How to reset gauge needles? (the noob version)

[SilverGs]

I replaced the LEDs in my gauge cluster but the needle positions are all screwed up (don't ask). How can I reset them so that they are in the correct position? Right now they are too low.

Thanks Alex for sending me a video, but I'm still confused..... My geriatric brain needs more instructions.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Go get a full tank of gas, and let the car get cold. Plug in the cluster with the sheild off, turn the key to the on position. Put the needles in the proper places. Gas to the F, Temp the the C, RPM and Speed to 0.

Turn the car off, unplug the cluster. and reassemble.

 

[SilverGs]

Go get a full tank of gas, and let the car get cold. Plug in the cluster with the sheild off, turn the key to the on position. Put the needles in the proper places. Gas to the F, Temp the the C, RPM and Speed to 0.

Turn the car off, unplug the cluster. and reassemble.

Thanks man. I was finally able to do this last night.

I'm pretty sure I followed your steps accurately -

1. Filled the tank
2. Waited for about 3 hours for it to cool down - I had only driven for 10 mins prior.
3. Disassembled part of the dash and and took the cluster screen off (leaving the cluster plugged in)
4. Popped off the needles
5. Put the key in and moved it to the "ON" position (not turning on the truck ofcourse)
6. Popped back on the needles - rpm and speedo on zero, tank on F and temp on C.
7. Put screen back on and turned off the truck.
8. Assembled the dash

This morning, I go to turn on the truck and notice

• that the tank and temp needles are so screwed up as to be ridiculously wrong. Tank needle was so low on the gauge - it was about half the distance of the gauge itself, below the gauge.
• Same with the temp gauge - it was so far off to the left of the gauge - it was kinda funny.
• Speedo is reading 6 kmph too fast and when the car is off, it's not on the zero but below it. I don't get that, I did set it to zero last night.
• RPM gauge when off is on the zero, so I'm assuming this is the only gauge reading correctly.........

What the heck did I do to mess things up even more? Any idea, and whats the best way to fix this seeminly perplexing issue that is so ridiculously simple to fix?


Edit: I just noticed that in between step 7 and 8, you mentioned that I need to unplug the cluster and then replug it back it in? Is that what caused my issue? Please clarify.

 

[CookieRoe]

Assembled the dash

I have nothing to add, but don't do this step until you get your gauges set correctly. Worse case scenario: Get a "new" gauge cluster from fleabay and have "emelianenkov" do your gauges. When I lived in South America, I found a company that sold "LED" lights for gauge needles. The car shop I went to often didn't want to install them because of the possibility of screwing up the needles when reinstalling them. Good luck, hope you get your issue fixed!

 

[SilverGs]

I have nothing to add, but don't do this step until you get your gauges set correctly. Worse case scenario: Get a "new" gauge cluster from fleabay and have "emelianenkov" do your gauges. When I lived in South America, I found a company that sold "LED" lights for gauge needles. The car shop I went to often didn't want to install them because of the possibility of screwing up the needles when reinstalling them. Good luck, hope you get your issue fixed!

I've already swapped out the LED's . This is supposed to be the simpler part of this mod - setting the needles position correctly.

 

[mrpanic7]

I've already swapped out the LED's . This is supposed to be the simpler part of this mod - setting the needles position correctly.

The way I did it was remove the cluster completely, then turn the needle til it "stops" and ever so gently apply more force to push it to where cold general points and the same with the others. Worked perfectly when I did it took a few times to get the needles exactly where i wanted em, but no problems at all doing it this way. Does this make sense?

 

[SilverGs]

No , not sure exactly what you mean. You keep pushing the needles till they stop moving?

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Edit: I just noticed that in between step 7 and 8, you mentioned that I need to unplug the cluster and then replug it back it in? Is that what caused my issue? Please clarify.

I assume you'd want to unplug the cluster and remove it from the car to put the sheild back on it, that is the only reason I added that step.

Are you sure everything turned on in the cluster when you turned the key to on?

 

[SilverGs]

I assume you'd want to unplug the cluster and remove it from the car to put the sheild back on it, that is the only reason I added that step.

The cluster doesn't have to be unplugged to put the shield back on, that's why I didn't have to plug it back in as it was already plugged in. The only 2 pieces of trim that have to be dissassembled are the lower dash and the cluster surround.

Are you sure everything turned on in the cluster when you turned the key to on?

Pretty sure about that. I'll attempt this all over again this weekend.

What else could I have done wrong?

 

[SilverGs]

For anyone else in the same boat, here is a procedure that works correctly and pefectly - thanks to emelianenkov!

1. Take the dash apart to the point where you get the cluster face off the gauges. You don't need to unplug the gauge cluster itself
2. Pop off any of the needles you want to fix
3. As an example, the speedo needle, push it back on at the 50 mph mark
4. Now with your fingers on the center circle of the needle, turn it left slowly against the resistance that it has
5. Keep turning till it goes to zero
6. Thats it!
7. If any of the other needles need to be adjusted, its exactly the same procedure - pop off, put back on higher than where they are supposed to be and then slowly turn back against the resistance to where they should be.

Thanks Alex! :thumb3:

 

[CookieRoe]

For anyone else in the same boat, here is a procedure that works correctly and pefectly - thanks to emelianenkov!

Thanks Alex! :thumb3:

Glad to hear you got it straightened out! (pa-dum-tiss!!). But seriously, I was sweating with you. I thought you were in trouble. Pics of the final product?

 

[SilverGs]

Glad to hear you got it straightened out! (pa-dum-tiss!!). But seriously, I was sweating with you. I thought you were in trouble. Pics of the final product?

Thanks man.

I'll take some pics tonight so that the new lighting is more visible.

The only part I don't like is the hot and cold spots on the HVAC buttons due to the LED swap. It's kinda annoying...

 

[mrpanic7]

Thanks man.

I'll take some pics tonight so that the new lighting is more visible.

The only part I don't like is the hot and cold spots on the HVAC buttons due to the LED swap. It's kinda annoying...

Yeah in your steps is what i was saying to do sorry i was in a hurry and didnt explain well

 

[emelianenkov]

For anyone else in the same boat, here is a procedure that works correctly and pefectly - thanks to emelianenkov!

1. Take the dash apart to the point where you get the cluster face off the gauges. You don't need to unplug the gauge cluster itself
2. Pop off any of the needles you want to fix
3. As an example, the speedo needle, push it back on at the 50 mph mark
4. Now with your fingers on the center circle of the needle, turn it left slowly against the resistance that it has
5. Keep turning till it goes to zero
6. Thats it!
7. If any of the other needles need to be adjusted, its exactly the same procedure - pop off, put back on higher than where they are supposed to be and then slowly turn back against the resistance to where they should be.

Thanks Alex! :thumb3:

Hey man, I'm always happy to help! (As long as you do my HID projector retrofit for me :frog

Sorry my video wasn't much help :moping:

 

[flyfisher4822]

Need your help

For anyone else in the same boat, here is a procedure that works correctly and pefectly - thanks to emelianenkov!

1. Take the dash apart to the point where you get the cluster face off the gauges. You don't need to unplug the gauge cluster itself
2. Pop off any of the needles you want to fix
3. As an example, the speedo needle, push it back on at the 50 mph mark
4. Now with your fingers on the center circle of the needle, turn it left slowly against the resistance that it has
5. Keep turning till it goes to zero
6. Thats it!
7. If any of the other needles need to be adjusted, its exactly the same procedure - pop off, put back on higher than where they are supposed to be and then slowly turn back against the resistance to where they should be.

Thanks Alex! :thumb3:

Following LED swap in gauges, my gas gauge is erratic. These instructions do not resolve the problem (many attempts). Does it help to disconnect battery and reset system? Other thoughts?

Desperate for a solution; may need to go to take it to stealership. Thanks for your input.

 

[yosh2000]

how much did you turn it when it had resistance? you might have jacked it by turning it too much.

i always loosely set the needle and turn it, after hitting resistance, to the proper clock. i then turn it to the middle of its range when fully setting it. then i will power it up on my bench tester or plug it in to ensure the needles to not readjust when powered (they often move slightly).

 

[flyfisher4822]

I never had any resistance with the fuel gauge, not even the slightest.

I removed the needle and placed it in the middle of the range and then moved it counter-clockwise to "Full". Result: erratic readings.

 

[yosh2000]

yr and model of your 4runner?

on my 05, the gauges has resistance. i just did an 08 sport that and had no resistance.

for this case, i temporarily installed the cluster without the needles. i plugged it in and let the needle post reset themselves, again, without the needles installed. i then installed the needles while the cluster was plugged in to ensure they were installed correctly. the RPM and the speedo obviously are set to the zero line. the fuel needle should point over the bottom line of the "E" and the temp needle should split the "C".

maybe try to re install them this way? also, make sure you leave a good 1/16" (this is OEM spacing) or so between the needle base and the cluster face in order that the needles may freely rotate and not get hung up on anything. i have seen this in the past as well.

 

[flyfisher4822]

yr and model of your 4runner?

on my 05, the gauges has resistance. i just did an 08 sport that and had no resistance.

for this case, i temporarily installed the cluster without the needles. i plugged it in and let the needle post reset themselves, again, without the needles installed. i then installed the needles while the cluster was plugged in to ensure they were installed correctly. the RPM and the speedo obviously are set to the zero line. the fuel needle should point over the bottom line of the "E" and the temp needle should split the "C".

maybe try to re install them this way? also, make sure you leave a good 1/16" (this is OEM spacing) or so between the needle base and the cluster face in order that the needles may freely rotate and not get hung up on anything. i have seen this in the past as well.

Mine is a 2006 Sport. I will try your recommendation and post back here. Thanks for the input Josh.

 

[flyfisher4822]

yr and model of your 4runner?

on my 05, the gauges has resistance. i just did an 08 sport that and had no resistance.

for this case, i temporarily installed the cluster without the needles. i plugged it in and let the needle post reset themselves, again, without the needles installed. i then installed the needles while the cluster was plugged in to ensure they were installed correctly. the RPM and the speedo obviously are set to the zero line. the fuel needle should point over the bottom line of the "E" and the temp needle should split the "C".

maybe try to re install them this way? also, make sure you leave a good 1/16" (this is OEM spacing) or so between the needle base and the cluster face in order that the needles may freely rotate and not get hung up on anything. i have seen this in the past as well.

Had time today to try this and it worked brilliantly! Huge thanks, Josh!