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Compass/Temp Gauge Intermittent Lighting

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by j.d.mason, May 23, 2017.

  1. May 23, 2017 at 7:33 AM
    #1
    j.d.mason

    j.d.mason [OP] Well-Known Member

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    John
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    Hi All,

    So I had the issue with my compass/temp gauge in that it wasn't working. This weekend I took it out and soldered the resistors, and it seemed to have fixed the problem. Although now it only works intermittently. It will be lit for a while, and then it will slowly fade to black. Then it will come back on, only to fade away eventually. Is this just a poor solder job by me, or is there potentially another component of the circuit that is failing (maybe a capacitor?)? Any ideas?

    Thanks!

    John
     
  2. May 23, 2017 at 8:06 AM
    #2
    LOLLY

    LOLLY Well-Known Member

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    It sounds like a bad solder job. It gets pretty hot in there when it is lit. Maybe the heat weakens the solder then when it cools down it stiffens back up? I had a buddy solder mine and I have never had any issues.
     
  3. May 23, 2017 at 8:45 AM
    #3
    j.d.mason

    j.d.mason [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Ya I was thinking it could have been shoddy solder - I'll take it out and give it a re-try sometime soon and hopefully that will fix it.

    Any idea why the display would slowly fade to black rather than just shutting off?
     
  4. May 23, 2017 at 9:24 AM
    #4
    LOLLY

    LOLLY Well-Known Member

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    I'm thinking because the soldering slowly loses connection as it heats up. Then that is also why it lights up again after it has cooled down.
     
  5. May 23, 2017 at 9:56 AM
    #5
    j.d.mason

    j.d.mason [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I'm interested if this is the case. It often doesn't work right away, then comes on after some time only to turn off again...
     
  6. May 23, 2017 at 4:37 PM
    #6
    WNYTACOMA

    WNYTACOMA Well-Known Member

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  7. May 23, 2017 at 5:33 PM
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    hotrod53

    hotrod53 Well-Known Member

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    I've seen somewhere a service to fix these reasonably if you give up. Those surface mount resistors are sometimes difficult to resolder, make sure that the tinned solder area is clean and free of old flux. I fixed mine in my '06 twice.
     
  8. May 28, 2017 at 3:58 PM
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    brdsmith

    brdsmith Member

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    #8

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