NerfHerder-97SR5-

How do I remove the lower Shifter and upper A/C black surround pieces in my Runner so I can paint them to match the gauge cluster and door accents?

jacksonpt

They just pop out, at least they do in my 96. Take the little knobs off the climate control levers, and pop out the climate control plate. Then angle the a/c vents down so you can grab the plastic surround, and pull. It should pop out, but it might take some encouraging. It sits behind the shifter surround, and that one pops out to... how ever it sits under the console surround, so you may need to pop that one off too, to make things easier.

NerfHerder-97SR5-

Ill give it a try, and hold you responsible for any breakage

HBoss

Don't forget about the screws. I've taken my 97's center console apart and after you pull off the climate controls and climate plate, there are 2 screws behind it that have to be undone. After that you can pull it foward. You'll have to undo a total of 6 wiring harnesses before you can take the center piece out.

On the bottom part of the console, towards the front of the vehicle there are 2 center-locking plastic pins that need to be removed. Further back just behind the shifter (both sides) there are 2 screws. If you want to take that shifter panel off, open your armrest and undo the bolt (can't remember how many). Finally go to the back seat and take off the rear climate control.

If I remember correctly, this should allow you to remove your entire center console strip from top to bottom.

Toyota Punk

Maybe it's just for the 99-02's, but there are some screws behind the climate control knobs and there's one somewhere else that I can't recall - possibly behind the ashtray. The shifter surround doesn't have and screws however and is easily removed.

butnut

Panels are pry-n-pull. Do the shifter piece first. No screws if only doing the top piece. The upper console is pry-n-pull. As Al mentioned, harnesses must be disconnected. Much easier than the dash dude. Good luck.
butnut

sleepy1405

if I am able to do this all by myself I may take some pictures to shed some light on this subject, I do better with visuals. Although it won't be till maybe Wednesday when I have time to take apart my 4runner....makes me so nervous

NerfHerder-97SR5-

No worries.....Panel came off...and with a little bit of coaxing...went back in.

Need to take it off again tho, must have chipped a bit of paint trying to put it back in.



Next Time Ill just hire butnut

sleepy1405

You know I thought I asked this question already but I don't know which thread or even if I asked at all (had a long day today worked 14 hours straight) how do I take off the connectors to my window controls so that I can take the window control pieces off of my doors and paint them silver and re-connect them and snap them back in???Hope I am making sense. Do I just pull??? i'm afraid i'm going to break something.

ckonarske

You're not crazy, Sleepy. You did ask.

The driver's side is easiest to remove, so start there and then you'll see how the other ones will come off. Pull up on the front edge of the plate. It will pop loose from the door panel and then will be able to slide forward to remove. The passenger door is the same.

The rears are slightly different as they don't seem to "pop" easily from either end. In my case, I haven't wanted to force them, so have just removed the door panels to remove them. The rear door panels can be pulled in less than five minutes after you've done them once.

Good luck.

HBoss

sleepy: my write-up with pictures for removing your entire door panel, including controls

http://www.hboss.net/4runner/door-panel-removal.htm

(Also available in the YotaTech tech section)