Alright, i'm new here, but i see allot of you have issues with your Toyotas in dash cup holder doing it's job. I was looking at it today, and i came up with an idea to help it do it's job. I'm not sure if anyone else has come up with this yet, but i haven't seen anyone mention it.

Ok, I took a mid-sized rubber band and attached it between the two tabs that keep the cup holders from opening too far. They're on the side pieces nearest you when you pull it out. Just slide a rubberband, each end on each arms tab, and the cup holder is much tighter! Holds that cup real well. Plus i figured if i needed further improvement, i could just line the edges with some soft foam to help grip the cup even more.

So, what do you think? It's been working so far for me, but it's still fresh.



Happy New Year
Pete

 

The main idea is that it's just simply too weak to hold heavy cups. There is a write up on retrofitting a newer modle console into the earlier models.

 

Ah, i thought it was a matter of them bouncing out. I saw the middle console mod, but i've got the rear heater, and i'm not sure it would work. I'd like to keep the rear heater if i can ever find the coolant lines. Mine are rusted out.

Pete

 

cupholder mod with rear heat is possible...i did it! shoot me a pm if you have questions. a couple differences than the write-up bob did here:
http://4runners.org/writeups/cupholder/index.html

 

I just replaced my rear heat lines with rubber hose about a month ago, it took about 20 minutes and doesnt leak.

 

Get a cupholder console from a '99 -'02 that has rear heat. Also get the hand brake mounting cup & the rear console mounting bracket & it will drop right in. I did it without the rear bracket & just drilled 2 new holes in the bottom of the console. I did none of the other modifications that some of the write-ups did & it fit perfectly. You just need to relocate any switches that mount in your original console.


I forgot, I had to use a grinder to trim the hole that the E-brake cup fits in.

 

Rubber Hose Doht!, why didn't i think of that. simple and effective. Thanks guys for the tips. When i figure out some of the more pressing problems my new baby has (friggin cruise control wtf?) i'll start digging around for the cup holder mod. It appears NONE of the salvage yards in my area (MAINE) have any 3rd gen 4runners, so used parts appear to be a challenge.

Thanks again!

Pete

 

Got my cupholder off Ebay. Probably cost a bit more than a junk yard, but saved me a ton of time.

 

Hey Pete,
You'll notice when you get under there to look at your rear heat lines that they run pretty close to the frame rail. I cut mine just past the bend where they come down from the firewall and at the rear of the line before they go up thru the body. Since space is kinda tight in there I used a flexable shaft dremel tool with a cut off wheel on it and it worked like a charm. Good Luck!
Scott

 

Thanks Scott! I appreciate your input. This is my first Toyota (nissan pathfinder nut) and i've only had it a week, but i'm slowly falling in love. This site and the guys on it seem great too! Hope i can be as much help someday.

Pete