Wacky Instrument Cluster Issue

[hamsandwiches]

Hmmm... Trying to find a common relation. I think you said you had your charging system checked right? I'll add that to my list to of things to do.

By chance, do you have fog lights, oem or otherwise? Mine has some strange ones that someone hack****ed together.

And you changed your body ecu? I was looking at that as well, I wish we had a way to test it.

I do have LED fogs that I added, but that was a while after the issue started happening. Yes, I changed body ECU with known working one and no change to issue at all.

Will be doing combination meter tests tomorrow - however I am almost certain it is engine related because of how it happens almost solely under hard acceleration/load. Maybe CPS or some other sensor???

 

[jross20]

I do have LED fogs that I added, but that was a while after the issue started happening. Yes, I changed body ECU with known working one and no change to issue at all.

Will be doing combination meter tests tomorrow - however I am almost certain it is engine related because of how it happens almost solely under hard acceleration/load. Maybe CPS or some other sensor???

Yes, like when you're going up hill and had to give her more gas? I'm glad it's not doing it right now... Ah...

What about the engine ecu? I'm wondering if we have a capacitor going bad or something like that, it really seems like it has something to do with instability.

 

[hamsandwiches]

Yes, like when you're going up hill and had to give her more gas? I'm glad it's not doing it right now... Ah...

What about the engine ecu? I'm wondering if we have a capacitor going bad or something like that, it really seems like it has something to do with instability.

I replaced - gauge cluster, engine ecu, body ecu, abs ecu, and abs center sensor -- all to no avail

Yes, definetely more often up hill/step on it a little

I think it is something on the input side of the cluster like the tach data from the engine

 

[jross20]

I replaced - gauge cluster, engine ecu, body ecu, abs ecu, and abs center sensor -- all to no avail

Yes, definetely more often up hill/step on it a little

I think it is something on the input side of the cluster like the tach data from the engine

Wow. The battle continues. :fencing:

What about the electrical power going to the cluster? I still feel as if it is something with general electrics since it effects other things like lights.

Man I hope we can figure this out:sad:

 

[hamsandwiches]

Wow. The battle continues. :fencing:

What about the electrical power going to the cluster? I still feel as if it is something with general electrics since it effects other things like lights.

Man I hope we can figure this out:sad:

So do I. I think general electrical issues cause more typical and predictable symptoms. Our situation is so weird and complicated that I think the issue will be equally weird and complicated.

Any other insights?

 

[jross20]

So do I. I think general electrical issues cause more typical and predictable symptoms. Our situation is so weird and complicated that I think the issue will be equally weird and complicated.

Any other insights?

We need to try to find more anomalies that our trucks have in common. I think this will help

So far I think we have:

1.) The main issue
2.) Flickering rear cargo light sometimes

Anything else?

Do any of your other lights just stop working at times? By chance do you have an e locker? Do you have an agm battery?
What about your cigarette lighter, maybe we should check it with a meter as well?

Lastly...I think your voltage checked out right? Like the voltage regulator and such?

 

[hamsandwiches]

We need to try to find more anomalies that our trucks have in common. I think this will help

So far I think we have:

1.) The main issue
2.) Flickering rear cargo light sometimes

Anything else?

Do any of your other lights just stop working at times? By chance do you have an e locker? Do you have an agm battery?
What about your cigarette lighter, maybe we should check it with a meter as well?

Lastly...I think your voltage checked out right? Like the voltage regulator and such?

No other lights stop working, no e locker, normal battery non AGM. I have a separate volt gauge and can also check it with the scangauge. My voltage seems perfect. I have a new alternator from Toyota


I really don't have any other issues/anomalies with the vehicle other than the gauges

 

[jross20]

No other lights stop working, no e locker, normal battery non AGM. I have a separate volt gauge and can also check it with the scangauge. My voltage seems perfect. I have a new alternator from Toyota


I really don't have any other issues/anomalies with the vehicle other than the gauges

I'll try to check my battery and such this weekend.

Darn, I was really hoping we might discover some kind of common issue that would lead us to the source.

I may end up breaking down and paying my cousin to figure it out. He is a master tech for Asian vehicles with his own shop, but even though he is family, he's not cheap lol.

But I guess if you can figure it out then technically it will help two people vs one. Haha

 

[hamsandwiches]

I'll try to check my battery and such this weekend.

Darn, I was really hoping we might discover some kind of common issue that would lead us to the source.

I may end up breaking down and paying my cousin to figure it out. He is a master tech for Asian vehicles with his own shop, but even though he is family, he's not cheap lol.

But I guess if you can figure it out then technically it will help two people vs one. Haha

Hahaha, I am a college student so I definitely cannot afford to pay someone to fix it! If i come across anything thru the combination meter tests, I will post it here.

But if your cousin has any insights too, please post those here as well. Hopefully we can solve it so when it happens to other people's 4runners, it will be a relatively simple fix, unlike how it has been for us!

 

[jross20]

Hahaha, I am a college student so I definitely cannot afford to pay someone to fix it! If i come across anything thru the combination meter tests, I will post it here.

But if your cousin has any insights too, please post those here as well. Hopefully we can solve it so when it happens to other people's 4runners, it will be a relatively simple fix, unlike how it has been for us!

Oh absolutely, definitely want to help out anybody else who has this issue. Anything that affects the odometer really bothers me.

Oh!! I totally forgot to ask earlier, so both of our tissues happen under hard acceleration usually. What I forgot to ask is, every time it's happened are you using cruise control?

 

[hamsandwiches]

What I forgot to ask is, every time it's happened are you using cruise control?

No, happened plenty of times without CC

 

[cahilc]

[MENTION=378268]hamsandwiches[/MENTION]

Just in the off chance for more information I'd recommend giving a call to United Radio. They do guage cluster repair.

We're pretty sure this isn't a cluster issue because of the swap with same results. However, united radio might have some ideas.

Just a thought.

 

[garn79]

this thread is like the SuperBowl of T4R Electrical Diagnosis, its the old school Pong of table tennis of back & forth, waiting for someone to claim the trophy, I got my snacks in hand and can't seem to stop myself from coming back to this thread to see what developments may have arisen...

hope you both figure this out, I'm on the sideline cheering..

 

[infamousRNR]

This is what I am dealing with in one of my rigs....

The RPM's only read when I get on the gas & its slow to work.... when I take my foot off the gas, the RPM's basically drop down to almost 0.... really weird..





.

 

[Roger.klotz]

I’ve got issues with the D and L gear indicator lights in the dash lighting up together. 10a fuse for gauge keeps blowing. I realized that my door locks sometimes behave weird too. Possibly related to the issue you are experiencing.

99 4Runner Automatic transmission dash indicator light issue - YouTube

Any luck sorting this out?

 

[hamsandwiches]

Update, no change in last few months. Still doing it intermittently.

Definitely seems to happen more commonly under acceleration. Also getting radio static under acceleration.

Something is happening when the engine is under load

 

[toe.me.g]

I can confirm a third user with this issue.

By any chance, do you have the rear diff lock mod (you can lock the diff at any time)?