Hello. I’m new to club lexus and I have a rather bothersome issue with my gauge cluster not working in hot temperatures for a few minutes, then turning on randomly and working till the car is turned off. I recently took it to a dealership, who essentially told me to kick rocks and slapped me with a 169 dollar inspection fee. The lights in the cluster work, but the needles both just stay at 0. If anyone has any tips on how to fix this please send them my way, as well as any shops that could possibly fix this in the central Ohio area.

 

This company can help you out
https://www.taninautoelectronix.com/...gnosis-repair/

Could be bad solder joints, failing components etc.

 

^^ Seconded. Tanin Auto Electronix has been a specialist in Lexus SC300/400 cluster and climate control repair for something like 20 years now. Most of us have sent our clusters in to them for repair work and even lighting upgrades with excellent results.

Just to note, whenever you remove the cluster from your SC, use the column tilt and telescope motors to make the steering wheel go as low as possible and out as much as possible. Then disconnect the battery first and wait about three minutes for the airbag system's capacitors to fully dissipate. Tanin Auto has a video posted on their youtube channel showing the cluster removal process step-by-step.

Also to note, it is advisable to have your car parked in a location where you can leave it stationary for the duration of the repair and return process. It's recommended that you do not put the key into your SC's ignition and turn to Accessory or Start until you have your repaired instrument cluster back in.

The reason for this is because, for whatever reason, Lexus set the car's airbag ECU up to throw and store an airbag warning light condition if the instrument cluster isn't connected when the vehicle's systems receive power. This airbag warning light can be turned off but it is a huge PITA requiring a special sequence of touching wires at the diagnostic port to do it (which is documented on these forums nonetheless). It is just easier to plan ahead with your cluster repair, park the vehicle somewhere safe that it can just sit with the battery disconnected with no need to start it up and move it, and wait until you get your repaired gauge cluster back from Tanin Auto and reinstalled before you reconnect battery power and start the car again.

Although if an emergency situation were to arise while your cluster is out for servicing and you absolutely had to start your SC up and move it with no cluster installed you certainly can do that. You'd just have to look up and perform the annoying airbag light reset procedure later once you have your cluster back.

Just mentioning all this to inform ahead of time. It's a very common thing to send an SC's original cluster in once for repair after the 20-30 years of service these cars have on them by now.

 

I sent mine in to Tanin when mine started doing that. I live in Florida and when it's super hot it did this. After a few years the fixed gauge cluster now does the same thing. It's out of warranty so I've just been dealing with it.

 

We would be happy to help!
We can't tell you exactly whats going on with your gauge cluster without looking at it first, so I'd recommend you send it in as a general diagnostic.
Once your part is fully inspected, we'll have a couple options for you. If its fixable, we'll provide you with the total cost to repair it.
If the cluster is not repairable, we usually have these clusters in stock to sell as a replacement - which includes mileage programming to match your vehicle.

If you decline the repair or replacement, the cost of the diagnostic is $104.99 plus shipping costs. But if you choose to do the repair or replacement, the diagnostic fee is waived.
We also offer a 5% discount for Club Lexus members
Please let me know if you have any other questions, or you can contact our customer service department to get the process started!
contact@taninauto.com

 

@TaninAuto do you guys buy clusters?I have a few parts I’m trying to sell to fund my build lol

 

We are always looking to buy clusters!
Please send us a message of what you have and any pictures you may be able to provide as well.
We will see if we can work out a deal!

Please let me know if you have any other questions, or you can contact our customer service department to get the process started!
contact@taninauto.com

 

since nobody actually answered your question…… the capacitors in your cluster are dried out. Replace them and your cluster will work again.

 

Thats what happens when 85 degree caps are used. Hence why they put 105 degree caps in there to begin with. cheap caps that claim 105 are usually 85 so nichicon are the factory caps because they are quality and can do what they are rated at. Rubicon are cheaper and what most use to replace the oem with. As you can see, they fail quickly.

the original nichicon cluster caps lasted 20 years.