Accessory Meter

thanks all for the how to help. Hoping it was just as simple as replacing a fuse but not... I got it out and if i find out more in the process will post to let yall know.. and did join the forum for the help. preciate it
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After removing and breaking 2 plastic tabs on the acc. gauge i see no place to solder? Where should we be looking

 

just got lucky i guess. took it apart and plugged it back in the truck pushed on some of the circuit board and got a reading. Mounted the assembly back into the truck and its still reading but have to re-calibrate the compass i reckon. My guess could be a loose connection to a wire or to a resistor on the board itself. I really don't see it lasting but it could... better than before. Any thing I can help with give a shout! And with any tips on re-calibrating would be appreciated but will try and go from there. I'm a machinist not a mechanic but if u hold your mouth just right things might just work (for a while hopefully!)

 

Wow, Ive been driving around for 2 years with this meter broken - very easy fix.... Followed all directions from above people, but when I got down to just the circuit board, I located (2) resistors labled 510..... I couldnt figure out where to solder, so I just added some to each side (very carefully).... Hooked it back up and walaa, it works.... Very Very simple...

 

So easy!!! Only took 10 min. Thank you

 

this forum is incredible. 20 minute fix for me. Never soldered before. I thought I melted one of the 510 resistors with my shaky hand but I plugged the meter back in and she lit right up. thanks guys.

 

Where is the screw? In my 2005 tacoma I have 3 screws inside the sunglass holder. Are those the screws that I have to remove?
Please advise

 

Thanks! fixed my accessory meter and my squesky leafs today in less then two hours! Just became a member to say thanks!

 

I just fixed mine in 15 minutes.

A Philips in the sunglasses holder is the only screw. Then pull down on the very front to pop out the two metal clips. Unplug the two plugs and go inside to a good workstation.

Your soldering gun, flux and solder are used here so clear out some space and plug in the solder gun (pens are better but any iron with a fine tip is good.) Solder guns from Harbor Freight are a crazy $2.

Let it heat while you remove the 3 torx T-9 screws holding the meter assembly to the plate.

Pull off the meter, remove the dark, transparent casing very cautiously. Any broken plastic could mean rattles you hate.

Pull off the meter wires looped around the backing plate of the meter assembly. Lightly rotate the forward portion of the circuit board over the retaining tabs and free of the pushbutton. Be Careful and DON'T touch the board with bare hands.

Locate the two black rectangles (resistors or whatever usually marked "510") that sit near the rear DS side of the board.

Carefully push the resistors back flush if they have risen at all, brush on the flux and heat the old solder a bit. Put some more flux (but you only need a very small amount) and melt a small amount of new solder on the broken joints and really just each side of both.

Carefully replace in reverse. Mine worked without spending anything for new parts, but I already had all the tools cause I don't know how to relax. Just check the post time of my reply. You can remove the resistors and replace just by melting them off with the soldering iron. Good luck. I'm stoked!

I have great pics I'll post in the morning.

 

Here is so more info as well.
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/18497-overhead-compass-temp-fix.html
I have repaired the wifes 2007 Tacoma as hers went bad about a year later.
Thanx to TW for a great site of info

 

Hi, any idea where can I buy one of those resistors? one of mine was broken and fell in two pieces when I touched with the solder iron.

 

Radioshack. Bring in the old one and it will help. Those guys would get a kick of working on a real, human-sized truck. Also check the link above. It's in there somewhere.

 

Usually don't comment on these forums but wanted to on this occasion to give kudos to this repair. My accessory meter has been broke for over a year and after a brief attempt at fixing it a while back I knew it was a broken solder connection somewhere but I was thinking that it was on the LED display connection somewhere. For a while there I was fonz-ing mine like another person commented, but after a while that quit working. Anyway it works again now. Great post. Thanks!

 

This is a 2007, your mileage may vary.

This began when I retrieved my nice fishing Oakleys from the sunglasses compartment. They had been baked, peeled, and broken from the heat. I don't even live in Arizona.

Then I noticed a blank black screen where there should have been a temp and direction heading. Then I came here and did a little research.

LIES! ALL LIES!

This job took me 20! minutes, bunch of lying thieves around here, be warned. Ok--I did take about 5 minutes shooting these photos.

Remove the one screw from inside the sunglasses holder:



Then pull down on the forward corners:



These hook under the ceiling, they are why you pull on the front and not the back:



Unplug the 2 plugs and separate the entire unit from the ceiling. The circles are where the metal hold-in tabs snap in. When I pulled mine they both flew off and landed on the floor.



These are the metal hold-in tabs:



Now unscrew the 3 torx screws from the back of the accessory display:



Turn the unit over and carefully pry the plastic tabs out to remove the smoked plastic cover:



The display unit revealed. Something is missing here, hmmm.



So I knew I heard a rattle early on and searched the panel and truck floor and found this, it should go in the blank area above the other resistor.



Resting above where it should go prior to soldering:



I did heat up and put more solder on the one in place--just because:



Not a clean, factory job, but it makes the current flow:



Plug in and check just to make sure:



Put everything back in reverse order and Voila! Job Done. Where is beer?




Happy fixing stuff!

 

Thanks for the info on this thread. It was a ton of help when fixing this on my truck. None of the above components seemed to be out of place but current seemed limited. All fuses checked out too but the AM still fades to black after being on for a while... Anyone have an idea what might be loose or is the whole thing junk?

 

Thanks guys the repair worked perfectly!

 

Thank you to Crashmo's detailed pictures of how to fix the Accessory Meter. It took me about 10 minutes from start to finish. It is now working again!

 

To all you guys that put input on how to fix your Acccesory Meter, you guys are awesome. Took mine out without breaking anything, solder it and yes plugged it in and it works. Mine didn't look like it needed solder on the 510 resistor but solder it anyway and it worked .... Thanks Guys

 

Thanks Cashmo for the detailed pictures! And thanks also to all that contributed to this DYI fix. This is an awesome forum and I joined specifically to thank everyone. I just bought a 05 Tacoma with the accessory meter not working and was about to purchase a new aftermarket one. After a quick goggle search of my problem, I found this thread and fixed it in 20mins! Again thanks everyone!

 

Success!! Resoldered resistor and even though it is crooked my gauge now functions flawlessly!!!! Thank you all for this complete and thorough list of repairs. I am so thankful for finding this group!!!