Is the fuel gauge removable from the instrument cluster?

I'm dealing with a problem long distance on my daughter's truck. Short version - the fuel gauge will not drop below 1/4 tank no matter what, so she's run out of gas twice while on the road. The tank was dropped and a new fuel basket/sending unit was connected to the harness to rule out the old one. The harness at the tank is reading the correct resistance as the float assembly is moved from full to empty. The harness at the instrument cluster is also reading the proper ohms. But the gauge will not drop below 1/4, which rules out the pump/float and seems to pin it on the gauge itself because the readings are the same with the old and new assembly.

I'm having to make some decisions on what to do next and while a new (used) instrument cluster is an option, the mileage will be way off which will cause problems at inspection time. So the question is this - can we take the fuel gauge portion of the instrument cluster off the old one and replace it with the new (used) one? Any other recommendations?

 

According to the FSM, no. It's all one unit. I was unaware that the vehicle mileage is stored in the gauge cluster, it seems like a fatal design flaw. Are you sure of this?

https://web.archive.org/web/2018050...6toyrm/06toypdf/06rmsrc/rm2006ta/05400210.pdf

 

Yeah, I talked to several Toyota parts departments today and it's stored in the cluster. If someone were to order a replacement cluster - assuming you can find one - you have to fill out paperwork attesting to the actual vehicle mileage, then the dealer has to program the unit with the mileage before they will ship it. The shop where the truck currently sits was told the same thing by a company who does cluster repairs.

 

Just get an Ultra gauge, it will tell you how many miles till empty once its setup.

 

It will tell you how many miles it 'thinks' till empty.

While it may be close, it's not the same as a working fuel guage.

 

This is a good idea, scangauge, ultragauge, or other similar OBD2 gauge would be a great cheap fix. I always have distance to empty displayed on my scangauge.

 

We're talking a teenage girl here - she's going to stare at the fuel gauge not matter what other gauge I put on there. And she'll run it down to as close to empty ever time lol. If it were my truck I'd be happy to rely on a scangauge. Thanks so far guys.

 

Reset the odometer when you fill up and pick a mileage to refill at every time. Id sticky note that to the dash.

 

That's what she's going to have to do until we get this figured out. But I just don't trust her to keep an eye on it. So hard to deal with this with her being out of state and I can't put my eyes on it.

 

If you want to be invested in it, here's a tracker you could keep an eye on mileage with. She might not be a fan though.

$90 Bouncie - GPS Car Tracker [4G LTE], Vehicle Location, Accident Notification, Route History, Speed Monitoring, GeoFence, No Activation Fees, Cancel Anytime, Family or Fleets

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H8NS5MS?_encoding=UTF8

 

you can also order the entire instrument cluster from https://www.taninautoelectronix.com/product/2005-2011-toyota-tacoma-instrument-cluster/. I've purchased from the before when my check engine light came on due to error code P0500. They will ask for your vin and mileage. That way it will match when you receive it.

 

Great way for her to learn responsibility. You know that thing we were taught as kids. But if you do have to order a new cluster from the dealer, it’s actually sent out and has the mileage input into it prior to install in the truck at least it was when mine was replaced.

 

Counterpoint: She will if she keeps running out of gas.

Source: I drove a car without a working gas gauge for ten years, starting when I was in high school. Never once ran out of gas, just kept resetting Trip A, refueling at 270 miles, and intermittently checking the gas mileage was still over 30mpg.

 

MUCH appreciated, Lolly. Thank you.

 

I agree, man. My boy was on the ball. My girl, well, not so much when it comes to this stuff. If she were in town when these things happen it would be different. But when she calls and says her truck died in the middle of the road at night it's difficult. The joy of having kids, right?

Again, thanks to everyone for the input. I really appreciate it.

 

I was going to suggest just having her fill up at a half tank, but I can’t even get my wife to do that. She has some special magic where the needle is always on empty when I get in her car.

 

There's a thread on here where they swapped out the chip responsible for keeping track of the milage. Somewhere...

 

Man, I was hoping you would chime in. Find that thread for me and I'll send you two bags of Doritos, one Slim Jim, and and 12 pack of Dixie. Some day.

 

Start searching.













As will I

 

Well how does that work you could put any thing you want down?