wonky voltage gauge

KevinW

Member

• May 5, 2021

• #1

I have a factory voltage gauge on a 2010 toyota tundra that is reading low just above 9 volts, in the middle sometimes and then pinned above twenty volts on some days.
The alternator and battery are fine.
Is there a resister or some other component that might cause this in the gauge itself?
I have found only two other people that have had this problem, one is living with it and the other replaced the gauge cluster.

 

P

Pommie

Well-Known Member

Most Helpful Member

• May 5, 2021

• #2

Are you saying it sometimes reads 9V and sometimes 20V?

Mike.

 

KevinW

Member

• May 5, 2021

• #3

Yes Mike; regardless of engine being on or off. Closer to 25 volts on the high side of the gauge.

 

narkeleptk

Active Member

• May 5, 2021

• #4

most likely its just the stepper motor for guage needle has gone bad.

 

Last edited: May 5, 2021

KevinW

Member

• May 5, 2021

• #5

I read that about another make of vehicle with that problem and searched for a stepper motor for my vehicle without results.
Would that be under the dash or within the gauge itself?
Is this what the needle is attached to?

 

Last edited: May 5, 2021

narkeleptk

Active Member

• May 5, 2021

• #6

Its in the dash, the needle is attached to it,
You'll need to remove cluster from car, remove the clusters screen and case, remove all needles, then you can pull the face away to get at the little motor.
Its common failing item. Can't remember which one this unit uses but they are usually not hard to replace.

 

KevinW

Member

• May 5, 2021

• #7

Thanks very much, appreciate the help.
Kevin.

 

rfranzk

Member

• May 5, 2021

• #8

I have a 2005 Tacoma the tachometer quit working after some extreme cold. I found These. The tach has since sort of healed itself but sometimes reads a bit low or high no pattern. The vehicle is supposed to routinely go through a gauge zero set routine.

 

KevinW

Member

• May 5, 2021

• #9

Thanks, I ordered a volt meter for the 12 volt socket just to monitor the voltage and if it doesn't correct itself over time I'll likely try and get at the gauge cluster and check the stepper motor.