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Instrument Panel Screw up, Need Help!!

1494 Views 9 Replies 7 Participants Last post by  Drachenv6
Alright, so I took my instrument cluster out today, because I am ordering some LEDs to replace the lights, because I can't stand Amber. So I took everything apart and didn't realize that the Needles don't go on a specific way. They just go on, and now all my needles are screwed up, and its not giving me the correct RPM's, Temp, Gas, and Speed. Can someone please help me on this. I need to get this back on right.


Thanks in Advance

|-Goku-|
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try pulling your negative lead on the battery off and let the ecu reset.
For the RPM and temp i would just let the car idle till it is warm, then put the rpm needle at ~750 and the temp gauge just goes about halfway considering it doesn't have to be as accurate. For the gas gauge i would go fill up my car then put it above the F line or drive till the gas light comes on and put it just above the E line. The speedo will be harder to calibrate correctly, you could try to turn the car on and just put it at 0mph and try to see if its accurate somehow. Hope this helps.
For the RPM and temp i would just let the car idle till it is warm, then put the rpm needle at ~750 and the temp gauge just goes about halfway considering it doesn't have to be as accurate. For the gas gauge i would go fill up my car then put it above the F line or drive till the gas light comes on and put it just above the E line. The speedo will be harder to calibrate correctly, you could try to turn the car on and just put it at 0mph and try to see if its accurate somehow. Hope this helps.
Your suggestion will work if the spindles are stationary. Lot harder when they are moving. Especially with the cluster out and engine running. (Not sure if the cluster or car will work.) There must be some other way. If the gauges read electric values then it'll be easier to induce the values to place the hands in the proper position. Obviously this work calls for a specialist in this type of work.
May be a good time to change to Optitron.
^^Ya your right. I just figured since they were out and, technically he cant screw up the gauges anymore, it was worth a try. I agree you should take one for the team and try the optitron gauges lol.
OKay try this:

the way you go about calibrating them is put ur ignition to the on position and set them where they should go...always have a cold engine and a full tank of gas...and as for ur MPH and RPM needles just set them at zero dont fully depress them into the needle...

Here is a bit more detailed:
*turn the car on, wait five minutes, set the gas needle to whatever you had (go fill up if anything)
*since the car isnt moving, just set the speedometer to zero
*Once it was fully warmed up put the temp in its normal spot (a little less then halfway)
*then use an OBDII device that moniters RPM to set the tach.

AND THAT SHOULD WORK! Let me know if it works.
I figured it out, When I unplug the cluster and plug it back in, and turn the key to start, but not actually start the car, the Needles get reset to Zero for the speed and RPM, and to the bottom on the Heat Temp Graph thingy. so I just popped the Needles off and let it reset and placed the needles on them while they were at zero. And then turned the car off and placed the Fuel needle on at Empty.

I started the car and everything appears to be functioning correctly

Thanks for all the replies.

I will be getting the LED's this weekend. Should be completed by Tuesday
Someone needs to sticky this response if anyone manages to screw the needles up with modify something in the cluster.

I figured it out, When I unplug the cluster and plug it back in, and turn the key to start, but not actually start the car, the Needles get reset to Zero for the speed and RPM, and to the bottom on the Heat Temp Graph thingy. so I just popped the Needles off and let it reset and placed the needles on them while they were at zero. And then turned the car off and placed the Fuel needle on at Empty.

I started the car and everything appears to be functioning correctly

Thanks for all the replies.

I will be getting the LED's this weekend. Should be completed by Tuesday
Someone needs to sticky this response if anyone manages to screw the needles up with modify something in the cluster.
Agreed. Until then, subscribed. ;)
im almost positive that we are unmoderated in the rolla forums. They seem to all be in the camry sections.
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