06:32 PM

Not sure about the T100 but in the other older rigs there's a tiny very fragile bulb behind the HVAC controls, mine was acting up and to get it to light I had to smack the top of the dash. I swapped it out with the one from the glove box (same bulb in '86) and works normally again.

sworxx · 01-30-2003, 06:54 PM

Sure doesn't look easy to get to behind that panel?

Shane · 01-30-2003, 06:59 PM

On mine you yank off the knobs and then pop out the face, not sure if it's the same for you...

***Corey*** · 01-30-2003, 07:37 PM

2nd gen 4Runners & '89 to '95 trucks are the same.
http://www.pnw4runners.net/tando/tips.htm

It's easy to do as Shane said.
Remove knobs from heater sliders, put in a paper clip and gently pull from the sides as to not crack the panel.

Once in there you will see the magifier lens for the bulb.
Pull it out, and don't lose the green condom.

Toyota will charge you a few bucks for the bulb.
Take the bulb to a local auto parts store, and get it for under a $1.

Shane · 01-30-2003, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Corey
Pull it out, and don't lose the green condom.

Nah, toss the condom as well as the ones behind the dash, bareback all the way.

Much brighter without and a heck of a lot easier to read.

Quote:

Originally posted by Corey
Take the bulb to a local auto parts store, and get it for under a $1.

You mean you actually found that bulb somewhere other than the Toy dealer?!?! I looked high and low and nobody had that tiny little bulb anywhere so I gave up on replacing the one I stole from the glovebox, never needed it anyways.

***Corey*** · 01-30-2003, 08:11 PM

He he, bareback...

The Auburn Auto store (ASAP) right down by Pizza Hut here has the bulbs in stock.

Shane · 01-30-2003, 08:24 PM

I'll have to stop by there next time I'm in the area, thanks for the info.

L33T35T 4Runner · 01-30-2003, 10:11 PM

well.. i just swapped the light from my glove box to my ac controls... and i didnt put the green condom back on.... i like it brighter

here are photos of me doing it... 5 in all

knobs simple pull off....
http://66.75.118.29/light1.jpg

using any flat utensle (sp?) pry the face plate off... it seems fragle... and CAN break... but its quite flexable.. to a point. at this time the A/C button comes out...
http://66.75.118.29/light2.jpg

front face removed...
http://66.75.118.29/light3.jpg

picture is of removal of magnifier thingy for the light... simply pull back clip with one finger (on right side) and pull out unti with small screw driver or finger from top
http://66.75.118.29/light4.jpg

mag. removed.... bulb exposed. you can simply pull it out with your hand.
http://66.75.118.29/light5.jpg

to remove the glove box light, unscrew the 10mm bolt bottom right of glove box, unscrew 3 screws inside top glove box, latch glove box closed. unccrew last screw bottom left outside glovebox. support bottom of dash with hand, open glove box. let hang

i put the condom on the light then pulled it out with needle nose pliers... but if you have small enough hands im sure you can fit your fingers in there and remove the bulb

i just put the condom on the broken light and put it back in the glove box light holder. put everything back together, works great! ...atleast the a/c light works great, glove box light is broken now

oh ya... sorry for the blurry pics. there was very little light in my car so the camera couldnt focus at all.

***Corey*** · 01-30-2003, 10:16 PM

You know, I was thinking about pulling mine off tomorrow and taking pics on how to do this.

Would you consider having me put this up as an article here?
That way it will be on the Tech page for future reference.
We get a lot of inquiries on this very topic.

All I would need is the text sent to me in a doc format, or WordPad, and tell me where to insert each picture.

Shane · 01-30-2003, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by L33T35T 4Runner
well.. i just swapped the light from my glove box to my ac controls... and i didnt put the green condom back on.... i like it brighter

Cool, so my half-assed method worked for you too!

L33T35T 4Runner · 01-30-2003, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Corey
You know, I was thinking about pulling mine off tomorrow and taking pics on how to do this.

Would you consider having me put this up as an article here?
That way it will be on the Tech page for future reference.
We get a lot of inquiries on this very topic.

All I would need is the text sent to me in a doc format, or WordPad, and tell me where to insert each picture.

sure. i'll make the document tomorrow... MS Word fine?

I could also put it on my tripod site... http://l33t35t.tripod.com

id be glad to make the document myself.... I didnt take microsoft office for two years for nothin

I'll also take some better pictures... when its light out

what size would you like the pictures? i took those at 640x480 in low quality. I can go up to 1600x1200 in super high quality...

I have a canon A40 2.0MP

its so nice

dave jamieson · 01-31-2003, 02:27 AM

Hey Lads,

just fixed my heater control lamps. If you have the Climatic Control Type VS the manual control, two green Pea lamps are located in the rear of the digital screen. Email me with replacement how to at dave.jamieson@sympatico.ca for a 4 runner. Everything unsnaps. The only screws are for the climatic control unit.

dave

***Corey*** · 01-31-2003, 05:53 AM

640x480 pics are what we use here for the tech write-ups most of the time.

I like to host it on the server here, but you can also mirror it on your site if you want to.

I like to host the stuff here as a lot of time I have noticed that some sites are down from being overloaded, or someone who runs a home server has their PC turned off.
No one can see the information then if they go to look it up.

Word doc would be fine, but the pics would have to be seperate as I have no way to extract them from a document.
Just Zip them up, or send them all at once to my email listed in the sig above.

Thanks, Corey

billyho · 01-31-2003, 06:01 AM

I have a '97 Tacoma and mine went out two weeks ago. Goto the dealer and pick one up for about 3 bucks. If yours is like mine you will have to pull the knobs off of the a/c heater controls and then take a small screw driver and pop off the plate. Under that plate is a clear plate the will come off and the bulb is behind there. It was very easy to do. Let me know if you have any questions.

sworxx · 01-31-2003, 04:45 PM

Wow, thanks for the help! It's much more info than I even needed. I'll try it tomorrow. Thanks again

01-30-2003, 06:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
L33T35T 4Runner Contributing Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Fountain Valley, CA (so cali) Posts: 2,005	I have the same problem in my 95 4runner. When i got the car (4 months ago) they never lit up. ever since then ive seen them light up ONCE. they should light up... keyword being "should" __________________ 95 4Runner SR5 3.0l. V6 2 wheel drive baby! 31" Bridgeston Dueler A/T Revos. Downey 1.5 Coils. Doetsch MV-12 Shocks. Brembo Rotors. Performance Friction Pads. Pioneer head unit with 1 12" Pioneer woofer. XM Radio. RB Headlight Harness w/ Sylvania SilverStars New to the family: 85 4Runner 22RE, 4x4, 5 spd, SFA. 31" BFG All Terrain T/A KOs, genuine Walmart seat covers, "Dual" stereo, XM Radio, RB Headlight Harness w/ Sylvania SilverStars. Onboard air. Has been seafoamed to hell

01-30-2003, 06:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
Shane Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Seattle Posts: 3,000	Not sure about the T100 but in the other older rigs there's a tiny very fragile bulb behind the HVAC controls, mine was acting up and to get it to light I had to smack the top of the dash. I swapped it out with the one from the glove box (same bulb in '86) and works normally again. __________________ "It's one great big dysfunctional family that now has to split up and spread dysfunctionality around the greater world," Bill Stainton on the breakup of the cast of "Almost Live!"

01-30-2003, 06:59 PM	#5 (permalink)
Shane Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Seattle Posts: 3,000	On mine you yank off the knobs and then pop out the face, not sure if it's the same for you... __________________ "It's one great big dysfunctional family that now has to split up and spread dysfunctionality around the greater world," Bill Stainton on the breakup of the cast of "Almost Live!"

01-30-2003, 07:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
*Corey* Co-Founder/Administrator Staff Join Date: May 2002 Location: Auburn, Washington Posts: 26,076	2nd gen 4Runners & '89 to '95 trucks are the same. http://www.pnw4runners.net/tando/tips.htm It's easy to do as Shane said. Remove knobs from heater sliders, put in a paper clip and gently pull from the sides as to not crack the panel. Once in there you will see the magifier lens for the bulb. Pull it out, and don't lose the green condom. Toyota will charge you a few bucks for the bulb. Take the bulb to a local auto parts store, and get it for under a $1. __________________ Corey 2007 FJ Cruiser Built for 4wheelin', expedition, camping, and overlanding use PNW FJ Cruisers ☺ Detailing 101 ☺ Join Topsites ☺ Muffler Comparisons ☺ Maggiolinas In The Wild FJ Cruiser Buildup ☺ New Roof Top Tent ☺ Video Of My Penthouse Part II ☺ Rehinge Your ARB/Engel Fridge Blog About Roof Top Tents ☺ FJC Magazines Online Review Of My Tent ☺ 2009 Specialized Rockhopper Pro

01-30-2003, 08:24 PM	#9 (permalink)
Shane Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Seattle Posts: 3,000	I'll have to stop by there next time I'm in the area, thanks for the info. __________________ "It's one great big dysfunctional family that now has to split up and spread dysfunctionality around the greater world," Bill Stainton on the breakup of the cast of "Almost Live!"

01-30-2003, 06:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
sworxx Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 83	Sure doesn't look easy to get to behind that panel?

01-30-2003, 08:11 PM	#8 (permalink)
*Corey* Co-Founder/Administrator Staff Join Date: May 2002 Location: Auburn, Washington Posts: 26,076	He he, bareback... The Auburn Auto store (ASAP) right down by Pizza Hut here has the bulbs in stock.

01-30-2003, 10:11 PM	#10 (permalink)
L33T35T 4Runner Contributing Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Fountain Valley, CA (so cali) Posts: 2,005	well.. i just swapped the light from my glove box to my ac controls... and i didnt put the green condom back on.... i like it brighter here are photos of me doing it... 5 in all knobs simple pull off.... http://66.75.118.29/light1.jpg using any flat utensle (sp?) pry the face plate off... it seems fragle... and CAN break... but its quite flexable.. to a point. at this time the A/C button comes out... http://66.75.118.29/light2.jpg front face removed... http://66.75.118.29/light3.jpg picture is of removal of magnifier thingy for the light... simply pull back clip with one finger (on right side) and pull out unti with small screw driver or finger from top http://66.75.118.29/light4.jpg mag. removed.... bulb exposed. you can simply pull it out with your hand. http://66.75.118.29/light5.jpg to remove the glove box light, unscrew the 10mm bolt bottom right of glove box, unscrew 3 screws inside top glove box, latch glove box closed. unccrew last screw bottom left outside glovebox. support bottom of dash with hand, open glove box. let hang i put the condom on the light then pulled it out with needle nose pliers... but if you have small enough hands im sure you can fit your fingers in there and remove the bulb i just put the condom on the broken light and put it back in the glove box light holder. put everything back together, works great! ...atleast the a/c light works great, glove box light is broken now oh ya... sorry for the blurry pics. there was very little light in my car so the camera couldnt focus at all. __________________ 95 4Runner SR5 3.0l. V6 2 wheel drive baby! 31" Bridgeston Dueler A/T Revos. Downey 1.5 Coils. Doetsch MV-12 Shocks. Brembo Rotors. Performance Friction Pads. Pioneer head unit with 1 12" Pioneer woofer. XM Radio. RB Headlight Harness w/ Sylvania SilverStars New to the family: 85 4Runner 22RE, 4x4, 5 spd, SFA. 31" BFG All Terrain T/A KOs, genuine Walmart seat covers, "Dual" stereo, XM Radio, RB Headlight Harness w/ Sylvania SilverStars. Onboard air. Has been seafoamed to hell

01-30-2003, 10:16 PM	#11 (permalink)
*Corey* Co-Founder/Administrator Staff Join Date: May 2002 Location: Auburn, Washington Posts: 26,076	Excellent You know, I was thinking about pulling mine off tomorrow and taking pics on how to do this. Would you consider having me put this up as an article here? That way it will be on the Tech page for future reference. We get a lot of inquiries on this very topic. All I would need is the text sent to me in a doc format, or WordPad, and tell me where to insert each picture.

01-31-2003, 02:27 AM	#14 (permalink)
dave jamieson Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: ottawa, ontario, canada Posts: 2	Climatic control lights Hey Lads, just fixed my heater control lamps. If you have the Climatic Control Type VS the manual control, two green Pea lamps are located in the rear of the digital screen. Email me with replacement how to at dave.jamieson@sympatico.ca for a 4 runner. Everything unsnaps. The only screws are for the climatic control unit. dave

01-31-2003, 05:53 AM	#15 (permalink)
*Corey* Co-Founder/Administrator Staff Join Date: May 2002 Location: Auburn, Washington Posts: 26,076	640x480 pics are what we use here for the tech write-ups most of the time. I like to host it on the server here, but you can also mirror it on your site if you want to. I like to host the stuff here as a lot of time I have noticed that some sites are down from being overloaded, or someone who runs a home server has their PC turned off. No one can see the information then if they go to look it up. Word doc would be fine, but the pics would have to be seperate as I have no way to extract them from a document. Just Zip them up, or send them all at once to my email listed in the sig above. Thanks, Corey

01-31-2003, 06:01 AM	#16 (permalink)
billyho Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Atlanta Posts: 37	I have a '97 Tacoma and mine went out two weeks ago. Goto the dealer and pick one up for about 3 bucks. If yours is like mine you will have to pull the knobs off of the a/c heater controls and then take a small screw driver and pop off the plate. Under that plate is a clear plate the will come off and the bulb is behind there. It was very easy to do. Let me know if you have any questions.

01-31-2003, 04:45 PM	#17 (permalink)
sworxx Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 83	Wow, thanks for the help! It's much more info than I even needed. I'll try it tomorrow. Thanks again

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