I have a real stupid question. i know, no stupid questions -- just
stupid people...

My toyota dealer quoted me 1.5 hours of labor (incredible) to replace
a dash bulb in my 4Runner. The bulb in question lights up the
functions for the center (there are 3 knobs; this is the one in the
middle) climate control knob. The LED tips of this knob light up just
fine - but there must be a backlight bulb that luminates the function
(A/C, temp etc.). When i open the tray just below these knobs, there
is a phillips screw right there - is this the proper place to start,
or should I explore popping-the black trim (that surrounds the 3
knobs) off? Let me know, Harry in Montreal.

On Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:46:01 -0700 (PDT), Harry in Montreal
<mustang4_6@hotmail.com> wrote:

I don't know the answer, but if you don't get it elsewhere...

$10 buys you 24 hours of access to the same repair docs as the
dealership @ techinfo.toyota.com. There have been occasions where
I've spent the $10 simply as a sanity check, or simply to measure the
PITA factor per dollar.

On Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:46:01 -0700 (PDT), Harry in Montreal
<mustang4_6@hotmail.com> wrote:

Don't know your exact car, but that's usually how you get the
dashboard instrument cluster and the heater/AC control panels out -
they have screws that install up into the panels so you can't see them
unless you use a mirror.

Then pull out GENTLY - sometimes one corner is held in by a spring
clip and you have to gently pull out - but before you apply much force
stop and look first to make sure you didn't miss a screw. Have a hand
mirror and a flashlight handy to see hidden items.

And the heater controls are likely to have wire push-pull control
cables attached to operate the fresh air damper doors, they need to be
disconnected from the lever arm before it comes all the way off.

When you get it open change all the lamps now, even if they are not
burned out yet - they all have the same operating time on them, and if
you buy the mechanic's 10 lamp box they are well under $1 each.

--<< Bruce >>--

I think you will need to remove that Phillips in the ashtray area.
Also need to pull the heater knobs off and use a small hook to pull
the heater control cover off. I suspect there will be some screws
behind it you need to remove, then the heater control will pull out.
Gently!! & good luck. Sometimes Crutchfield has diagrams.

Harry in Montreal wrote:
I have the same problem on my 2003, haven't motivated myself to look
into it yet but I have the manual, so see if this helps.

http://www.jetecnet.com/4runner/4runner.html

On Tue, 24 Jun 2008 05:41:26 -0700 (PDT), "ed_herman@yahoo.com"
<ed_herman@yahoo.com> wrote:

Be aware that my '05 Tacoma climate control panel prys off from the
bottom with a plastic putty knife or trim tool. No need to remove
knobs. The 4Runner may be similar.

<ed_herman@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1581253b-42af-4d53-a1f2-43d18c35c71c@e39g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
I am having the same problem with an 03 Prerunner.
ed-herman wrote(Sometimes Crutchfield has diagrams)
How do I get to Crutchfield?

Thanks