Interior Rear Hatch release Button 4th Gen 4R

[java]

I sleep in the back of my righ sometimes and its a pita to open the back hatch from the inside. so this adds a pushbutton on the inside of the rear hatch to open it.

use at your own risk, if something frys its not my fault.

Materials:
2 ft 18-20 ga wire
1 momentary pushbutton
1 toggle switch with safty cover
2 1/4" spade connectors
piece of electrial tape

Tools:
Drill with 1/2" bit
soldering iron
screw driver

switch packages. these are just what i used, and momentary pushbutton is fine. i wanted the safty cover so that the button couldnt accidently be pushed. the toggle was 4.99 and the button was 2.49



Start by removing the screw that hold the pull strap on.
then just pull down (or toward the front of the car if the door was closed) on the cover, it is held on my body clips aroudn the bottom and three tabs where it meets the glass.

once removed you will see the rear door ECU


we want the purple with white stripe and the light geen with red stripe. i have already stripped a little off them in this pic.



now lets open up the toggle switch. we only want to cover so take the switch part out.


once the switch is removed, we are going to need to open the hole up a little for the push button to fit. carefully use the 1/2" drill bit to do this.

now open up the push button and solder a couple of pig tails onto it.


I forgot to take a pic, but put a small zip tie on the wire just below the switch, this helps keep the weight of the bouncing wires from tugging on one post or the other of the switch.

now drill a 1/2" hole where you want to mount the switch. and then install the button and the cover. this is where i chose to put mine.


and the back side. you can see i already put the connectors on also.


so strip the ends of the pig tails and crip on one half of the 1/4" spades, doesnt matter which ones go where. its just a continuity circuit.

now take a couple of 4" pieces of wire and crip the other half of the connectors to them. and then strip the other end for soldering. solder them onto the purple/white and light green/red wires.
like so. i prefer to just strip off a bit of the insulation rather than cut the stock harness.



and now you should have this.


now wrap some tape on the solder joints. and well put the cover back on. the three tabs at the glass hold it really nice so that we can make our connection.



push the spade connectors together and then put the cover back on.


finished product. with the safty cover up


and in safe mode



works great, and easy and under 10$ if you have the wire and soldering stuff already

 

[teotwaki]

Thank you for the pictures and step by step write up. This would be a nice addition for Toyota to provide. It took me a while to realize that the last picture is showing the pushbutton location just inside the sliding window's left corner. The angle of the shot made me think the switch was somehow down close to the cargo area floor in the doorsill.

 

[java]

Thank you for the pictures and step by step write up. This would be a nice addition for Toyota to provide. It took me a while to realize that the last picture is showing the pushbutton location just inside the sliding window's left corner. The angle of the shot made me think the switch was somehow down close to the cargo area floor in the doorsill.

yeah i guess i need a wider angle shot. it is somehting that always bugged me, kinda made the space sleeping the back feel like it wasnt meant to be used that way

 

[teotwaki]

I think that your release button is serving the same function as those release handles inside the trunk of a car. If Toyota were to pick this idea up I'd also want a two-way switch to raise and lower the window. :elkgrin:

 

[java]

I think that your release button is serving the same function as those release handles inside the trunk of a car. If Toyota were to pick this idea up I'd also want a two-way switch to raise and lower the window. :elkgrin:

i might work on the window next, should be simple enough. well see if i want it now that i have this switch. it would be nice to roll the window up in the middle of the night withour needing the key in the ign

 

[Ryanmb21]

You are genious.

 

[4Rescue]

Great mod... IF the 3dr Gen's control box is anything like like a 1st Gen's is a MAJORLY simple thing to just jump two terminals and have the window switch work at all times.

Great write-up mate. and great idea too.

Cheers

Dave

 

[JD914]

I'm digging up this old thread to bump a great mod! Thanks so much for a great idea and beautiful writeup! But I'm also adding my own advice:
If you go through this install and find the tailgate latch unresponsive, before you spend a half hour resetting the ecu, checking for blown fuses or opening everything back up to double-check your wiring job... Make sure the tailgate isn't locked!