What's up guys! It's been a while since I've been on. Got my hands on a 87 4runner 22re 4x4 sr5 m/t. I got a question and knew you guys were my best shot. My temp gauge acts crazy. I turn the ignition on and it goes up to normal operating temp. When driving it will jump around, go to accurate, then drop all the way likes its not even working and so on. I have done the following; new gauge temp sensor, thermostat, took out and snugged up the screws on the back of the cluster( didn't have any contact cleaner) but the screws looked like new. And took off the ground under the panel by the clutch next to the door and sanded the metal and part where you screw it in and still gauge is acting crazy! Also after I put the new temp sensor in( I did this last out of everything eles I did) i turned the truck on and unplugged the connector that goes onto the sensor in engine bay and the gauge was still half way up. didnt jump or anything while i played with it. I don't know what eles to do. Any suggestions please and thank you I appreciate it I would really love to have my gauge working. 87 4runner 4x4 sr5 m/t. Thank you!

This is the sensor. From what I've read this is the one for the gauge?

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Wow it turned the pic sideways. Its the second sensor back from the front next to the intake mani

If you turned the truck off and unplugged the sensor and the gauge needle was still halfway up the scale, I don't think the trouble is with your sensor. It's probably going to be the gauge itself. I'd score a new cluster and replace the whole schmear, myself.

If I turn the key off the gauge drops back down. If I turn the key on, the gauge goes up to normal operating temp. If I unplugged the sensor with the key on the gauge stays at normal operating temp and doesn't move. And about swapping the cluster. Does anyone know what year they made the cable speedos untill. I don't wanna go pull one from somewhere or someone( off craigslist) and it not even work. Thanks guys!

My 95' has a speedometer cable.

Your donor choices are from 4Runners 84-89 and trucks 84-88, 2wd or 4wd.
All are cable driven.

You can check out the gauge with an ohmmeter.
On the back of the cluster lower right corner there should be 3 terminals - IG, TU, and E.
IG to TU should be around 135 ohms
TU to E should be around 138 ohms
IG to E should be around 273 ohms
That's for a cluster with a tach.

Yes my cluster has a tach. And fourwd1, I've seen threads where people use second gen clusters in their 1st gen 4runner with no problems? But really if like to keep the 1st gen cluster. I like the oem look. I need to find a way to get the temp working. I can live without the gas gauge cause I still have the gas light and trip, but the temp really bothers me. Any more suggestions? Thanks