What's missing?

I recently bought a 2000 SR5 5-speed. Does anyone know what should be in the opening next to my dash dimmer knob? I found the manual online and from what I can tell it may be a button for rear differential lock. I don't even know if I have rear lock. There is a harness that I can see in there but not sure why or what was removed. I am learning what I can so any help is much appreciated.

 

Rear diff locker button.

 

On my 2002 that location is for the rear diff, like you said. Since you have a 4wd, I think you should have a similar button.

Your other button, made me look it up...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuY51I6L9pE

Who knew? Wish I had a manual 4Runner. That is a cool feature.

 

Thanks - any idea why the previous owner would remove it? Seems like everyone likes the rear diff locker.

 

Yea - I haven't tried that button out yet. I'm afraid I am going to hit the wrong button and be ejected.

 

It's where the rear diff lock would go, but on vehicles that don't have it there is a black plastic blank that snaps in. There are a few pieces of the rear diff lock wiring harness that Toyota put in every 4runner whether you got it or not, so you might be seeing that behind the blank switch.

This is what your seeing. If your dash doesn't have a backlight for the diff lock indicator then your 4runner never had one. You can look at the rear axle too, it will be obvious. It's unlikely an owner would remove that feature if it had it.

All 2001-2002 4runners with 4wd would put the button to lock the center diff in that same spot. There was no locking rear diff offered after 2000 model year.

 

You don't have a rear locker unless you or someone installed one.

Not available for 2002.

 

Right, sorry. Locking center differential.

 

They probably used the blank spot to wire an LED bar to or something then took the LED bar out when they sold it. If you bought it from a dealership I was once told they are required to remove customer installed stuff. Dont know if that is true or not but Id just replace that cover if its bother you

 

Easy to check on take a look at the Rear Differential and if you see the Solenoid on the side like in the picture then it has it. An interesting thing we have about Toyota's 4Runers, Tacoma's and FJ Cruisers is the Rear Differential lock Option was also a "Dealers" installable option that they would charge the living hell out of you for it and guess what! the Differential locker was already there along with the wiring harness So all the stealership had to do was pop the blank out and install the $29 switch and then charge you $800.

I found this out when I had the 2007 FJ Cruiser that was manual 6 speed it had front and rear locker no switches and no fuses installed, So when doing work on other Toyota's we started looking just for the heck of it and sure enough we came across a 2000 Tacoma 5 speed manual no switch but the locker was there so we installed the switch and it worked fine So naturally started talking about in in the local 4 wheeling and some found that they had it and others were disappointed because they did not. One thing that was noted was sometimes the locker did not work and had to be opened up cleaned and lubed because it sat so long never being activated.

 

Those sneaky devils! Thanks for the info. It appears I do not have the rear diff locker.

 

OH well I had my hopes up for ya always nice to find something like that.