Aftermarket "combination meter"

Hello,

My Tacoma was struck by lightning 2 months ago and it fried a few computers including the "combination meter". The part number is 8380004F60RP. The dealership originally told me that they would have one tomorrow (after a couple weeks of waiting). Now they say it will be another month and a half. I can't wait that long. Does anyone know if this is something I can just replace with an aftermarket gauge cluster and everything will be fine? Thanks

 

Or another stock cluster off ebay?

 

Did you contact your insurance in regards to the strike? Most will cover it and put you in a rental until it's fixed.

 

I did. Its covered but they didn't say anything about a rental car. I will call tomorrow and check.

 

Otherwise yeah ebay used cluster is about your only bet.

To fit an aftermarket would take significantly more cost and modifications to your factory wiring if it would work at all.

Alternatively, while not the best option, you could get the Torque app for Android and use an OBDII dongle to get your speed and RPMs and such if the truck starts and drives otherwise.

 

We had a tacoma f'd up badly from a lightning strike.

You could see the arch from the wheel even.

Messed up every computer and melted most harnesses. Brutal.

 

The guy in the parts department was giving me a hard time because the mileage would be off with a new cluster unless they set it or something like that. Maybe I can ebay one and ship it to the dealership. Yea this has been a nightmare and im looking at not having a truck for 4+ months..

 

Don't know how many miles yours had but there's one on ebay with 56k miles for $90 + shipping.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1655127283...84LvwuCT2i&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 

Yea mines at about 86,000. I just don't know what the legality of just putting in a new cluster is. I asked the parts dept if I could buy one off ebay, well see what they say. If they can change the mileage or whatnot, I'll definitely be buying that one.

 

You just have to declare it on your title that the milage does not match the odometer if you ever sell it and transfer the title, you might have to declare it to your insurance depending on state.

ODO not matching actual milage isn't as big a deal as the kid behind the counter thinks it is and or is making it out to be it's actually a very common thing.

It's only a big issue if you knowingly and intentionally use falsified information to deceive a buying party into paying more.

Otherwise it's not much more than a way of estimating when to change your oil, when you're low on gas if your gas gauge is broken or knowing how far you went.

It's not nuclear launch codes lile the parts guy seems to be protecting it like.

Try a different dealer.

Also AFAIK there's not a way to "program" the milage either.

 

AFAIK it's legal as long as it's disclosed on the title when the vehicle is sold.
I'm not sure if mileage can be altered on a used cluster or not or if it can only be written to a new one.

 

Hmm that is helpful. Thanks guys.

 

I’ve swapped clusters on a GM truck before. I was able to give my current mileage to the guy and he programmed the new cluster with it.

There are YouTube videos showing how to do it on various models. Some show it involving de-soldering an e-prom and connecting to a computer for programming.

**Just checked eBay and there are sellers offering repair services for clusters and reprogramming.

I would try to see if they can repair it, if not you’re not losing anything. You can always buy a used one and have it reprogrammed for replacement.

 

Usually, you have to pay extra on your premiums if you want rental car reimbursement.

 

Seem to recall a conversation on here a while back about moving the eprom from one cluster to another.. Suppose that requires the old one to still be functional though, if its even possible

 

@ThunderStruck14, see this post, the author indicated he was able to have the mileage programmed when he bought his refurbished cluster.

 

This thread could not come at a better time.

Yesterday I had my truck looked at due to a p0500- speed sensor "a" code.

Brief backstory-- Check engine light came on, scanned, saw code p0500, cleared it using scan tool, code came back, I replaced front axle speed sensors, code came back.

My mechanic ran the through his machine. He said that the instrument cluster will most likely need to be replaced "when it gets worse". Meaning that the instrument cluster is going bad and the speed sensor "a" is the cluster. He gave me the same line about needed to get the milage burned to a new unit if I ever want to sell the truck (yeah right). I called the local Toyota parts guy and he said he's seen it take a week for them to send out the old unit and have the milage burned into the new one. I think these guys are coving their asses and are afraid or unwilling to admit that differing milage on an ODO is not as big a deal as they think. We aren't dealing in state secrets here.

 

Some states like New York stop requiring mileage on a title after ten years.

 

As long as the mileage is marked not actual on the title and the vehicle is not sold as having less miles than it actually has your fine.
The shops are just covering themselves because if the vehicle ever turns up somewhere having been sold as a lower mileage vehicle than actual it could come back to them if records show conflicting odometer readings.