My "new" 1988 center console armrest is beat to hell. I guess 200,000 miles with your elbow resting there will do that. I would like to get another, any hints on where to start my search since these aren't made any more by Toyota?

 

A scrap yard? Check out car-parts.com perhaps? It's a long shot, but maybe ebay? Check forums like this for people with parts trucks.

 

I repaired the one in my '85. Carefully removed the fabric, used it as a template to cut a piece of vinyl to match, had a friend sew it up. Shaved down the foam level and added a piece of ensolite padding on top. It worked well and was not hard to do.

 

Yes I saw that on your page. Don't know if I am as skilled or as patient as you might be. You have a very informative page and it is much appreciated.

 

You could also pull the arm rest off and take it to an auto upholstery shop. I'm sure they could fix it up for you. Probably would be able to match the material a lot better than what I did with some material from a fabric store.

 

That was my next thought. I emailed you yesterday hoping you might have knowledge of the neutral safety switch or why my back up lights aren't coming on. Do you have any thoughts? (shot in the dark here, just thought you might have some insight)

 

Never saw that e-mail. Never worked with any vehicle w/ neutral safety switch, not sure if that controls the backup lights or not. On all the manual trannys I've seen, there is a separate reverse switch that operates the backup lights. Not sure on the automatics, but I would find that switch and #1 see if it is connected and #2 if it works. They usually are just a switch that grounds out when in reverse and that provides the return path for the backup lights.

 

Thank you for your reply. It may be just a switch but it is quite pricey. $115 from Autozone and $235 from Toyota.

Just trying to avoid a big cost here.

Thanks again.

 

That is why I suggest testing it. Find the switch and see if it works. Easy to test, they are usually a simple on/off switch.

 

How do I access this switch? From above, below (will I need to lift it)? Will I have to remove anything to get to it??

Thanks anybody that can help

 

No idea on the A/T. Find the switch that controls the backup lights and then go from there. On the M/T, it is just on the side of the transmission. Wire connected to it that runs to the backup lights. In my '85 FMS, it seems to indicate that the neutral start switch also has the Reverse light signal in it. It does not show phyisically where the switch is located, so I can't help with that. It does describe how to adjust it. Maybe get ahold of an FSM for your year vehicle and go from there:

http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/FSM.shtml

 

I guess it must be pretty much the same with the A/T. The manual shows it on the driver's side of the tranny.

I'm guessing the back up switch is part of the neutral start switch as well. At least I hope so.

Thanks.

 

When my armrest went ugly, I stopped in at an auto upholsterer. He recovered it a fresh scrap of vinyl that was a perfect match, stitched like factory, and charged me 20 bucks.

 

I used your cheap fix technique for the armrest and fixed it for $1.98! The upholstry shop wanted $40 for the job. I bought some vinyl at Sam's and found some scrap foam followed your instructions and it worked beautifully! Thanks for the tip.

As for the neutral safety switch...the repair manual had the switch on the driver's side of the Transmission, we looked for 10 min. and finally someone looked on the other side and there it was plain as day...it was corroded and we tried to clean it up but still didn't work, we replaced it and now I have the lights.