gauges not working

Hello - Okay, look in the drivers side fuse box and check the ECU IG fuse and the GAUGE fuse. Use an ohm meter.....don't trust your eyes. This is the first step for the tach, fuel and water gauge being inop. I have a red arrow where these are if that helps. For the speedometer as you see it says the vehicle speed sensor. Don't get that confused with the counter gear speed sensor and the turbine speed sensor.....I attached those also so you see what you are looking at. You might also consider going to Auto Zone (AZ) or O'Reilly's (OR) and for FREE they can pull the codes to the car. Most important: Once they check your codes, if they find something and you don't get it fixed and need to get back with us, please make sure you tell us exactly what the code was, number and all. Example, if the code was E0568 O2 Sensor bad. Then make sure you give us all of that. While there for FREE also they can bring their tester out and check your battery, alternator and starter. The VSS may have thrown a code.

I went to Toyota dealer and they told me it is the cluster. Which is behind the gauges. Is it feasable for me to get one from salvage and put in myself? Is there any way I can get a picture of the cluster? They told me a new cluster is 670 dollars.

Hi johnmcfarland,

When all gauges fails, it should be a power supply fault and this might be something repairable.
Did Toyota remove the cluster to test or just informed you that the cluster is bad by looking at it?

You can get a cluster from the scrapyard which would be cheaper but the odometer would have to be recalibrated.

I do not have any diagrams to show on removal of the instrument cluster but it requires disabling the airbag system and removal of the driver's airbag and steering wheel.

Removal & Installation
1. Disable air bag system, remove driver's air bag and steering wheel. See AIR BAG RESTRAINT SYSTEMS article.
Remove steering column covers.
Remove instrument cluster finish panel. Remove holding screws and carefull pry it outwards, there are a few clps that might be a little stiff and requires some force, use a screw with tape would at tip to prevent damage to dash.

Note: If you think you got sufficient space to get the cluster finish without removing the steering wheel by lowering it to the maximum, skip removal of steering wheel and airbag.

2. Remove 4 instrument cluster retaining screws. Pull cluster outward far enough to disconnect wiring harness connectors. Remove instrument cluster. To install, reverse removal procedure.

after three mechanics and dozens of fuses, it was the ignition switch on my 01 rav4!

Excellent addition to this thread! Please feel free to help out whenever you are on the site :)

The temperature gauge on my Rav 4 2000cc 3 door sticks in one position whether the ignition is on or not. I removed the gauge which is integral with the dials and spayed it with electrical contact cleaner, and now it falls back to zero when the ignition is turned off (some improvement). However if I gently tap on the dashboard where the gauge is with the ignition turned on the needle will move to the correct position when the engine is at working temperature. A new gauge is (wait for it) £750 .00. So the question I would like to ask is , could I apply some silicone lubricant on the needle shaft at the rear of the gauge or would this cause damage?

Any help would be appreciated.

you could try it but look into getting the cluster rebuilt it may be anelectricl problem like stepper motor or similar. those are usually cheaper as well.

Hi Hmac300,
Thanks for your help I will look into the cost of a rebuild, I have also come across a telephone number for Denso who manufactured it for Toyota, will try ringing them for advice too!

Regards,4x4man

2006 rav 4 4 cylinder gas guage doesnt warn me or go below an 8th of a tank and i run out of gas. what is it?

Chances are the rheostat that is on the float is bad. The bad part is the float is part of the fuel pump and not cheap to replace.

The trip Reset on my speedometer broke. everything else work, except the trip resetter. I found an instrument cluster at the junkyard, for a 1999 RAV: the 3 connectors on the back of the cluster are identical to the connectors on the back of my 1997 rav4 cluster. However, there is an additional connector on the cluster from the JY, and I think because of the "digital readout" for the trip reset/mileage.
My question: Can I install the instrument cluster of the JY in my car, and then splice the extra connector to my wiring system?. If so, where do I splice the additional connector to?

no, it must be exact and may need to be flashed if it is a used one. with obd2 systems the pcm looks at all the modules

Roy

Thank you Roy.