Just curious if anyone has added climate control ac to an SR5 2000 4 runner? or is it even possible?
thanks
mikeh

 

I assume you mean automatic temperature control. Be glad you don't have it! There have been many, many complaints from Gen4 owners. I've mostly disabled mine, but it still insists on switching to recirc mode at inappropriate times (example - car has been in sun and interior is hotter than outside). IMHO, the system is poorly designed and a major nusiance.

 

bump any 3rd gens??

 

You can do it but a swap is VERY expensive unless you have a donor vehicle. You'd be better off just buying one that already had it installed if you are dying for electronic climate control like the limiteds have.

 

yep, very expensive, and not really even worth it. i had it in my 99 limited, but dont have it in my 02. it looks nice, but who really cares enough to spend lots of $$ on it, buy an indash tv for as much as it would cost you to do the digital ac

 

I guess, I dont see where the complaint is? Thats the point of having a automatic climate control system. When you set it to automatic, you want it to do everything in its powers to get to that set temp and stay there. Now went you put it into defrost. you dont want it to switch to recirculation, which it shouldn't since its not in full auto mode, and you have selected more then just a temp setting and auto.

 

I found the controls for real cheap.... I was curious if the proper electrical connections where In my truck... more or less a plug and play situation.. but nothing is ever that easy!

mikeh

 

Ok so I want to take on this project. I have a donor vehicle that has climate control and I just need the knowledge. Does anyone have a write up on how to make this work. Is it just a temp sensor or do I need more? Can I just cut the connectors and rewire then jumper in a temp switch or is there more to this?

 

You have to swap everything associated with the underdash components. Wiring, controls, relays, temp boxes, etc etc etc. Its not worth it for the swap, especially when you consider those things fail quite often and cost $800 new from toyota. And you can RARELY find them used. When you do, they are $375.

The wiring is totally different, so you cannot simply jump a wire or cut some connectors. The SR5 trucks are simply not wired for an electronic setup. The limited 4Runners use a servo system to actuate the blend doors, heater controls, and air intake. The other style uses a cable system attached to the back of the heater control. Again, totally different.

 

death cougar, no offense bro, but i do not think you caught what i am trying to accomplish. I have a donor vehicle that already has all the components and I have nothing but time. Also the 3rd gen it is going in to is an 01 so it is not mechanical cable driven. My display has the 3 round turn knobs with electrical plugs in the back not the sliders attached to cables. I feel like this job can't be that hard. I am very comfortable cutting apart a wiring harness. I am really just trying to find an explanation of a wiring diagram with what components I would need and where they are located.

 

Hmm, well, given that knowledge, tackle it! I would think you can just swap wiring harnesses . You will need to change all the under dash boxes (heater core etc, there are 3 of them) and that main control unit. Its really not a hard thing to do, just takes some time. Post up pics of your progress!

 

why would I need to swap heater cores i wonder? It looks lie the harness for the thermostat is one big bank so I am guessing that it only goes as far as the first couple modules. So I am hoping that when you say swap harnesses, it isa multiple piece harness that you are referring to i.e. from the last control box on? or is this all tied into the main harness? If it is part of the main harness do you think it would be easier to just run the wiring for the 3 modules and clip and rewire the connectors rather than pulling the whole harness?

Sorry for the ignorant questions, but I haven't had time to take this other truck apart yet and I am trying to figure out if I can tackle this in a day or if I will need a weekend.

Thanks in advance

 

You're gonna need more then a weekend! DC is pretty close to correct on what you need to swap out (he works in a wrecking yard), so if you have all the parts from the donor vehicle you are gonna be set for the parts you are gonna need. Take a look at a FSM for the two vehicles your lookin at and see what harness is what, where it goes (routing) and connects to. See what is needed in the way of ducting, controls of ducting as if it controls servos or cable controls. They do look really slick but they have had some reliability issues over the years since introduction. I would do some more research on this before doing the switch, but if you do it, be sure to document EVERYTHING! would be a really sweet conversion to see. Good Luck!

 

Not to jack the thread, but if you had the cable controls would it be just as much work to go to the "3 knobs" type controls?

 

Switching from cable to electronic I feel like would be quite a bit more work.

I am having a hard time finding diagrams, but going from the 3 turn dial HVAC to the Climate control shouldn't have that many extra parts. There must be some sort of internal temperature thermometer and a coinciding module to interpret data to and from the thermostat. Then there will of course be the different section of harness for the module to the thermostat. Does anyone know if the limited wiring harness is sectionalized or all one unit? I can't imagine the ducting to be any different but I just haven't had any time to get behind the dash on the two as one is my daily driver. I have been told you would need to take everything from the heater core, but everything I have found uses the same part numbers for the heater limited or not. Any input or diagrams would be greatly appreciated.

-Me-