Overhead Compass/Temp Fix

Thanks misc. Saved me a bundle! Well, if the dealer told me $800-$1000 to fix it, I would have told them were to stick it

 

I just re-soldered mine a second time.
It lasted around two years+.
Still a quick re-fix.
Thanks again to the original poster.

 

For those interested, I wrote up a short blog post on controlling the automatic dimmer function in the Tacoma overhead display: http://www.siliconmethod.com/controlling-dimmer-toyota-overhead-display/

A client wanted to stop the truck from auto-dimming the display when his headlights were on; I set him up with a wiring harness and it works great. If anyone is interested, go to my site and contact me via email and I will send details or write up a how-to. It is very easy...snip one wire and install a switch.

-greg

 

Thx to this forum I just fixed this!!! Man I'm pumped, awesome work here guys thx again

 

New member here, excited about this fix! can't wait to give this a try although I can't see the pics from the op.

 

Thanks for the Fix worked flawlessly, both of the 51O resistors were disconnected.

 

.
I just snipped the dimming wire on both my compass/temp unit, and the clock/airbag status display. It would have been enough of a pain to install switches that I decided to skip that step. So far, seems okay. A little bright at night, but I've never been one to dim my dash lighting anyway. Plus, the aftermarket stereo, Sirius radio, and my Scanguage add plenty of light in that area. I can always add the switch later. Looking forward to running my headlights in the daytime and still being able to read the outside temp and clock.

 

o

Same here. However mine has been out for a few years now and didn't think much of it. Came across this thread and decided to check it out.

Sure enough that resistor was off on one end, soldered it back and reinforced the other side and other 510 resistor. I clipped it into the wiring harness and nothing. I pressed the resistor down, nothing, checked all other contacts on the board and couldn't see anything out of the norm.

Oh well. Put it back together and then noticed (remembered) the button to turn off/on and change C/F and PRESTO!

Unbelievable, thanks again! Now I just need to find a way to get the PRD432 light strip to light back up.

 

Yea, I think I mentioned in my post awhile ago that many of the sub-assemblies are outsourced, the compass/temp circuit board being one of them. It takes much longer to get the board out of the housing than it does to resolder both 510 ohm resistors! Well worth the time. The dealer wants hundreds of dollars to swap out another outsourced assembly that may or may not have the same issue. I fixed my '06 Access five years ago and it's still working perfectly.

 

Mine has been out for over a year. Before it went out, I could tap it... then I had to smack it... then punch it, to get it to work!

I FINALLY opened it up an hour or so ago. The lower 510 was completely off and the upper (near display (right side was disconnected.

I re-soldered both... looks like a descent job (I can solder) but no go. Pressed don on them... still no go. I also have the burnt LCD.

Anyone know what the test points are for resistance or voltage? Before I turn it into an overhead switch console... I want to make sure it's not fixable.

In the pics.. the flash makes it appear to be working... not so.

 

Damn your LCD looks like mine. Last solder job lasted a day and it was out again. Pretty sure she's burnt up

I have a few of these style things laying around from an old job. Been pondering about breaking it out of the case and mounting it inside. Wont have the compass though. Switch panel up there would be nice

 

That's a pretty good idea Stan. I just finished putting the thing back in. I hit the F\C switch accidentally... I guess it's an on off switch too! It works!!!! Being a tech doesn't always cover the simple stuff like TURN IT ON!!!!!

I'ma happy camper now!

Now, not to thread jack... but can you do a couple replacement letters for my tailgate? Do you keep a record of font and size?

 

I got the emails. Lets chat there

 

Haha same exact thing happened with me earlier today. On/Off duh. Been so long since I used it forgot it turned it on too. On a side note my LCD looks EXACTLY like yours and when it wasn't coming on I thought that was the reason why.

 

I felt dumb.... but very relieved!!!!

 

thanks, i already fixed my temp-compass monitor, it was easy!!!

 

Hi All,

That 'burnt' part of the display is normal. A VFD (vacuum fluorescent display) is gas evacuated, then oxidized in that corner to remove oxygen. Normal and expected. If it turns white, that's when you have to worry.

If you soldered your resistors and the display doesn't work, one of two things happened, in order of likelihood:

1.) you have cold solder joints. You may be able to solder, but the resistors are heavily oxidized and resist solder flow. You have to install new components. Go to radio shack and get a couple 1/4 watt 47 ohm axial resistors and try it again. See my DIY guide below...

2.) you solder bridged from the top 51 ohm resistor to the thru-board copper trace, and shorted out the board. This is a board-destroying event. So take your time and make sure the joints are clean before powering it back on.

Good luck...
Greg

DIY guide to Toyota Tacoma compass repairs

 

Thanks for the tip
For those of you who are "Magic Smoke" electricians, This is a very easy fix. You don't have to pull out the resistor chart to find the 510 resistor. It says 510 right on it. Couldn't be simpler.

Randy

 

... and it's real common for one or both to be just bouncing around loose!!!

 

@randyjaco,

Yes the two main problem resistors are '510' labeled, but that does not mean 510 ohm. The '0' is the multiplier, which in this case means 51 ohm. (yes, I know that multiplying 51 x 0 = 0, just trust me on this. The real explanation should be 'how many zeros do I add to the end of the number...in this case zero zeros.)

Because the resistors are in parallel, the math works out to a total of 25.5 ohms across this portion of the circuit.

-greg

Tacoma and Ford overhead compass repairs