For 1999 4Runner owners ONLY!!! (NOT 1996-1998!!!):

Recently I called NR Auto and my call was handled by the owner himself (who shall remain nameless). During this presale call, the owner assured me that the "Toyota 4 Runner '96+" white face gauge kit would fit with a little modification. He told me that I'd have to purchase a punch to punch a few minor holes and do some cutting.

When I received the kit, they looked like the stock faces with the exception of the speedometer/odometer hole. Remember, the owner gave me his word that the gauges would look and fit a 99 4Runner.

After noticing this, I decided to call the company. I asked for the owner himself but he didnt give me a call back that day. I called the following day and asked to speak with a representative of the company. The guy who answered the phone said that the owner has you on his call list and would call you back.

(This is where I made my mistake---i shouldve just stopped here but I stuck with the owner's guarantee)

I disassembled my instrument cluster and took off the stock plates. When I compared the stock plates to the new white face gauges, I realized that there was more cutting and hole punching than he claimed. For example on the speedometer, the '99 holes are below the needle axle. On the NR gauges, they are cut out for the 96-98 gauges. Why would an owner/company sell such a product? (Read on, you'll enjoy the answer)

So after making a number of cuts and holes (it took about 1 hour), I installed them on the cluster. I took it to my car and turned on the lights. I couldn't believe what I saw. The icons were all mismatched. For example on the left gauge (engine temperature), the bottom icon should be a seat belt warning light. Instead, it is the cruise control light. Can you imagine everytime you turn on your car, you see a blinking cruise control light?

So I immediately took them out and put the stock plates back in. I called the company to complain about the gauges. The owner answered the phone and to make a long story short, he said that if I made any cuts in them, I couldnt get a refund. I was amazed by the response: this is the same person who told me that I would have to buy a punch to make cuts! I also inquired about the mismatched icons. He said that I should have examined them before cutting into them. He said there wasnt much that he could do at this point given that I made cuts into them. He said he didn't have much time to discuss this further, so he said he'd call me back that day. He didn't.

So naturally I called my credit card company to dispute/hold the charge. I immediately faxed a letter to the owner stating that I did so, and that if I didnt get a refund, I'd pursue it with the BBB and the Attorney General's office.

I get a call the following day and this time the owner has more than a few words to say. He goes on and on about the reputation of his company, how his sales are growing b/c of their products, etc. (obviously he forgot about customer service). Some other incredulous things he said was:

- that he never spoke with me but an employee of his did (name withheld)
- that i was told during the presale that the gauge icons were not matched to 99 4Runners (if so, why would anyone buy them?)
- that i shouldve inspected them thoroughly (he's right, but i tend to believe the company president when he guarantees a product)
- that his web vendor is busy and didnt have time to fix the "misprint" for his website's advertisement for "96+ 4Runners" to '96-'98 (so NOW he admits that they are for the '96-98s, not the '99s)

One statement he made to me that still irritates me is this: He claims that there are a small number of 99 4runner owners who purchased the gauges but wanted the white face gauges so much that they were willing to put up with the mismatched icons.

Can you believe that?

In short, I'm still going to use the credit card company to deal with him. I'll keep you all posted as to the outcome. While there is nothing wrong, quality wise, with the gauges and I'm certain that these gauges will fit a 96-98 4Runner, but for you 99 4Runner owners out there, dont believe this guy when he says they will fit.

And take note of the type of customer service I received.