I scored 3 altimeters for an unbelievably low price. I sold 2 of them and kept one for myself. I guess they stopped putting the altimeters in 4Runners in 1988? Mine has EVERY option but no altimeter.

I took a look at everything a couple of times before today. Even went so far as taking the screws off the crash pad to see what needed to be done.

Well I went for it yesterday and after about an hour I had the pad off. WOW that middle nut is a sonofagun to get to. Took another half and hour to get the bracket and gauge pod on. Then I looked for the plug to connect to (I had both factory plugs intact on my altimeter).

I couldn't find it and in yet another moment of mechanical genius I plugged it into the glovebox light! Of course it worked when I tested it because the glovebox was off

Put everything back together and waited for night so I could see it. Amazingly it worked initially, then when I hit a bump the lights went out on the altimeter. It was only then that I realized that the glovebox light goes out when it is closed. It was slightly ajar and would flicker out when I hit a slight bump.

I tore back into it today. Took me about 15 minutes this time. Then I spent 30 minutes trying to find a suitable plug for lighting. Gave up, and installed some new front speakers (sadly I don't think they are much better than the stock)

I then got serious and took the clock out to have a better look around in there. Found another plug that appears to go to the cigerette lighter light? My chubby hands had a heckuva time plugging and unplugging but I finally got it done.

Put a blanket over the dash and poked my head in there to test and it appears to work correctly

Hopefully I don't have to go in and do it AGAIN!

 

Pics!!

 

Just be glad you didn't have the light button OFF on the altimeter and not realize that until too late. Ask me how I know... :pat:

 

I also realized there are subtle differences in the crash pad starting in '88 perhaps? This affects how the altimeter sits in the depression of the dash. I probably have an earlier altimeter so it doesn't fit flush to the dash, but its level and looks good to me.

I'll try and post a pic later on.

 

Pics?

 

 

I want one!

 

Sorry, Already got one of his!

gohawk, still laughing at your plight, mine is installed just waiting to do the wiring, Kids have been keeping me busy!

 

I have 2 SR5 4cyls with the guages (85 & 87), but I have never seen a V6 with one. It's like they were stock on the 4cyls, but had to be special ordered on the V6s I have seen an 89 4cyl SR5 that had one so I don't think they stopped adding them in 88.

 

Interesting. Are you sure that the '89 has a stock Altimeter? You can see an options list for a 1989 on this site:

http://www.top4runners.com/ja/runhist1.html

The altimeter is gone as an option in 1989. I'm not saying you couldn't special order one, and like I said before, my dash is a bit different on my V6 1988.

Although I have seen a slightly different Altimeter cover with a notch in it to fit a different dash in a previous thread somewhere.

 

Is there a demand for these altimeters? Theres a good amount of them in junkyards here in okinawa that I could snatch up for pretty cheap.

 

Hmm, now you've got me wondering. I know it was an 89 and that it had an altimeter like both of mine, but I can't remember if the guy said anything about having to add it himself. I saw it at the Dealership while I was there with my 85 getting some parts. We talked about our rigs but it's been so long ago I can't say for sure.

 

Are the Kennedy's gun shy? Yes there is demand for them, even more for a domestic one, but the Japanese versions still sell well on ebay.

 

here's mine installed



and that writing on my dash, a little luv from the iron man Ivan Stewart



thanks for the great deal!