Gauge Cluster Stuck on?

Hey I have a 08 tacoma trd v6 with an issue. The battery was drawn dead. I found out after replacing the battery that the entire instrument cluster is lit up with the ignition switch in the off position.

The battery was factory so 5 years old. I decided it was time for a new one. It appears it may not have been the battery.

So far I am thinking the ignition switch may be the culprit. I also figure there could be some bad relay's involved. I suppose the ECU or BCU could be to blame but I think the other two are bigger possibilities.

I will also note that the truck will turn over with authority with the new battery but will not fire or start.

Looking for any Ideas, experiences, and/or anything some could add.

Thanks,

Kevin

 

Sounds like you're on the right track. Like you said, I'd guess a stuck switch, relay, or maybe control module. If it were me I'd get out the wiring diagram and start tracing and isolating.

 

I'm gonna guess.... Headlight switch.

 

Do you have any idea where I may find a wiring diagram?

Thanks

 

I'm unable to locate the factory ones that used to be online for free. The only way to legally get those now is direct from a subscription to Toyota's TSM. I don't have a link to the site off hand...

My Chilton manual has decent diagrams and the Hayne's book is similar. I think the real Toyota ones are much more detailed though.

 

Cool thanks for reminding me I have a Chilton! I have a couple pages from the FSM for the front diff and new it was alot better.

 

Here's the official Toyota site. You'll need to pay for a subscription for the manuals.

https://techinfo.toyota.com

Paper manuals were made for your 2008 and you can maybe still get them from Toyota or

http://www.helminc.com/helm/search_service_owner.asp?Style=helm&class_2=TOY

Or maybe Ebay. Not cheap usually.

My 2012 and later manuals are online only. No paper manuals sold...

 

Does anyone know if that when replacing the ignition switch you just replace the electrical components and not the tumbler which would need all new keys?

I haven't narrowed it down to this quite yet though.

 

Yes, you can just replace the electrical switch without having to re-key. Do the radio or windows (past 30 seconds) stay on? If its just the cluster then it's not the ignition switch.

 

Hey I will slap the battery on it and check before I go to work if I have time. Any guesses as o what it would be in the case you described?

Thank!

 

Well it kind of depends what "gauge cluster stays on" means. Is it just illuminated or does the odometer show up and engine temp gauge not return to the off position? If its just illuminated, are the exterior parking lamps on?

For the not starting issue, it almost sounds like the immobilizer is kicking in. (Do the 08s have one?) If it does, and you stick the key in the ignition and turn to on, but not start, does the security light go out by the hazard switch?

I'm leaning more towards the ignition switch. If a contact is stuck it won't turn off and it might not turn over.

 

Well I checked it this morning after leaving it sit all night with no battery connected. So far it kinda threw a monkey wrench in the gears.

I connected the positive lead to the battery.
Got in the truck everything seemed to be pretty normal.
Turned the key to ON still looked normal so turned it to Start BAM it started.
I wanted to check if the radio was on as well as the cluster.
After shutting the ignition off everything behaved normally.
Possibility the ECU needed to sync with the Body Control Unit?

I will check the lights on the cluster again after work and see if there was any draw on the battery though the day. I don't recall that the ODO numbers where there I think just the back light was on, not sure though. After the new battery the engine would always turn over great just not fire. Does the immobilizer turn the starter off too?

Guess I will add whatever I find out after I get back to it so maybe the info will be useful to someone else at a later date. Hope its not an intermittent ignition switch that could leave me stranded.....

Thanks again for all the help everyone.

 

If your car has an immobilizer (and it malfunctions or a key is not registered) the truck will crank all day but will not start.

 

Thanks dude that helps a lot actually I did not no how that thing functioned.
I guess I'm not sure the 2008 has it but helps with the trouble shooting.

Kevin

 

If you have the car security light next to the hazard switch then you have an immobilizer. It flashes when the truck is off or no registered key is found. When you put the key in the ignition the flashing should stop.

 

Well I am kinda confused with this problem at this point. It pretty much just went away.....

The truck ran fine as I drove it several places last night.

At this point I figure there could on be a couple of conclusions.

As for not starting I'm going with dibble and the immobilizer it describes exactly how it behaved. Thanks.

As for the lights on the cluster and things not turning off I guess I'm not 100% positive. There could still be a bad ignition switch in it which would be bad since its intermittent.
I think that is was likely the 2 control units synchronizing or lack there of. I know from experience this is typical with a dead battery in mid 2000's Fords.

Well if anything changes I will post it up here. If anyone has any other ideas/comments let me know.

Thanks again

 

An ignition switch is about $30 I think, easy to replace. Would at least rule out that component if this ever happens again. Yes the immobilizer would cause it to crank and not turn over, but I would lean more towards the ignition switch if the ACCESSORY circuit wasn't shutting off either. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think there is a relay in the system that would allow the truck to crank but not start. The only relay I see in the starting circuit is the STA relay. If that failed it would cause the starter to either continually crank, or not crank at all.

 

Hey it looks like ignition switched can be had for $60-$80. I think I may have to get one.

I was out this evening and the cluster stayed on again. To further answer a previous question its not just the back light. All the lights are on like the pre start state. The A/T Temp, Check engine, TPMS, and so on.

To add to this one at one point I turned the key from on engine running to off and the engine stayed running for ~2-3 seconds before turning off. This part really makes me think ignitions switch.

 

So it is just the cluster do you have any guesses as to what it might be?

 

So it looks like my truck has thrown me a new curve ball. The lights on the cluster cam on all by there selves.

Here are the lights on the cluster I am referring to.

Airbag
Check engine
A/T Temp
TPMS
Oil
All 4x4 lights
ABS
Parking brake
Fuel Gauge
ODO
Gauge back light
Headlights work even after the door is shut and the fob is pressed to lock.

Security system is on and flashing.

The following have no power Radio, Windows, Heat, Wipers.

After verifying all those things I proceeded to the start up process.
Key in - Imobilizer turned off.
Turn to Acc - Radio on but no other change.
Turn to On - All 4x4 lights and ABS and parking brake light go off.
Turn to Start - Engine starts all lights go off appears to be totally normal.
Turn Key to off and remove - Everything goes off as normal.

Let me know if anyone has any ideas about this I am starting to think it is no longer the ignition switch, but the only thing I can come up with at this point is the Body Control unit.