Overhead Compass/Temp Fix

Wanted to thank everyone for posting solutions to this overhead compass/temp fix. Once I removed my overhead console and got to the board . The 510 resistors looked like it was solder fine, but it wasn't . One side was free. Solder the 510's and now works great. Thanks again.

 

mine is broken and it drives me crazy...every time I go to look up at the temp I get pissed. haha guess I'm going to invest in a soldering iron this weekend.

 

how did the $3.99 gun from harbor freight work out?

 

just want to say thanks for this article, opened up my top console and heard something rattling around. when i took it apart the 510 was sitting down in the clear plastic dish, not even trying to look like it goes on the board

 

Spent the weekend in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Arrived when it was well over 100. The temp and compass never failed in the 3 years I have owned the taco. I glance up to see the temp and nothing. Push the button and nothing. Sad. I suddenly remember this thread. Over the weekend I re-read it and formulate the plan.

Today I hit harbor freight. $6 worth of crappy soldering iron and solder and about 10 minutes from extraction, discovery of the resistor hanging out, soldering back and replacement, we have light!

thanks TW because good information saves us all thousands in time and cash. I'm sure the dealer would have tried to R&R the unit which would have cost a bundle.

another happy forum reader, sometimes poster.

 

This worked great. Took my about 15-20min to disassemble, repair and reinstall. Compasses and Thermometer work like new. Thanks for posting this!

 

I know it's been said before but "Thanks!" I have zero soldering skills and very little maintenance skills but I figure what the hell it's broken anyway. Harbor Freight's $3.99 soldering iron worked perfect for this job. Like others said, 20 minutes roughly from start to finish.
My 510s were not popping up or visibly loose. I took my time and floated some solder on both 510s and both sides so 4 total just in case. I don't have a multi-meter or know how to use one so I figured I would just solder all the connections to be safe. The quick fix worked perfectly. Hope it stays working for awhile. If not, at least now I have the tool and solder to do it again.

 

I just posted a new video for people who need to repair their compass displays:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8FzoKy_tjs

Also, we wrote up a DIY guide here: http://www.siliconmethod.com/diy.html
-greg

 

Just want to say thanks for this. Did this the other day easy and took no time.

had one 510 contact hanging by one point, soldered both down tested it and good to go!

now i just need to find out why my 12v outlets dont work... its not the fuses...

 

Just did this fix, thanks for starting this topic! One of the 510(s) had fallen completely off found it in the case.
Put it back into place.

Everything is now operational again!

 

Well, let me add my success here, too. But By GOD on high, hold those 510's down. I forgot that and those little beggars floated all over the place. But, finally got everything back in place (sorta) and believe it or not, it WORKS. Lordy, I love these Forums. Thanks again to all who've posted here.

EKW

 

THANK YOU ! Mine died at 93K. Just fixed it in less than 15 minutes including the time looking for the metal clip that when spronge and disappeared into the grey or the drivers seat!

 

When disassembling and inspecting my accessory cluster i didn't see any breaks in the solder, but did the fix anyways. A quick stop at harbor freight and my first soldering job is a success. I didn't have any flux, but the bead of solder i put on there must have worked. Thanks everyone!

 

I had a 1/4 hair line crack that was only evident after close examination under strong magnification.

 

wom-wom. didn't work. hubby decided to take it from me and used too much solder, bridged the 510s. i tried to go back and remove some of the solder, but unknowingly touched the hot "arm" of the soldering gun to the display (didn't realize the whole thing got hot and not just the pencil tip) causing a black mark. hooked it up and it still doesn't work. THOROUGHLY disappointed... It drives me crazy to look up at the still-broken gauge..

Has anyone ever bought a used one from EBay or a salvage yard?

 

What are you trying to run on the outlet? We've found that certain things run on it but others don't (it will run a skilsaw but not a circular saw)

 

did mine a couple of evenings ago. 510 was just rattling around in the housing. resoldered it back into place and then resoldered the other 510 and the three 181s. back up and running

 

Not sure that bridging will hurt anything.
See pics in these posts:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/18497-overhead-compass-temp-fix-69.html#post6327467
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/18497-overhead-compass-temp-fix-68.html#post6032889
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/18497-overhead-compass-temp-fix-66.html#post5811507
Looks like the traces connect the resistors anyway.

maybe the resistors were destroyed by the soldering gun.
Maybe you can replace them with 47 - 51 ohms from radio shack -second link. The color code for 47 ohms is Yellow Violet Black.
47 ohm is a standard resistor value so it is likely that the shack will not have a 51 ohm.

 

Great and quick fix - thanks! Mine went out after 60k miles (2007). FYI: both of the 51 ohm resistors needed solder: one was hanging, the other one had a cracked fillet. When properly repaired, use your ohmmeter to measure about 26 ohms across the parallel pair.

 

FuryGrrl,
Post a macro picture of the soldering job if you can (or send it to me repair@siliconmethod.com); if the solder bridged to ground the display may be ruined.

There are other issues that could cause the display not to power up but not result in permanent damage though; hopefully that is the case.
-greg
Overhead display repair