E-Locker Wiring Harness - Removable from Donor Vehicle?

[toylndcrusr]

Ok folks, here is the deal. Yea verily, I have used the search feature and read many threads regarding retrofitting e-locker axles under non-locked 80's. Here is my situation. I have a '97 unlocked 80 sitting in my driveway, right next to a locked '95 80. The '95 is a rusted out rolling heap with 250000 hard miles. The '97 is in much better shape, but no lockers. I own both trucks, but only need one. I would like to keep the nicer '97, but I also want the locked axles from the '95.

I am fixing to remove both interiors to switch my sterio system over, and I was wondfering if anyone here has ever stripped the OEM locker wiring harness from a donor truck? How was it? Can i get to and remove the OEM harness without destroying the other various wiring looms in the truck? Is this such a pain up the ass that I should just say screw it and sell the locked rust bucket as good running hunting truck? Honestly I searched and searched, and I read Boston Manglers write up, but I still have found no mention of pulling the wiring harness, other than one comment that it is easer to just order news bulbs and sockets from C-Dan than pull the old ones out of the donor instrument cluster. Is this true?? Also, I was planning to leave the brake calipers with their original trucks. That should simplify things some, as well as control arms. Anyways, the actual removal of one axel and re-installation under the other truck seems really pretty simple, it's just the wiring harness removale that I am fearing. I know these wiring harness are buringed, and interwoven with other looms and can really be a beeotch.

Any insight into this potential nightmare is greatly appreciated. I don't go wheeling a lot and only lock my truck a couple of times a year, but I believe it's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Thanks again for your replies.

 

[neoworm]

Not exactly the answer to your question but I removed the complete e-locker harness and ECU from a 98 4runner to put in my pick up. In that truck the harness was a totally stand alone setup. I don't see why it wouldn't also be in the 80. Especially since some trucks came with and some without lockers.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

Sorry but I can't answer your question either. The ECU harness will have wires going obviously to both elockers, the instrument cluster, a power source, ground(s) and a couple of more places. It seems unlikely to me that it's all a separate harness but I honestly don't know.

If you decide to abandon that idea, you should cut the ECU harness plug, leaving a long pigtail and also remove the short harnesses that plug into the elockers. You can then easily wire the elockers wtih 6 conductor trailer cord from the elocker harness to the ECU. The switch just takes a couple of short wires and I think that the instrument cluster would need two wires but I'm not sure where you would connect them. Of course there is also that 5 mph limit wire and the center diff "engaged" wire, not sure where either of those would connect either.

Not exactly your situation but this thread might help: https://forum.ih8mud.com/79-95-toyo...ng-trd-elockers-fzj80-elocker-ecu-switch.html

 

[Tools R Us]

IIRC, some of the locker harness is removable, separate from the main harness, like the front, some is included in all harnesses. At least the rear section is part of the main harness and is not part of the unlocked harness. I wouldn't swap the whole harness, way more trouble than it's worth. Some have made the rear locker harness using the "tape type" trailer wire.

 

[djsixbillion]

I went through this exercise with a 96 locked LX450 and a 96 unlocked LC about a year ago. Your unlocked 96 should have the wiring from the switch location down to the locker ECU location in the DS kick panel already in place. You will need the switch and ECU from the locked truck. I ended up swapping the entire harness from the ECU back, since I already had the seats and carpet out on the recipient truck for a sound-deadening project. Alternatively, some people have used only the rear section of the harness that terminates in the rear quarter panel, then added wires into the rocker panel harness up to the ECU.

It all sounds complicated, but really isn't that bad, especially when you have both trucks in front of you to examine. Good luck!

 

[ajax1]

12 volt guy make wiring switch for out elockers also , google 12 volt guy should find it

 

[LINUS]

I did this swap & doing the floor harness is a breeze - I only broke 1 ear on 1 clip because I used a tiny flat blade screwdriver to undo each connector to the body - you will pull the DS FR seat as some of the harness goes to the stuff in the center console by the e-brake, but aside from that it routes all down the DS of the body, and then the subharness in the dash is all there - just plug in the switch, the CDL button, and the relay box you have comes from the PS footwell behind the big triangular kickpanel that is also the footplate.
FR subharness goes from easily visible spot on firewall to FR locker.
RR is 2 harnesses, 1st ties to the harness that runs the length of the PS of the body, 2nd goes from a socket on the tie-together subharness down to the RR locker.

It's way easier to swap the harnesses than to add the wires - and it's a no-brainer once you see & break it all down in your head to individual parts.

PM me if you have any q's - and make sure it's all operational now in the '97 before tearing anything apart, just to kill that variable.

 

[199380]

Locker Wiring

To reiterate above statements:

The wiring behind the dash for the switch, indicator lights, locker ecu, and through the firewall for the front locker is already in place.

The items needed from the donor vehicle are:

• Harness from front locker to passenger inner fender.
• Main Harness from drivers side kick panel all the way to the tail lights. (Some interior disassembly required.)
• Harness from rear locker to above main harness.
• Locker Switch
• Locker ECU behind passenger side kick panel
• Bulbs for the indicator lights
• and obviously the front and rear locked axle assemblies

Swapping the harness is not a hard job. Although the rear locker wiring is tied into the main harness that runs from front to back it all can be removed and swapped as a unit. It just takes some time and patience to disconnect all the plugs.

 

[toylndcrusr]

Thanks you all so very much for the helpfull info! I will have both trucks gutted in the next week and will move forward from that point. I'll let you know how I plan to proceed. Thanks again.

 

[Arleen1013]

How did this go?

 

[LINUS]

How did this go?

I wouldn’t bet on a reply - @toylndcrusr was last here in 2016.

If you have specific questions, feel free to ask - I’m still holding my conversion 80.

And I can hit books if you ask a question I still don’t have an answer in my head, it’s really barely a 3 job, and most that is working on the cluster/adding the extra bulbs -part.

 

[Arleen1013]

Working on a 94 LC, semi float rear. Found a full float that is locked. Let’s assume it doesn’t have the wiring harness(it’s a donor 80 @ a local shop)Any leads or idea about how easy/tough it’ll be? I see a few aftermarket Harnesses, any history with this?

 

[Arleen1013]

Posting what I’m looking at below..

Ultimate Toyota E-Locker Wiring Harness Kit by Low Range Off-Road

<h2>Ultimate Toyota E-Locker Wiring Harness Kit by Low Range Off-Road</h2> <p>Toyota locking axles are great choices for axle swaps. 8" E-locker differentials are strong and versatile. Wiring a Toyota E-locker differential to work outside of its donor vehicle is possible but not as simple as...

lowrangeoffroad.com