Overhead Compass/Temp Fix

It is not an LCD. It is a VFD (Vacuum Fluorescent Display). The mark is not a burn mark. It is an artifact of manufacturing a VFD.

 

Love this site! Fixed mine today and works like new again.

I can't tell you how happy it makes me to fix it and not have to find one out of the junkyard.

Awsome! Awsome!

 

Good job new guys... way to earn your own!

 

This write up was awesome. Thank you for the help, I had my Tacoma 5 days and the compass/temp quit. One of my resistors showed some discoloration, I soldered both and did the reinstall...nothing. Then I pressed the button and it works! Thanks again.

 

This helped me knock $500 more off the truck when I bought it used. When I test drove I noticed that it wasn't working. As soon as I got home I googled it and it brought up this thread (how I found this wonderful site) I brought it up during negotiations and it worked. SecretSquirrel, I owe you a beer.

 

LOL... I'll let you know when I'm in the PacNW...

Congrats on the fix. Glad to help

 

Beers from me too Squirrel. Was about to call and deal with the stealership when I came across your fix. How in the heck did you figure out those chips had come un-soldered to the board? You can barely see them at all! I never would have found that. Anyway, all is well and working again in the Tacoma again thanks to your detective work. MANY THANKS for the writeup!!!

 

does the temp. sensor need to be calibrated or something? ive noticed that mine always reads between 60 and 79 degrees. it doesnt seem like it ever reads right and its freaking hot right now. definitely not 72*F!!

 

Another satisfied customer. Such an easy fix! Thanks!!

 

I lost one of the clips.

Does anyone know where I can buy them?

 

I cannot believe how easy that was to fix. I'm amazed that I was able to accomplish that myself! THANKS!!!!!!!!!!

 

Thanks for this write up

 

Exactly one year later mine went out again so I'm going to do it again soon.

 

just did mine, talk about easy, 10 minutes! back in business!!!

 

I have the same problem, but i am miising one of the 510 resistors. Does anyone know where i can find one?

 

Refer to Post # 471

 

Help. I solder my 2005 and it work except resistor got very HOT. So hot, it melted the solder off and failed again.

Has anyone else had this problem? Should I re solder both 510 resistors?

 

Even though the resistors heated up, chances are they are still good. Be sure your solder pencil is in good shape, heat up each of the two 510 resistors and remove them. Add a little solder and/or flux to make this easy. If you have access to an ohm meter, measure the resistance. If they're broken or read 20% higher or lower, replace them.

Use eutectic solder (63% Tin, 37% Lead..Radio Shack sells it) and #2 solder wick. A little water-soluble flux would be very helpful.

Now use the solder wick and completely clean all 4 pads to shiny condition. Clean each end of each resistor if they look grungy. A 3rd hand/girlfriend works great to hold the part with tweezers while you operate.

Place the parts back on the board, solder the connections with new solder, and you're done. The connections should be bright and shiny.
you've corrected the original problem with Toyota's supplier, which is contamination and poor soldering.

 

Well my compass/temp guage went out day before yesterday! So today at work i took it apart and one of the 510 resistors was completely off the board. I re-soldered it and it is working excellent. Thanks so much for the write up on this problem!

 

Man, I apologize for not including pics. I should have taken photos when my gauge stopped working and I pulled it to resolder the resistors. Oh well...You can clean the resistors after resoldering with rubbing alcohol on a toothbrush if you have a lot of flux residue. The residue will collect dust over time and possibly become conductive. Alcohol cleans the flux away, drys quick, and is harmless to all the other parts on the board. If the board and resistors are pretty clean, leave it alone and get busy doing something wild like installing that blower on the motor


Tacos rule!