Stepper motor removal

Has anyone removed this before an does it just unclip or do you have to desolder it?

 

First, What is that?

 

Looks like part of the instrument cluster.

 

It moves a "needle".
Either for the Tach, The Speedo, or Fuel gauge.

Other than that, I got nothing.

 

Thanks I can see it now that you told me...

It is probably soldered to the board.

These would be what appears to be the solder terminals.

 

Yep that's where it's soldiered .
One quick last question an last attempt before either changing it out or replacing stepper.I had it out an fully apart with the needles off so I could remove the flat plastic illumination panel so I know it's easy to do -but what if after filling it up,completely doing the math on miles,an when it's at that same point of 1/4 tank driven ..I physically pull the needle,after key is forward, as easy as it is,an move it a quarter of tank down ..WHERE IT SHOULD BE SINCE I JUST RAN 118 MILES AN IT JUST NOW STARTED GOING BELOW FULL.
SEE PIC
Or will it reset by the stepper control .?
Needle easily stays put after I push it BK on ..
Just a thought before going through all the soldering or the cost of another cluster..
Also is this a interchangable cluster with any other Toyotas?

Thanks
Last pic is still over FULL after 103 miles

 

Are you sure it's not the sending unit that is the issue?
They are known to give false readings with age.

 

Isn't that a part of the fuel pump assembly? It's been replaced an the old one did the same thing.
I really want to try that repositioning on the needle when the key is on .. to see if it stays at the 3/4 tank- where it should be.-.when I turn it off an BK on..nothing to loose .

 

You can try that.
There is also some resistance checks you can do to see if it's the sending unit, the wiring or the gauge.
I posted a walk through on here atone time.

I'll see if I can find it. If you want to see?

If it's a wiring issue, it won't get better.
It will only get worse, then you'll be back the where you are now.

 

YES! IT DID STAY WHERE I MOVED IT!!
Drove it an started it BK fine ..stayed there ..

Then after a drive an another stop,off an restart, or 2 after -restart---it reset way down to just over 1/4 tank!!! An when off way down far past E
Crazy.!!

.Even went way bk on EMPTY MARK AFTER OFF THEN .

I repositioned it to 3/4 mark an 2 more start run drives an it's staying there ..but I'm not confident .WHAT IS HAPPENING THAT IT STAYS WHERE IT SHOULD A FEW DRIVES AN THEN DROPPED WAY DOWN TO 1/4 TANK ON RESTART?

 

Have no idea how these clusters vary compared to the 05-06 tundra clusters but this was my experience with them when I modded my backlighting In my 06.

It was highly advised to not physically force the needle movement by hand as it could permanently fuck up the motors and result in what you are seeing now, wonky readings. The suggested method was to place tape line on the resting needle position with key off, physically pull the needles off and when reinstalling line them up with you lines before pushing them back on. The needles where push on, pull off. Physically moving the needle to make adjustments wouldnt work and could cause permanent damage. It took me several attempts when resetting my tach and speedo needles before I got them spot on according to my scan gauge and odb2 scanner. I just left the glass off the front so I could readjust the needles over the course of a couple days. I left the tape on the cluster and used different colored sharpies for my new 0 line after each adjustment.

Also, I don’t know how far off your gas gauge is. I can drive 60-100ish miles before my gauge drops below F. Has since I bought it. I typically see 200mi at 1/2 and 250-300 at 1/4 depending on driving. My gauge drops rapidly once it gets below 3/4. Gas light comes on when it should, miles per tank and gallons per tank is spot on. Mpg hasn’t changed since I’ve owned it. Tundra was the same way. My 92 yota is the same way. The top potion of the tank goes a long way, the bottom half goes quick af.

It’s my understanding that the mileage brain in the cluster is not universal with the 2nd gens. Installing a different cluster will no longer show the correct vehicle mileage, at least that’s what I recall reading on tw on other threads.

 

I did not force it I only lifted out the needle as u do to replace them .an put it BK on easily .no turning the dial it's on..

is there a cluster reset on these?
It's like a lady now..very moody an unpredictable..lol

So did that confirm the stepper motor is not working? Any way to test it?
Any other Toyotas that interchange?

 

I have no idea how to test it, maybe someone else can help you with that.

You can swap In a different cluster from a different 2nd gen but the mileage stays with the cluster. So, say you buy one from eBay or a salvage yard out of a truck with 250k on it, when you install it in your truck it’s going to display 250k as your mileage. The mileage lives on the cluster. You can supposedly send it off to be reprogrammed to have the correct mileage displayed but I have no idea who, how, what is involved with that.

 

As long as I can see that the fuel gauge an temp etc are accurate I don't care on the miles...I can put that one BK in later ,we don't have" Marta" inspection anymore either.
I can't find a Tacoma in any local junkyards seems rare ,which is why I was wondering if any other Toyotas could interchange.
I know they're on eBay too. ..
Is there a key forward hold technique with negative battery off that resets cluster or a hold down on milage ,reset procedure?

 

This is odd. I played around with the needle , readjusting it a lo tby pulling it out an re positioning and now its staying at the correct position..note I'm monitoring it over half tank..I added 3 gallons an..after driving a few min it went to the correct spot..it did not do it at start up an 1st few minutes ..it took a bit .DOES URS TAKE VERY LONG AFTER ADDING 3 GALLONS ..TO MOVE?
I THINK I MAY HAVE IT WORKING..BUT UNTIL I GO TO 1/4 TANK I WONT REALLY KNOW...
It still moves around a hair as driving too..but not a lot .does yours do that ?