2006 LX470 Oil Pressure Needle stopped moving

[swamp-thing]

Our 2006 LX just yesterday stopped registering oil pressure at the cluster.
The oil level on the dip is fine, the engine runs and sounds completely fine.
I removed the connector wire from the oil pressure switch near the filter and it did not affect needle position.
I searched last night for a replacement dash gauge but wasn’t able to find a part number or source.
The cluster looks to be fused in one 10a shot according to what is shown in the owner’s manual.
Today I was going to see if I can trace the oil sender wire to check for breaks or damage but I’m not holding out too much hope of following the wire through the main harness or finding an end to check continuity….

I’d consider throwing a new oil pressure switch/sender on it but it doesn’t seem like that is the issue since pulling the wire had no affect on the needle ( sound logic? )
Mud search has been vague on this topic, I’ve seen mention of stepper (motors?) for the dash meter?

Any sage advice out there short of piping in a mechanical gauge?
This is a daily and having the oil prssure needle parked on low is not something I’m cool with.

Thanks for any help / advice / etc. Vehicle is a 2006 so if someone knows a source for the cluster gauge part or parts I’d appreciate it.
I will give a call to Lexus if no one here has any ideers.

Cheers!

 

[excessive]

you've done what i would have done, other than attaching a mechanical or diagnostic gauge to verify that you do indeed have oil pressure

 

[swamp-thing]

Thanks @excessive -- I did call my localish toyota parts guy and he seemed to think that if it's the gauge itself that is faulty ( rather than a sender or broken wire ) then the option is a whole cluster replacement -- which sounds insane to me..... has anyone been down this dark path before?

 

[rexington14]

see 2004 Land Cruiser Gauge Cluster FIXED! How-To - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/2004-land-cruiser-gauge-cluster-fixed-how-to.1085511/

tldr; relatively common issue. stepper motor on the gauge is shot. unfortunately for an LX, there's no practical DIY fix. pull the cluster and send it for rebuild to Tanin Auto Electronix | Auto Repairs, Sales and DIY Parts - https://taninautoelectronix.com/. will cost you $500+. or, just live with it.

 

[TheBussman]

Test the resistance of the oil pressure sensor with the engine on and off to be sure. Betting on stepper motor though, I've replaced a few at the shop.

 

[daohaus]

Welcome to my hell. It’s the stepper motor in the gauge cluster. Mine sometimes does this jittering before it comes alive. My oil pressure will sometimes work when the ambient temperature is just right and only in the first start. After i park turn off the truck and start it back up again and it’s dead. I have to take the cluster out and send it to a local gauge guy in SoCal but my money is on other priorities atm

 

[swamp-thing]

Thank you for posting — dang this is not sounding like fun.
Do you know, are the stepper motors available somewhere online? thnx

 

[TheBussman]

Pardon Our Interruption...

pretty sure this is the right one. take it apart and compare before ordering.

 

[rexington14]

you need to read through the thread I mentioned earlier, the stepper motor replacement for a DIY'er won't work on a Lexus LX cluster, it only works on the Land Cruiser cluster. only the specialist shops like tanin (potentially a couple others) have figured out the LX repair

 

[swamp-thing]

Thank you @rexington14

 

[AARONTLC]

Thank you @rexington14

Did you ever get this fixed?

 

[swamp-thing]

I ordered a new sender and installed it, it seems to have fixed the issue..........? Although I wouldn't rule out that the gauge itself isn't just a little wonky ie. maybe on its way out too.

 

[NE Snowman]

Prior to my 100 I had 2 other 2UZ that have no oil gauges. Sometimes mine works, sometimes it’s off, never been concerned because it doesn’t ever really have any common oil problems.

Change oil every 5k, check dipstick here and there to see that it never burns oil and continue driving and filling the gas tank