jmfarrell

We just purchased a 1988 4runner that is in good shape except that the
dashboard gages do not work. Can anyone suggest what the problem might
be?

ray o

Check the gauge fuse.
--
Ray O
correct the return address punctuation to reply

bruce l. bergman

Could be lots of things, you really need to take a repair manual
with a good troubleshooting section (like the Toyota Factory Repair
Manual for your specific car) with a complete and accurate wiring
diagram (Ditto), basic hand tools and a test light & multimeter, and
start tracing out the circuit.

It might require a few nasty physical contortions to take out the
instrument cluster or crawl under the dashboard, but it shouldn't be
too hard to fix technically. If NONE of the gauges are working, it
points to a common power problem.

Off the top of my head: Blown gauge fuse, bad Accessory switching
contact in Ignition Switch assembly, bad Accessory power switching
relay in the fuse/relay cluster, bad gauge voltage regulator (usually
on back of cluster, or built into one of the gauge movements), loose
wiring connector on back of instrument cluster, bad ground from
instrument cluster to chassis ground point on cab cowl, Bad ground
from cab to battery (-) post...

Modern cars have gotten MUCH more complicated - I remember when you
could draw the entire wiring diagram of a 1960's car on one piece of
paper, from memory, and build & install a whole new engine/dashboard
harness by hand in a weekend (Been there, Done that, '62 Dodge Dart) -
you can NOT do that anymore.

Spend the dough for the Factory Repair Manual, and the supplement
books you may need - it's going to run you a healthy chunk of change
when you ask at the Parts Counter (I can see your jaw dropping already
from here). But the first time that book totally saves your (butt) it
has more than paid for itself.

Accurate information isn't expensive, it's priceless. ;-)
--<< Bruce >>--

--
Bruce L. Bergman, Woodland Hills (Los Angeles) CA - Desktop
Electrician for Westend Electric - CA726700
5737 Kanan Rd. #359, Agoura CA 91301 (818) 889-9545
Spamtrapped address: Remove the python and the invalid, and use a net.

supragenius

And the connectors behind the inst. panel.

jmfarrell

We just purchased a 1988 4runner that is in good shape except that the
dashboard gages do not work. Can anyone suggest what the problem might
be?

ray o

Check the gauge fuse.
--
Ray O
correct the return address punctuation to reply

bruce l. bergman

Could be lots of things, you really need to take a repair manual
with a good troubleshooting section (like the Toyota Factory Repair
Manual for your specific car) with a complete and accurate wiring
diagram (Ditto), basic hand tools and a test light & multimeter, and
start tracing out the circuit.

It might require a few nasty physical contortions to take out the
instrument cluster or crawl under the dashboard, but it shouldn't be
too hard to fix technically. If NONE of the gauges are working, it
points to a common power problem.

Off the top of my head: Blown gauge fuse, bad Accessory switching
contact in Ignition Switch assembly, bad Accessory power switching
relay in the fuse/relay cluster, bad gauge voltage regulator (usually
on back of cluster, or built into one of the gauge movements), loose
wiring connector on back of instrument cluster, bad ground from
instrument cluster to chassis ground point on cab cowl, Bad ground
from cab to battery (-) post...

Modern cars have gotten MUCH more complicated - I remember when you
could draw the entire wiring diagram of a 1960's car on one piece of
paper, from memory, and build & install a whole new engine/dashboard
harness by hand in a weekend (Been there, Done that, '62 Dodge Dart) -
you can NOT do that anymore.

Spend the dough for the Factory Repair Manual, and the supplement
books you may need - it's going to run you a healthy chunk of change
when you ask at the Parts Counter (I can see your jaw dropping already
from here). But the first time that book totally saves your (butt) it
has more than paid for itself.

Accurate information isn't expensive, it's priceless. ;-)
--<< Bruce >>--

--
Bruce L. Bergman, Woodland Hills (Los Angeles) CA - Desktop
Electrician for Westend Electric - CA726700
5737 Kanan Rd. #359, Agoura CA 91301 (818) 889-9545
Spamtrapped address: Remove the python and the invalid, and use a net.

supragenius

And the connectors behind the inst. panel.

bo yancey

Absolutely! And also... http://techinfo.toyota.com