jhandley, please share a link for the repair place you mentioned above
Wonky guages on my instrument cluster
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I would bet in 90% of these cluster issues if you drive with the cluster trim ring off and twist / tighten the big connection screws your prob will be fixed. Just because you tighten the screws is not a sure thing you are getting good connections. It often takes several cycles of in and out with the screws to get a full and proper connection
So my indy mechanic hooked up a scan gauge and all read outs appeared to be accurate so there is some issue with the the signal getting to the cluster or being interpreted by the cluster. A new unit ($$$) would wipe out the odometer reading and cost ~$700 from the dealer though I have seen them online for ~$500. He did recommend shipping it to a specialist for repair to keep the integrity of the odometer intact but I likely will not have an estimate until the specialist has had a chance to diagnose. I will try one more time to double check all connections to rule that out as an issue.
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Stumbled upon this tonight, can't believe it's been 6 years...
Anyway, for what it's worth, I remember at the time that the plan was to pull the cluster and utilize a wiring diagram to identify ground portions of the circuits for the affected sensors and see what I could find on a volt meter. Ultimately, I guess I decided it wasn't worth my time.
Anyway, for what it's worth, I remember at the time that the plan was to pull the cluster and utilize a wiring diagram to identify ground portions of the circuits for the affected sensors and see what I could find on a volt meter. Ultimately, I guess I decided it wasn't worth my time.
Am having that same problem right now and it's frustrating.
I'll keep the thread going 
Another case of the fuel gauge not working. Pulled the fuel pump out, and checked the sending unit. Everything is good there. The voltage and fuel needles shutter at first start. Then, the fuel gauge flatlines.
Another case of the fuel gauge not working. Pulled the fuel pump out, and checked the sending unit. Everything is good there. The voltage and fuel needles shutter at first start. Then, the fuel gauge flatlines.Search for my post using keyword stepper motors
I'll keep the thread going
^^^ This right here. @dchilds write-up to replace the steppers in the gauge cluster fixed my issues with wonky gauges.
2004 Land Cruiser Gauge Cluster FIXED! How-To
@krom did all of your gauges start acting wonky at once?
When I start up my 2003 all of the gauges flutter, go dead, then maybe 30 seconds later all come to life except the speedo. They all started doing this at once, then after a couple times of this the speedo went dead. If it was a couple acting up I could see it being the stepper motors... but all of them at once?
I'm seriously just considering getting a ScanGuage until I sell it and let the next person fix it if they want to.
SpeedO was always fine. Tach was intermittent for a while the finally died entirely. The other gauges would always flutter a little bit then spring to life after a few seconds. I replaced all the steppers per the write up.
So my truck now has this issue as well. Oil pressure gauge is dead. All others are working but flutter at start up for 10 seconds or so then finally come on and read accurately. Oil pressure gauge died 2 days ago and the fluttering has been happening for a day now.
Has anyone found a source for the LX470 illuminated stepper motors? I have been googling around with minimal luck. May end up doing the cluster repair service to fix it.
Has anyone found a source for the LX470 illuminated stepper motors? I have been googling around with minimal luck. May end up doing the cluster repair service to fix it.
There is a link to e-bay in another thread found here. But in looking around it seems like Toyota used the same stepper motor for a lot of their gauges, and even though it might not specifically say our model trucks the motor should be the same.
The e-bay link is here for the 6S, and here for the 6G.
You will need two of the 6S and 4 of the 6G.
From what I have found you can save a few dollars by getting the 6S motors from Tanin Auto, the same company that does the rebuilds for $500 (if my research is right), but they do not have the 6G available. The motor look to be correct, but do not specifically say our model trucks. You can find them here for the 6S.
Good luck. I haven't decided to do mine yet, so I have no info on whether or not this is the fix for mine.
The e-bay link is here for the 6S, and here for the 6G.
You will need two of the 6S and 4 of the 6G.
From what I have found you can save a few dollars by getting the 6S motors from Tanin Auto, the same company that does the rebuilds for $500 (if my research is right), but they do not have the 6G available. The motor look to be correct, but do not specifically say our model trucks. You can find them here for the 6S.
Good luck. I haven't decided to do mine yet, so I have no info on whether or not this is the fix for mine.
Maybe I have it wrong, but from that thread I gathered that the 6S and 6G do not support the illuminated needles on the LX470s. Apparently there are other steppers for the LX's that have an LED in them. I haven't been able to find any though.
See here: 2004 Land Cruiser Gauge Cluster FIXED! How-To
Hmmmm... I missed that. You are right, they appear to be different motors according to that.
It sounds like @AFei found the motors, and may have the part number. I would hit him up for the info. Or you could try your local Lexus parts department and ask them to pull up the parts list. Often times they have the entire assay with part numbers even though they can't order them. That is if your parts guy at your local dealer is a nice guy. The guy behind the counter here shares what others have found to save money when the parts are super expensive... because he knows no one in their right mind would pay some of those prices...
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I sent mine off when several of the gauges either stopped working or were working intermittently. They totally rebuilt the cluster and replaced all of the LED's. Everything works as it should now, but it cost about $400.
There is a guy on the site who has a "How To" on replacing the stepper motors. Search around some and you should be able to find them.
There is a guy on the site who has a "How To" on replacing the stepper motors. Search around some and you should be able to find them.
Thanks, I'll reach out to him!
Who did you send it to for the $400 rebuild?
resurrecting - can you please explain how complicated this is? If it’s a gamble and takes hours, I may just ignore it. Can’t seem to find a diagram.
thank you!
Trunk Monkey
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Technically, it's not complicated at all - few screws to get to the cluster, then the two big bolts that seat it. It's just re-seating it may take some trial and error that's just time consuming, not difficult. Put the cluster in place, turn the bolts to seat it until they free spin, turn truck on to see if all gauges work correctly, repeat if they don't.
If you're someone that works by brute force/bigger hammer, maybe not the job for you, lots of little tiny electrical pins that can get bent.
If you're someone that works by brute force/bigger hammer, maybe not the job for you, lots of little tiny electrical pins that can get bent.
