4Runner automatic running boards warning light.

Hey y’all!
I have a 2021 nightshade, and I removed the automatic running boards to put some rock sliders. And idea how to get rid of the warning light complaining they are disconnected?

thanks

 

You could find out the resistance the running boards electronic system provided and add a resistor to the circuit.

 

All you have to do is ground the signal wire that comes from the instrument cluster to the Running board ECU. Since you removed the boards, I would just ground the wire where the Auto board ECU is rather than pull the cluster out and deal with that. I will post up some better details of what I mean tomorrow along with a diagram.

 

@th3impal3r, here you go. These wiring diagrams are specific to the 2020+ MYs. However, this is applicable to the 14-19MYs. The wire and pin# below on the ECU are the same from 2014-2021.

You will see that light in the instrument cluster is controlled by the Auto running board (ARB) ECU. When the system works without issue, the light is kept OFF by the ECU by grounding it. ON = Not grounded.

In 4Rs not equipped with the ARB system, the white wire coming out of the speedometer is grounded thereby keeping the light off.



You need to ground the pin on the connector at the ARB ECU. The ECU is located behind the lower dash panel on the drivers side. You can probably just pop out the mirror switch panel and see it. Unplug the grey connector "A42" going into it, and ground pin #10 with a short jumper wire to ground. That should take care of the light in the instrument cluster.





Let me know if you need additional info.

-Old Red

 

Old Red - This is a long shot since this thread is a year old but…I’ve also removed the power running boards from my nightshade. I’m not an electrician by any means. How would one go about grounding that single pin??? Thanks in advance.

 

Presumably that pin isnt just open but has a white wire going somewhere, per the above wire schematic. Easiest to do would be to find a ground close by - frame, or spot of bare metal on body (as in sand away the paint if needed) - or splice in extra wire to get it to a ground. Remember the frame and parts of the body itself are electrically grounded to each other and the negative side of the battery. Connecting the wire adds it to that ground circuit.

 

Thanks a bunch. I’m assuming then I can push a wire into the pin and crimp a fitting to the other end and secure the fitting to the body?