Toyota Tundra Forum

The following is a complete Power Step install on the 2008 Tundra. I have learned a lot and could save hours if I ever did this again.

Hopefully this will help forum members wishing to do this modifaction.

Class, pay attention.

First, we need to thank a few people. The first would be Ray from Electric Step. I called Ray several times on Saturday, which was his day off, and calls were promptly returned. Customer Service is high on their list and it shows.

Ray, thank you again. I highly recommend Electric Step for the best price, fast ship and customer support.

Next, we need to thank TOXARCH for the kick panel tip. Hit the easy button. Last, thanks to Colddiver98 for his tips, which if I saw these earlier I could of saved hours on this install.

Let's get started...

The box and contents within..







First, you flip the parking brake cable bracket ...



To this position ...



Next mount the step motors to step brackets ...



Then mount complete assembly to the factory locations per instructions and torque to 22 ft. lbs. Have someone help you line up the boards to the brackets.

** Slowly draw front then rear bolts down. The step has a channel that draws down into the bracket. **



After doing both sides it is time for the wiring harness. The steps now tap into the door ajar signal wires. (note this)

** Do not use the online instructions! Use the instructions now supplied with product. **

First mount the controller, plug in connector then temporally route wire loom with longer end to passenger and shorter end to drivers side. Will tighten later.

Loom.



Controller.



Battery hookup with fuse removed.



Remove door sill plate by pulling up on one end. Remove kick panels.



Now comes the fun! Routing the trigger wires under and inside the cab. Passenger side is easy. Drivers side takes some work due the factory heat shield. Don't get the wrong body plug. You have to feel around under the carpet but it's there.

**You will need a helper for this.**

Take an awl and punch a hole in the factory rubber plug. Feed wires threw and route inside cab.

Drivers side shown.



Now, the color code for the Power Step wires does not always match the factory color codes. I found this out the hard way and it cost me a lot of time. This is where member Colddiver98 comes in and this was suggested by Ray in our phone calls.

**Remove the door ajar switch and note color of wire. Tap into these.**

I just spaced this easy task and it cost me time and a blown fuse by tapping into the wrong wires.





Next we go under the truck as to hook up the wiring harness to the step motors.

Sounds easy huh? NOT! Colddiver98 could not be more correct on mounting the motor covers. Not much room for fingers and a terriable plastic clip mounting system!

I spent one (1) hour on two (2) motor covers! Looked for different ways to mount them and Colddiver98's idea makes the most sense.

Cable Tie strap the covers on! (no pictures)

In one of my phone conversations with Ray I mentioned using a self tapping screw for the covers. Use a nut driver and this job could be done in five (5) minutes!

**Ray is going to mention this to AMP Research so let's hope for a change.**

After hooking up the step motors test all doors to insure Power Steps are working properly.





Next, install kick panels and door sills. Remove the plastic body fastners and reinstall in the kick panel. Note which way they attach.

Thanks to TOXARCH for this tip!





Snug up the Power Step wiring harness with cable ties from above. Do not cinch tight yet.

Go under truck and cable tie off wiring harness. I kept it snug and ran the wire loom on top of the frame. This keeps the wiring somewhat protected from the elements.

Finally, cable tie off the top side.



In closing I could do this again in three (3) hours. It took me most of the day with coffee breaks, phone conversations and those nasty step motor covers.

I might add that you might blow a couple of 7.5 amp fuses. If you get the Air Bag, SRS dash light warning it's the ECU-1B fuse under the hood.

Almost forgot. I love them!

tt

__________________
"Confuse a Liberal. Use logic and facts."

Nice write-up and the steps look great. And glad I could help out in some way.

__________________

2007 SR5 Crewmax 5.7L 4x4
Mods: nerf bars, Truxedo tonneau, radar detector power, 3M clear bra, fog lights, black billet grille, rear differential breather, parking sensors, Line-X, power tailgate lock, hood safety latch mod, one off driving lights behind grille, Pioneer NAV w/ OEM camera, Flowmaster 50 SUV dual/dual, blue LED dash lights, Volant CAI, Llumar tint, CompuStar Pro alarm, ProComp 6066 20" wheels, Cooper Zeon LTZ 275/60/20 tires, OME HD coilover lift, Firestone helper air bags, stereo cable lock, Tekonsha P3 brake controller
All mod descriptions and pictures © 2007-2009 by Toxarch. They may be copied only for personal use and the mods may be done for non-profit only.

Thank you Sir.

Kick panel tip worked very well. One time shot and they are back on.

tt

Looks awesome with the black against the white truck.

__________________
07 DC SR5 Long Bed Desert Pyrite Mica, folding rear seat mod, Raptor step bars, OEM back-up camera, "iPod in the ashtray", Toytec 3" leveling kit

Nice DIY write-up Toytuff... and the AMP powersteps look nice (I also prefer the black steps on a white truck).

__________________

2007 Tundra Limited Double Cab 4x4 Super White
Volant CAI
Pioneer AVIC Z-2 (hard drive upgrade to AVIC Z-3)
Key FOB Tailgate Lock (courtesy of Toxarch)
OEM back-up camera w/flip down monitor microswitch mod
Sirius Satellite Radio
WeatherTech Floor Liners
20" OEM alloy wheels
Line-X Bed liner
UWS Black Powdercoat Low Profile Toolbox
DU-HA underseat storage unit
JC Whitney Black Nerf Bars
Lund Interceptor II Bug Shield
Tekonsha Voyager Brake Controller

They look great! Nice write up. This should save someone a lot of time a headaches. The only bad thing about these steps is now I'll have to have them on every truck I own. LOL!

__________________

"Yeah: it's funny when friends get hurt"

2008 Tundra SR5 4x4 Crew Max- Super White

OEM: TRD Package, Sunroof, VIP RS3200 w/ GBS, JBL Premium 12 Speaker Sound w/ Sirius
Aftermarket Add-Ons: KMC XD Monster Wheels w/ Kumho Road Venture MT KL71 35 12.5 18's, Truxxx 3" front/ 1" rear leveling kit, Amp Research Retractable Steps, PE Jackrabbit Tonneau w/ Explorer Rails & Overhead Rack, 15% Visor Tint, 35% Side Front Tint, Hayes Genesis Controller (flush mounted in pocket above shifter), Coverking Custom Fit Neoprene Seat Covers (for scuba diving and dirt biking protection)

This was quite the project and I only wish I found your post earlier.

Ray and I discussed the step motor covers so I would hope the install of these things will be improved.

tt

Hey guys,

Thanks for all the tips in this tutorial. I, along with an equally mechanically & electronically challenged buddy were able to install these steps in about 4 hours. But do have a couple tips for anyone as challenged as us.

1) Do not try to get the bracket to sit in the lip on the step. We tried for about an hour and finally gave up. Figured we would come back to it. Once we had the power to the steps, it worked out fine. We just tightened the bolts and all was good. We wasted a lot of time trying to do something that we shouldn't have. Just loosely put the bolts in and tighten later.

2) Do not try to find the "Door Ajar" wiring info in the manual. We did, and were lost for quite awhile. Finally understood what you guys were talking about and took out the door ajar trigger in the door frame to see what the wire color was. We are the types of guys that need a map with something like this, and I hope this may help others like us. Gently pull out the switch, as there is not a whole lot of play in the wiring. Once we did this, we not only felt pretty dumb, but it made a lot more sense to us.

Powered up first time with no issues and I was very impressed. Got the level kit on yesterday, the steps, and now just waiting to get the wheels in so I can get them mounted. I will post before and after pics once she is complete.

Thanks again guys....

Gary

__________________
I loved my '02 Tacoma. But it was time for an upgrade!

Glad to be of help.

tt

i put some of these on my dads 09 powerwagon. i like them but if you live some where with a lot of snow watch out they will have slush build up on them then when you open them it falls on top of the step. When it trys to shut it gets jammmed since the snow is there now and wont close all the way. Its easy to brush off the snow you just have to remember. I still want a set, but those $150 black ones from JC whitny a few others sound so much better then 1k +.