Anyone know of a writeup on converting your slide style
levers for the heater/fan controls (96-98?) to the
later (99-?) dial type? In other words, replacing the
panel and levers etc, then re-wiring to the newer
panel.
Any input appreciated!

jackson

 

You might also need to convert other parts of the system - If I'm not mistaken the rotary dial system is all electronic, while the Slide style is partly mechanical - levers attach to cables that go to manual valves. So you'd need to have the electric stepper-motor valves for the water valve and the dampers etc. You'd need a lot of stuff, and need to know how it works.

 

that would be really cool conversion. I would love to get some sort of climate control in the taco
I am looking at different toyotas that had it and similar size to the stock size like ours.

 

It still isn't climate control, it's just electric valves instead of cables. Less reliable, but prettier.

I believe the 3rd gen Limiteds had climate control as an option, for sure newer Yotas do. Upgrading is as simple as tearing out the dash, harness, heater assembly and replacing it all.

 

yea thats what i want to do...i know they arnt slider but would like to look into implementing it

 

That is major dash surgery for the electronic version (as was avail in the LTDs). The rotary knobs (which don't have the LCD display) I think were actually cable driven like the sliders but I don't know if it is a direct retrofit or not so you'd need to look into that more to say for sure. Maybe JasonB might know this answer to that one.

 

Someone with a newer Runner FSM could look at the drawings. All I have is one for the pickup (1990) and it doesn't show the rotary knobbies.

 

so what years did this digital dash thinger come in....just the runners?

 

When I took apart my dash to run an amp wire, I did a little comparing of the sliding HVAC controls on my 97 to a pic I found of the rotary HVAC they started using in 98. I was really hoping I could swap them. The sliding controls are all manually controlled by cables by the sliding action and the rotary ones are partially cable driven and mechanically driven also. So from what I found out, it would NOT be possible to swap them.

 

Well it spossible if you get all the controls...like electric servos and what not. Thats what i will end up doing in the future for fun.