Has anybody tried (or does anybody just know how) to run the chord through the air vents on the top of the dash and fish it through to come out underneath the dash? It's not really a huge deal, but it annoys me that it's just running down the front of my dash. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Brady

 

You could cut off the cig. lighter adapter and wire it directly to some power wires behind your stereo. Then find a way to fish it through air vents, an overlap in the dash, etc. Someone with a 3rd gen will have a better idea of where the wires will be to get power from and where a good place to run them through will be.

 

when i took off the console when installing my radio i saw that it is quite easy to run it throught the top vents then out through where the ashtray comes out and into the cig lighter, ill be doing this today, sorry but i have no pics, good luck

 

Yeah, I was thinking about adding a single 12v adapter as in this write up, then fishing the chord through the dash to it. Would save cutting the end off of the chord and accomplish pretty much the same thing. Any 3rd-gen'ers out there have any input?

 

Oh, that's really cool. It would serve the same purpose basically and provide a few extra 12v outlets. Your time would be well spent to do that mod in my opinion.

 

Brady,

http://www.4runners.org/articles/valentine. this write up is in the "Tech" section too.

you'll see a pic of exactly what you want to do in the write up.

You'll have to remove the center radio panel fascia and then remove the AC ducts. One you do that, you'll have plenty of hand room. to route the wiring through the vents, youll need a long screwdriver to force a flexible plastic panel downwards. Then you can fish the power cord over it and up through one of the vents. i taped my power wire cord w/ electrical tape so that it didn't snag.

bob

edit: whoops, you want to go in the other direction. heh heh but the procedure is just the same but in reverse.

 

That would work too

 

I've removed the full plastic to get to the stereo (but hadn't even thought about doing this until just the last few weeks)---Is that all there is to get the chord from the dash down to the outlet?

 

Cool, thanks a lot. I appreciate the help.

 

yeah quite easy, the ocassional weave in and out of a couple of things but definitely a tops 5 minute job.

 

Check out my pics. Mine is mounted on the driver's side of the rear view mirror. The wire is run under the head liner, down behind the pillar panel, and to the fuse box. I couldn't stand the wire running across the dash either.

Matt

 

It is very easy to run it back through the vents but after a few weeks you'll probably be sick of seeing it there too. I had it there for a few months and couldn't stand it anymore so I took a deep breath and poked a tiny hole in the dash. Happy I did because it now looks cordless and I don't plan on ever being moved to drive without it. Food for thought if you don't plan on getting rid of your rig.

 

I hooked my friends up by the rear view mirror. It is hidden very well there, and out of the way. I cut the cord to about 8" long and hooked it into the power at the map light. There is always 12 volts there even if the light is off. I did a write up of installing a vanity light a while back on the same principle.