Our odometer button was badly damaged in an event described in my post regarding instrument cluster plexiglass. Wondering if this part can be replaced externally, without tearing into the speedometer bezel and the cluster itself? Hoping it's "plug and play" once the plexiglass is removed!

Interesting side note: the button's shaft is angled up at about 45 degrees and is probably partially depressed. This impacts speedometer readings (probably odometer too) to the tune of 15 mph. The error is not variable or a percentage of speed. It's 16 mph all over the speed range. 50 mph indicated is 66 actual, 5 is 21 and so on. Thankfully I did not learn from the Highway Patrol that 75 is 91. The realization came while driving to a hockey game. I told my daughter "it's weird that traffic is so slow today" while recognizing that I do have the ability to judge speed within +/-10 or so. I went to reset the trip odometer in order to hack the time on a mile marker for an accuracy check when I noticed the condition of the button. Yikes!

 

I don't see a separate part for that. You'd have to order the entire cluster ($$$$). If you do this, be sure to get the one for the USA so you get mph not kph. You might have to go through the dealer so that the indicated miles gets transferred over to the new cluster. Or not, if you don't care about the extra paperwork should you sell the vehicle.

When you take your plastic cover off, maybe that will free the reset button.

Chip H.

 

I found a lack of appropriate part also. And I spoke on the phone with a parts tech at Longo Lexus. The choices are as you say, new or used cluster or attempt to restore normal operation with what's there. I guess sending out to a restoration service is another option; I've seen some on eBay that will go through and fix what's needed for a flat fee. Care to venture a guess whether or not the GX will run with the instrument cluster removed? I have GPS for speed, and the only indication that's ever gone off-scale in 17 years was charging when the alternator died. I figure if I drive it uninstrumented for a couple of weeks and oil pressure goes south or I have an undetected overheat, it was meant to be. The odds are probably equal to getting struck by lightning - as are the chances of the vehicle starting and driving without the cluster, but, who knows?


Today I summoned the courage to pry open the crack and return the stem of the odometer button back to its proper location, through the hole in the acrylic. It went close to straight without breaking thank goodness. But it's operation is impinged by the bending damage. I can forcefully push and pull it to the limits, switching between Trip A/B and full odometer. There's about 1/4 turn of rotational ability with a distinct click at each stop that I never noticed before. I was wondering if a turn might open undiscovered features, but none are evident. regardless of position, I still have the 16 mph speedo error verified by GPS. I need to check the odometer to see if its logging true mileage. For now the plan is $40 for a new lens and do my best to improve the odometer switch stem function.

I don't see much sense in spending many hundreds for a new cluster as long as drivers know how to adjust for the error. I'm still amazed that it's off 16 mph throughout the speed range. For every vehicle somebody has told "me the speedo is off 5 mph," reality shows it to be more like 6-7%, which can be around 5 mph on the freeway, much less in terms of actual mph difference in a school zone. This one is 16 mph, period. Zero = 16 and 130 = 146 (just kidding, but that's an educated guess).

 

I think I would try and buy a cluster for parts from a part out, and see if you can fix yours.

I BELIEVE the mileage of the vehicle is stored in the cluster, so it would be best if you could fix what you have vs. replace with another used one, for a re-sale situation.

The silver lining, there's very little market for used clusters, so hopefully you can find one for cheap with a good plastic lens.

 

We'd be happy to assist! If you could send us a picture of the damage to your odometer button, I can show my master tech and give you an estimate to see what it would cost to repair it while being as minimally invasive as possible.
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