1999 Toyota 4Runner 3rd Gen - Climate Control Light Replacement

Here is a short video that goes over how to get to and replace the lights in your climate control center on a 1999 Toyota 4Runner.
Replacement Bulbs:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...
These bulbs are rated for 14V. In my testing, I only saw 5V at the bulb socket. It was later pointed out that my dimmer switch was probably active, and it would be using direct battery voltage (11-14v) when at full brightness.
Green Bulb Boots:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...

[@jimmynickels6248]

So nice of Bo Duke (Dukes of Hazzard) to walk us through this!

[@speckbeer]

You can unlock the shifter with your key by depressing the unlock tab in front of the shifter on the console instead of having to turn on the ignition switch. Remember to set the parking brake first. Thank you for the video, obviously I have to do this and was wondering how far I had to disassemble the heater controls. Now I know thanks to you.

[@curtscars6250]

Been looking for a video like this for quite some time. Thanks so much, keep up the good work!

[@darrendexter6125]

Thank you

[@MannysWorldd]

You made this look easy. Gonna try and fix mine tonight 🤞🏽

[@odalisalmonte6121]

Excellent… very nice! Now I’m going to do the same on my 2002 4Runner Sport Edition! Thanks!

[@Ja-chevy]

Very useful and helpful video!! Thanks for sharing.

[@markbonham676]

Good job! While watching, and when the new bulb wouldn't work, I couldn't stop thinking that this is how some of my projects are! Replaced fog lights on my '02 and had the same issue!!

[@alexsanchez469]

I’m so glad I’ve stumbled onto this video thanks for the help 👍🏼

[@darrendexter6125]

Glad this helped you out

[@therealcarterhansen]

Amazing! Thanks for the video! Super helpful🙏🏼

[@hugos.5059]

Same here!! Been looking for a video like this so I can get into my 3rd gen and replace the bulbs... thanks man..

[@darrendexter6125]

Feels good to know this helped you out. Hope your repair goes well.

[@davinsimmons1755]

Can you point in right direction where you bought the bulbs from?

[@darrendexter6125]

@@davinsimmons1755 - There is a link to the bulbs in the description of the video. Good Luck!

[@Rhaspun]

Okay. Thanks for this video. I've been probing around a little bit to how to reach the bulbs. Not that much work.

[@VoiceVictor7]

You did a good job with this! Thank you. My 98 4Runner Limited has exact same climate control light problem, & as noted bulbs and sockets are a pain .. both of my new bulbs would not light up, so your troubleshooting voltage was great, thanks. Note: i was able to remove the top climate control cover piece with out removing the other two console pieces.

[@russradaj4251]

I learned the hard way that the bulbs MUST go in in a certain direction. If you put the new bulb in and it doesn't light up, now here's the tricky part, you must pull the bulb back out and rotate it 180° and reinsert it into the bulb receptacle. Easier said than done if you have big fingers! I replaced my instrument cluster with LED's and yup it worked out on every one that didn't light up.

[@rikyspinjitsu]

that does not make sense , it has no technology , its just a filament with 2 prongs: all essentially 1 U-shaped wire ... why does polarity matter on something so simple and basic. ?

[@victordelgado5214]

Thank you I found the problem.Thx Good work.

[@laurenceaugustsonMar21]

Thank you Sir!! I have a 2000 4 Runner I gotta to do that too soon

[@nolancampbell6139]

Super helpful video! Thank you very much. Oh and I like the old school multimeter 😊

[@darrendexter6125]

Glad you liked the video. I built that multimeter from a kit back in highschool 26 years ago, hasn't failed me yet! So, I guess 'old school' is very appropriate, haha.

[@leonardferro8128]

Good job, helped a lot, thanks.

[@erikjules9522]

This was really helpful, thanks! You did a nice job with the video.

[@nickpontoski]

I have an 02 4Runner SR5 and the bulbs don’t come out of the socket. I removed them from the inside of the fixture but they’re attached to the little socket attachment solid. I don’t want to break them!

[@IvanMPylypchuk]

02 4R SR5 here too. You are correct, you can't just remove and replace the glass bulb part. The glass and the socket the glass sits in forms the entire light bulb unit. Like you said, you have to remove these bulbs from the inside by simply twisting them out after removing the three phillips screws that hold the black plastic cover on the entire hvac control box.

[@melvinleon1548]

Very helpful thank you

[@craigchenevert5598]

Great video! Big help to me and my 99 Tacoma. Having trouble finding the green boots. Do you have apart number or link? Thanks!

[@user-wq7jj9zr9r]

Took longer to extract bulb and little green cover that to access the bulbs. Thanks.

[@x1brandonx11]

Awesome video great help thanks just a question where do you get the green rubber tips that go on the bulbs ?

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Good informative video though have this setup on my sr5 and my limited has the climate control unit

[@JoseSalazar-ei1oy]

So how did you fix the damaged socket? You didn't explain.

[@goofsaddggkle7351]

I’m still not 100% sure how you got it working. Did you just try different new bulbs until one worked? Or did you twist it around in the socket until the light came on? Thanks.

[@Indestructable]

great video! are the bulbs different for models with automatic climate control?

[@jasonfoster645]

Great video thanks! Question - was it possible for you to keep the existing boots?

[@darrendexter6125]

Yes, the boots can be removed from the existing bulb and re-used. However, if they are originals, be careful as they will tear easier than a new one. This is mainly a concern when putting them back on the new bulb.

[@pedroolmedo1080]

Darren, did you ended up using the same old bulb but placing it better so it works? sorry my english sometimes misses details. I ask you this because the link that you place to buy new bulbs in amazon are 14 V . excellent video. Grettings from Uruguay!

[@darrendexter6125]

Hi Pedro, You are correct that the Amazon link shows the bulbs as 14V. However, every #74 bulb I try to find also says 14V. So, this makes me think that the #74 bulb has a maximum voltage of 14V, and its mileage may vary depending on what voltage you subject it to. I have observed that the brightness of the new bulbs I installed are not discernibly different from the originals. I did not use the original bulb again, because I had cracked the glass several times while trying to get it seated into the socket properly. Bad bulb/socket design in my opinion. Another reason why I went and bought a 10-pack.... after screwing up the original bulb glass with the one that didn't work. I knew I was going to break a few in the process of figuring out what the heck was wrong. Thanks for watching.

[@jimmyfrye5035]

Just putting it out there, the electrical system on a car is about 14V when the alternator is spinning. It sits at about 11V to 12V when the alternator is not spinning. a "14V" bulb will be just fine. Just like when an appliance says "115V" and your outlets are putting out 120V, the difference is so small it doesn't matter.

[@crzy11000]

@@darrendexter6125 I bet if you adjust the dimmer switch for the dash lights the voltage will vary from 0 to 14 volts . The dimmer switch changes the voltage to change the brightness of the dash. Great video by the way.

[@darrendexter6125]

@@crzy11000 Agreed, that would make complete sense why I was reading 5V. I almost always drive with them as low as possible but still functional, so the bulbs will last longer.

[@crzy11000]

@@darrendexter6125 maybe edit the description so others will understand. Thanx for posting your video

[@camerondouglas8149]

I bought the #74 bulbs but they were too big. They were longer and wider than the bulbs already in there. Any advice?

[@darrendexter6125]

I found the recommended #74 bulb on the www.toyota-4runner.org forum pages for 3rd Gen 4Runners, and it was the correct bulb for mine. Is your 4Runner a Limited, or something with different controls? Or does it look like mine in the video?

[@Mr1975mpg]

I tried the #74 and #37 bulb both didn't work. Try the T1 3/4 bulb, for the climate lights. I used the t1 3/4 on my 98 Tacoma automatic gear selector lights and climate lights. If it's a little difficult to remove try a bit of wd40 with clean non greasy hands. Good luck.

[@victordelgado5214]

Help me out, I did that, put everything in, now clok, stereo,and cigarette lighter not working , What can I do? Thx if you help

[@darrendexter6125]

Not sure, but my first thought would be that you might have unplugged one of the wiring bundles, and forgot to re-attach when putting everything back together.

[@kkainaluu808]

Are these bulbs the same bulbs for the P D R N 2 L underneath the speedometer?

[@darrendexter6125]

No, they are not. Here is an excellent write-up of that, including a chart with bulb types www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/132012-write-up-climate-control-dash-bulbs-2000-limited.html

[@kkainaluu808]

Thanks

[@Infonerd310]

On my 98 I was able just to take the climate control plate off with out taking everything apart and changing the bulbs

[@danielornelas3147]

Same here. I have 97 I could have saved a lot of time had I known that. This is still a great video.

[@paulallen218]

Anyone know where the AC relay is located on a 2002 4runner??

[@darrendexter6125]

Looks like it may be behind the glove box - f01.justanswer.com/tim37857/990ea24f-e9a0-4abd-b343-ac103f3ff7ec_1.png

[@562ddko]

Will these bulbs work for the dashboard as well

[@darrendexter6125]

No, they will not. Here is an excellent write-up of that area, including a chart with bulb types www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/132012-write-up-climate-control-dash-bulbs-2000-limited.html

[@7beast298]

Wow so there is only two bulbs back there? 🤔

[@frandanco6289]

It's a tiny bulb, why would it ever need 12 volts??

[@woodsey52]

I figure you know by now that the unit comes out and the correct bulbs come mounted in their own little twist in unit that go in from the rear.

[@darrendexter6125]

Doesn't sound familiar at all. Can you provide a link to what you are talking about?

[@darrendexter6125]

Sounds like you may be talking about the lights that go behind the main speedometer, tachometer console. The bulbs for the HVAC control area are completely different.

[@woodsey52]

@@darrendexter6125 Hey Darren. The bulbs are exactly the same as the instrument panel bulbs. The dealer can get them for you or ebay. There are only 3 so I had the dealer to get mine so I could be sure they were right. Ok..Once you take the climate control cover off which you did, there are 3 screws holding the control box. Once you take those out you can work the box out. There are 4 tiny brass screws holding the black cover on to the control box then it snaps off...be careful not to break it since it is flimsy. Once that is off the back side which is a circuit board will be exposed. The bullbs just twist to the left and come right out just like instrument panel bulbs. I don't have a link because when I ordered the bulbs I saw they were the same as inst.panel bulbs. Hope this helps.

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

If them mini bulbs ran at 12 volts the cover piece would be blinding going down the road

[@socalducky]

What size bulb did you use?

[@darrendexter6125]

There is a link to the exact bulb in the description. Good Luck with yours!

[@socalducky]

@@darrendexter6125 got it, thanks!

[@SoChillExplores]

98 4runner. The air control stays stuck on face/feet mode. So I cannot use, feet only, defog/feet or Defog…. Which I kindaaa need hahaha. Does anybody have a video of how to fix that? Thanks for this awesome video

[@darrendexter6125]

Is the air direction mechanism stuck when it reaches a certain point in its range? Or does it still move smoothly, but the air output location doesn't change?

[@thecarelectronicguy687]

@@darrendexter6125I’m having this same issue if you can help. The knob won’t physically turn to head only or defrost only, as if it’s stuck somehow

[@darrendexter6125]

@@thecarelectronicguy687 Sounds like you have something preventing the motion of the door flap that directs the air to the different locations. You may need to dig in to that area to find out what is obstructing the door flap motion. Or a small camera on the end of a cable might assist if you go in through a vent hole. It may be that some part of the duct has come loose, or something has warped over time.

[@thecarelectronicguy687]

@@darrendexter6125 Any idea where that flap is located? I tried following the linkage cable from the climate control itself, but couldn’t trace it back to anything obvious

[@darrendexter6125]

@@thecarelectronicguy687 Sorry I do not, I have not had to dig in that far on mine. Following the linkage like you mentioned is a good strategy. Maybe a local salvage yard might have one you could dig into without the worry of breaking something. Or they might have one already taken apart that far, so you can see what is behind the dash console and how all the ducts are routed

[@koreymayo8884]

Some vehicle electronics are on a 5 volt circuit which is totally normal. Good video though.

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

That's a manual ac system not a climate control system

[@TheSaxophonecat]

Dude why didn’t you use LEDs? I know they’re brighter but they won’t probably ever go out again… Lots of colors

[@darrendexter6125]

I did ....... eventually - kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKjOiaOfipuHm5I

[@TheSaxophonecat]

@@darrendexter6125 Didn’t mean to criticize just a helpful hint. I realized I needed LEDs when someone wrecked my 2000 Honda pilot And I got a 1999 Toyota 4 runner .Dash lights were so damn ,I knew they weren’t dirty just not up to the job. Putting in the LEDs is definitely a eureka moment ! Good to both of us

[@craigchenevert5598]

Great video! Big help to me and my 99 Tacoma. Having trouble finding the green boots. Do you have apart number or link? Thanks!

[@darrendexter6125]

Yes, there are links in the video description above. You have to click "show more" to see them.