TRD4

I purchased the taillamps from a 2002 4runner, with the intention of installing them on my 2000. I didn't realize that the bulb harnesses are a slightly different size on the 2002's, than they are in 2000. As a result, the bulbs on the brake and turn signals won't quite fit (but are very close).

Does anybody know if you can just swap the harnesses for the newer ones? Do you have to replace any of the wiring components (relays, or anything else) to make this conversion work? Or can you modify the 2000 harnesses to make them fit?

If it is simply splicing-in new harnesses, can you order them from a parts store, or do you have to go through the dealerships?

Lots of questions. Any help would be greatly appreciated...

-Cal
2000 4runner LTD

pfdaxe

You'll need an '02 harness and splice it in.

shazaam

I went the other way, I took an aftermarket tail lamps designed for a 98 and put them in my 02 ... if you have a hot knife, and some electrical tape, and about 20 min you can cut off some of the little plastic nubbies that screw in the wiring harness, and make the wiring harness fit into the brackets on the tail lamps. Then just place electrical tape on the back of it, and your done.

if you don't have a hot knife, then you can use a regular knife, it will just take a little longer.

TRD4

In case anybody else wants to know how to do this, here is what I did to complete my taillight conversion. It was very simple, in retrospect.

Again, I have a 2000 4runner, and wanted to install lenses from an '02. The lenses fit prefectly, but the bulbs and bulb-housing are different sizes.

First, go to the dealership, buy the lenses (about $110/lens), the harnesses from the 01-02 (about $25 per side), and bulbs for the 02 (you only need the turn signal and reverse bulbs). Don't need to buy the bottom bulb (you won't need to splice that one).

Installing:
If you wanted to go hardcore, find a way to get the original harnesses out, and replace them with the new ones. I didn't have the patience to do this (the space is VERY tight), so I did some splicing instead (which worked perfectly).

So, you will have to cut the wiring just below the bulb-housing for the reverse bulb, and the turn signals only. Don't need to cut the bottom bulbs.

Splice the new ones on using butt connectors, but be sure to either put shrink tubing over them, or do a careful job with electrical tape to seal the connections, or could have rust problems down the road.

Mine work perfectly...and it was easy, and I don't regret splicing the wiring like I thought I would. And my truck looks years newer.

turboale

Nice work. Its amazing how new tail lights and head lights can make a car look newer. I'm overdue for some new headlight housings as the right one had mud in it and has about half the light output that it did, not to mention the light kind of scatters (sorry other drivers). Oh well, I have six hella 500s that can do the job instead . I will get some 02 reflectors soon enough, I have seen enough people flip their little rear view mirror tab when I come up behind them to know its annoying. Anyone got any they don't want??

Jason B

Install pics here:

http://www.toyotaoffroad.net/jnburtman/tails.html