i have an 89 4-cyl 5-speed runner. i've only had it about 3 weeks now. aside from the power options (windows, locks, cruise, etc.), i really miss having a tachometer and a trip meter. is there any EASY and/or CHEAP way to switch with one that has those? or would i have to add cables, electric stuff, blah blah blah. anyone know?

 

you could find one out of a 88 SR5 truck, not sure if yours is prewired for it though
i put an aftermarket tach in my 84 Mazda B-2000, it wasn't too hard, one wire to negative side of coil, one to power when key is on, one to instrument panel lights, and one to ground

 

i'm in the same situation. really sucks not having a tach. anybody have any more advice on this?

 

I traded my stock unit for an sr-5 cluster. Its mostly a plug and play operation.
If youre truck was wired for a tack its very easy. If it wasnt then you will have to run one wire from the coil to the back of the instrument cluster.
I think there is a write-up somewhere on it.

 

Is there a way to know if it is wired for the tach before you open up the dash?

 

Only the earlier non-sr5 models are not wired for tach. Grab an SR5 console and the oil sender, and you'll be good to go. Change the oil sender first or the non SR5 sender will fry the SR5 oil gauge. Did this myself, hard on the knuckles to get the gauges in and out, but otherwise pretty straight forward...

 

Sorry, forgot about that

 

Pre 89 are NOT wired for the tach. Post 89 are. All 1st gen 4runners must have a wire run frm the Coil to the tach. Easy to do, and if done right can look stock. Make sure you change out the oil sending unit, as dajabr said, to the gauge style.

 

Uhmm, I have an 87 and it did not require the extra wire for the tach. The write up I read said that you should look for a green connector next to the coil. That is the wiring that is for the tach. (or something like that) Iwish I could find that article.

 

That's correct, I didn't have to run tach wire either. When I researched the mod, the only ones that needed it were 84-85 and 86 seemed inconsistent. I figured 87 was the first year of the new grill with the 2x2 sections, insetad of the old 2x3 style, so they must have started putting tach wire or a the whole sr5 basic wiring harness in the non-sr5 at the same time. ALso, make sure the cluster matches yor transmission, 5 speeds have a voltmeter on top right, the auto need the ECT light there instead. Here's that link...

http://www.siestaoff-road.web1000.com/clustertech.html

Finally, I'm about to post a write up on changing milage to match, I have my old speedo and no one bought it on ebay so will take it apart one last time.
Also, you should consider getting a new sender from toyota instead of used, never heard of a transplanted one failing but they're cheap sooooo...

 

Oh, and here's how to change the dash color...

http://va4roc.com/archive.htm

 

ok i know this topic is old but... how do you change the oil sending unit?

 

The oils sending unit is located on the passenger side of the block just in front of the starter and below the oil filter. unscrew it and replace it with the new one. I think the size of that is 22mm but I cant remember for sure. Hopefully someone will chim in with some more info.

 

ok thanks