"Toyobaru" 4-Switch Cubby Panel (Push Start)
Turn that useless cubby space in your center console into something useful with this switch panel insert! Choose from red, green, amber, or blue for each of your switch LED colors, and customize the text above and below each switch however you like. People have used this to control everything from Pedal Dance, to Radiator Fans, to Dashcams, to Radar Detectors, to Trailer Harnesses, to Driving Lights, to Underglow, to Air Compressors, to Active Exhaust, to Subwoofers, to Air Horns, etc… (See further details below)
Two Things to Note Up Front
- Switch panels are made-to-order, and may take up to one month to ship.
- Packing four switches into this part requires them to be placed side-by-side with very little clearance between the lock rings. Minor variations in switch construction may result in small variations in spacing. Some adjacent lock rings might touch, while others might be separated by a small gap. I chose a particularly eggregious example for the product photos on this item.
This is a 3D-printed part (made of PETG), with a black, anodized aluminum faceplate complete with engraved text. The toggle switches are SPST, ON/OFF style, and are rated for 12V/30A. The switches have an LED on the tip, which illuminates in the ON position. You can choose between a red, green, amber, or blue LED for each of the four switches, left to right. (NOTE: The blue LED is very bright. You've been warned!)
Version 2.0 of this panel now includes an anodized aluminum faceplate which is not only much more durable than the old vinyl wrap, but can also be customized with your own text. Each of your four switches can be labeled on both the top and the bottom, with two rows of text in each position. When specifying your labels, please follow the following format: The first field is for top text. The second is for bottom text. Work from left to right, separating your labels with commas. Uppercase and lowercase text is available, so keep that in mind as you type. Use * to denote you want nothing in that position. For example, "Radiator Fans,ABS DISABLE,Pedal Dance, Light Bar" might be your top row submission, and "*,*,*,*" would be your bottom row submission if you didn't want labels on the bottom.
Installation is simple: remove the rubber liner in the OEM cubby, cut/drill a hole in the back to run wires, and slide the switch insert in, firmly wedging it into place. For those of you worried about drilling a hole in a factory part, have no fear: a replacement part can be purchased from your dealership for around $5 (don’t ask me why it is so cheap!) at the following link: Subaru Part # 92126CA040
This switch panel can be integrated with Gerald’s Trac-Box, which can control a host of ancillary functions, such as Pedal Dance, ABS Disable, Radiator Fans, TPMS Light, Seatbelt Chime, and even Auto Door Locks!
For clarity, no trim piece or wires are included with this part. I have only ever supplied the insert itself. Wiring is going to be different for each person depending on what they are wiring, and how they are doing it, so that is left up to you to do. The switches have blade-style terminals, so they are easily wired using spade connectors, which slide right on to the ends. Each switch has 3 terminals: PWR, ACC, GND. Power is the 12V in from your car. Accessory provides 12V out to whatever you are powering/triggering when you flip the switch on. Ground is… ground, obviously, and necessary for the LED in the switch to illuminate when you flip the switch on, but not strictly necessary for the switch itself to function.
This seems like a simple part, and it more-or-less is, but there are a lot of steps involved in making it. The chassis is 3D printed, and hand-trimmed, and the faceplate is CNC machined. These take time to ship simply because this is a side project I do in my spare time, and my free time is limited, what with work, and autocross, and having a life and all that! The reality is they will probably ship within a week or two, but I don’t like to over-promise on how quickly folks will receive it. I do provide a tracking number when I ship though!
Here is a demo of how the switches are wired in my own vehicle.
Feel free to check out my blog post showing how I wired my own switches. I must stress that the way I wired my switches is WAY more complicated than necessary, as I wanted to integrate my switch actions with existing vehicle functions, and I wanted a full OEM style install for EVERYTHING. In reality, your wiring will likely be far simpler, but this post is still useful for showing the backs of the panel, and the use of spade connectors, and to give a general idea of how to wire some things. Note that the switch panel you see in that post is a rudimentary, hand-made one, as it was the original concept I made for my car. I only created this 3D-printed version when other folks started asking for one.