Just picked up a 98 limited with 115,000 on it.
Really clean stock rig. The 4wd work fine and the E-Locker obviously only works in 4lo under 5mph. I found a very old thread that I didn't want to bump so I took screen shots of info. It seems to bypass the "safety" for the E locker to only work in 4lo and under 5 mph I have to ground 2 wires.

If someone can point me to the location of the e locker ECU so I ground those 2 wires that would be rad.

It appears that this has heated seats factory heated seats. Started life in Canada if that makes a difference. But the 2nd/previous owner said they hadn't worked since he bought it. Could it be something simple like a fuse?

I am familiar with 1st and 2nd gen runners. But this is the first 3rd gen I have gotten to play with. So if I am asking stupid questions feel free and tell me.
Thanks all!!!

 

Where all the computer black boxes live of course! In the dash or kick panels..

In the locker case it's actually black! I the left hand kick panel.
Link

For seats you should probably start with testing the heater elements for continuity, obviously there is a plug somewhere coming out of the cushion area. But I'm not certain there isn't a side air bag, so caution is the word of the day!

 

Awesome thanks. I will look in to the air bag thing before I play around. The locker mod seems like a fairly easy thing to do. Thanks for all the help with everything Co, I really appreciate it.

 

The rear heated seats are added at the dealer, these seats where not designed to be heated, try the heated seats for a 1/2 hour and they should eventually heat up. thats how my 1999 is, and if you google "grey wire Mod" you should find a few write ups, but the wire you need to ground isn't always grey on the 4runners.

 

Awesome. I don't think I have rear heated just looks like the fronts.

 

So I think I like the idea of leaving the 5mph to engage safety in place but to disable the 4lo safety I just cut and ground the number 8 pin at the locker ecu or cut splice and ground? Electrical mental midget here.

 

I mistakenly said "rear" sorry, just front seats.., and I recall splicing the ground so the ecu thinks 4Lo is engaged and allows you to use the e-locker in any t-case position, there should be many write ups explaining this. You can run the locker at any speed, but you must engage it below 5mph, it won't allow you to engage above 5mph, I also find a slight turn and a slow roll makes for a quicker engagement after pressing the RR DIIF LOCK, I've had mine doing 100KM in 2wd locked but you can only drive in a straight line, not advised to use on pavement, handling and cornering will be seriously diminished as it will want to go straight, and in 2wd it is very easy to do doughnuts on the spot.

 

One wire does the 4Lo inhibit, another one does the 5 mph inhibit: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-ge...-4runners.html

The 5 mph inhibit is probably worth leaving in place, but getting rid of the 4lo inhibit makes it more fun. Be aware that it can make the rear end pretty squirrelly in 4HI in low traction situations. Whether that is scary or fun is a matter of personal opinion.

 

Yea I know how they handle. My last 85 had a Detroit in the rear. I will make sure I teach my wife (her new rig) some of the behaviors. Mostly just want her to be able to lock it in going up and down driveways at the moment. 12-14" of snow around town since December.

 

Ok so I am still reading on this and some people have O/D issues and some don't. Most of what I read said it was fine on a 98. Some had issues on a 99. Any thoughts?

 

Mine's a 5 spd 99, so no clue on that.

 

I have done this mod & and it takes absolutely no time to do. "Grey" wire I think is actually a "blue/white" wire if memory serves me correctly but I have a 97 5 spd. Quite a few people with auto 99's had issues but I, because it was not relevant to me year, don't really remember a solution due to limited searching.

EDIT: make good solid connections maybe even go "easily reversible" if it does not work out to your liking.

 

I have done the "grey wire mod" on my limited Auto 1999 and 2 of my SR5 Auto 1997's, no issues whatsoever.