04 Speedometer Out - replace cluster? dealer needed?

[dgbull3]

2004, SR5 V8, 188k miles

My speedometer randomly went dead tonight (just sits at zero). The other gauges work when driving. However upon starting the others will stay in their "dead" position, then they'll shake and I can hear a slight servo-buzzing sound, and finally they'll jump up and work like normal. Following searches on here, I've done the following:

1. Disconnected battery for awhile and reconnected. No luck. Funny thing though, when I reconnect the battery the gas and temp gauge needles shake and I hear the servo buzzing again. This is while the car is off and stops after ~10sec.
2. Checked for loose wires at wheels, didn't see anything.
3. Opened up gauge cluster and tried retightening the connections. Still get the buzzing, jumping gauges when battery is reconnected.

At this point I'm thinking I need to replace the cluster but want to confirm a couple things before buying one.
1. Anything else I can try? Do these symptoms sound familiar to those of you that had to make the replacement?
2. So I need the dealer to program the cluster to the ECU? I found the cluster online (right part for the year, trim, and build series).

 

[S p a r k y]

1. Can’t think of anything else to try. Sucks!

2. I wouldnt think you need to program anything. I put other people’s cluster in mine all the time to test the led swaps I do. Mileage sticks with the cluster, so don’t know what you can do about that. If you get a cluster with lower miles I guess that’s a good thing.

 

[lightfreak]

That buzzing sounds like the stepper motor(s) failing.
They can be replaced.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/179530-instrument-cluster-help.html

 

[dgbull3]

Sweet...I ordered the stepper motor and will give it a try. It was only $25 with shipping so definitely worth a shot to see if it will work (like it did in that other thread).

If I have luck I'll report back with photos. Part will be here next week. It was bought from the guys at Tanin Auto Electronix. Link below is the same as the other thread's.

http://www.taninautoelectronix.com/

 

[RobD]

When I see one item fail, I think it's that one item. When a bunch of similar devices are having a similar problem, I think it's a bad ground. Know what I mean?

 

[dgbull3]

When I see one item fail, I think it's that one item. When a bunch of similar devices are having a similar problem, I think it's a bad ground. Know what I mean?

Only the speedometer is out when driving; the others come back after doing a little dance (as described in the linked thread). I see what you mean though...where's the ground for the cluster?

Stepper motor should be here Tuesday.