Overhead Compass/Temp Fix

A reminder to the folks about to resolder the surface mount resistors:

1.) make sure the solder doesn't bridge, especially to the through-hole next to one of the resistors. (the small, round copper areas). This is a board-destroying short.

2.) I strongly recommend you follow my DIY guide here. If you don't, your repair is going to fail again at some point in the not-so-distant future. The old resistors are oxidized and won't re-mount well.

3.) solder quickly; Heat from the iron may be damaging other components nearby. Press the clean, tinned iron to the junction of the board and resistor and immediately feed solder. You should get a nice shiny fill.

-greg

 

Worked perfectly and now it works again. Thanks for the post.

 

Dealer wanted $900+to repair, so I checked it out myself (non-technical). My board looked like an ADHD first grader missing a few doses of adderall had soldered those 510's. It was bad with visible burn marks to the wafer and LCD;bad enough to have doubted this would work... For 15 min of work, works like a charm. Couldn't be happier with outcome. Thanks a million!

Thanks for pulling me out of lurking...

-ML

 

Isn't a new part only $200 if that?

 

Replica9000: yep, the new display is less than $200 (I sell them for $159 if a unit sent in to us is not repairable)....I'm guessing (hoping) that the $900 dealership part includes the entire overhead console.

Of course, the whole shebang still isn't worth $900...and the dealership should know better than to upsell.

 

When I was looking for sport headlights, the parts guy at the dealer said they charge $100 more per headlight on top of Toyota's MSRP. Luckily I found a local member selling his cheap.

 

I've always seen this thread and just kinda hoped this problem would never happen to me. My temp/compass started fading and then eventually went out. Bought a 10 dollar soldering iron and went to town tonight on fixing it. Super easy mod. Just takes a steady hand and a close eye. Thanks for all the great info guys.

 

I used the info in this thread to fix the thermo/compass on my 2008. I t worked for a couple weeks and then gave out again. So I redid the repair and its been working again for a couple of weeks. Thanks for the info!!

 

Yes, dealership pricing for the entire board/console. When I laughed and said I'd let it stay dark, upon checking out, he discreetly suggested I check the Internet for solutions. Seems to have worked out.

 

+1 on the above. Do the permanent fix as Siliconmethod suggests above using standard twin wire resistors. Or find a good electronics repair person to solder them in for you, like I did. The original 510 type get WAY too hot due to their tiny size.

Otherwise they will fail again and again.

 

i just called our local Toyota dealer and ask about a new display.
they said that it had to be ordered and would cost $145.00.

i thought i would try the search on here to see if anyone else had the same problem.
the search brought me to this thread.
within a few minutes i had my display working like new!!!!

you guys are great. Thank you very much!!!

 

I've done this fix 7 times. Every time it lasted less and less. Finally at a point where it stopped working altogether, even soldered correctly. I found a replacement on Amazon for $138

$161 2005-2008 Toyota Tacoma Temperature and Direction Display! NEW OEM UPDATED PART!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BUSOKBQ...TF8&colid=30U3K6KZ30H8D&coliid=I22502E4HF2OW7

but ended up buying new from a member on here for cheaper.

 

I USE YOUR INSTRUCTIONS MISC AND NOW MY COMPAS TEMP GAGE WORKS THANKS

 

Nice post. Gonna try it. Thank you

 

Worked like a champ. Took longer to find my solder than To fix it. Thanks again

 

Thanks for the simple explanation. Took me 20 minutes and a touch of solder.
2007 SR5 crew cab 4x4

 

Did the quick fix on my 05 and it worked. Hope to get 10 years this time too. If not it looks like the twin wire works best and I will try that next.

 

This is my 2nd time doing this repair. Just had my frame & leaf springs replaced & my compass/thermometer had just puked out again prior to me taking it in. The offered to replace it for only $250 (I told them they offered to do it for $800 the last time a 3 or 4 years ago!). In any case, I'm patting myself on the back for fixing it once again!!

 

Same here. Just took a few trys to figure out they best technique. What worked for me was a drop of solder at each connect point on the board then lay the resistor on top, heat each end while applying a little pressure to the resistor to keep it in place while the solder liquifies and re-solidifies. Just did it last night so we'll see how long it lasts.

Saved that Amazon link (from MJonAgs32) a few posts back for future reference. Note the price is down to $109 from $138 that was mentioned a few months ago.

$161 2005-2008 Toyota Tacoma Temperature and Direction Display! NEW OEM UPDATED PART!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BUSOKBQ/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=30U3K6KZ30H8D&coliid=I22502E4HF2OW7

 

Well, gave it a shot. FRICKEN HELL'YA!!! Worked for me. THX$$$!!!