Speedometer Trouble

[jonathancash]

Hey Guys,

New to the forum - First post actually - Having some speedometer trouble with my yaris. I took apart the instrument panel to clean it out and just happened to move the needles about gently and barely even so.

Now whenever I start the car the needle drops to below 0 almost as if its -5 or -7 kmph. I've reset the needle while the car's been both on and off. Eventually the needle always sticks back down to its sub-zero position. Almost as if though it resets after every 30 seconds or so once the car's been shut off.

I've been searching the forums for DIY posts etc. and one mentioned that the needles recalibrate automatically but mine hasn't yet. How do I fix this? Would I need to remove my needle and reposition it? That's the only thing I haven't tried. Or is there another way.

Any help would be appreciated.

[PHXDEMON]

Possibly the needle is a little loose on the actual motor what did you use to clean it? If the adhesive holding the needle was weak it may have ate it so the motor is turning but the needle isnt going with it.

[PHXDEMON]

Also just to clarify does it reset to its original postion once the car is turned off or does it stay at the bottom below zero?

[jonathancash]

Oh it's just fine whilst driving. If say I reset the position of the needle to point at 0 - it stays there, I'll drive around fine and it'll move all the way up to 120 if it has to. It'll fall down to 0 and stay right where its supposed to stay as well when the car's in parking.

Now when I switch off the engine and leave the car off for about a minute - then put the key into the ignition and switch it on - the needle's back down at sub zero. So it doesn't retain the adjusted position, just goes all the way down. Which means I have to then pry open everything and readjust all over again.

When I opened up the HUD for cleaning I didn't use any solvent etc. just a plain dry cloth - gently went over the dial and the surface.

[jonathancash]

Also I haven't tried removing the needle or anything yet. I was thinking that maybe if I set the needle to say 20 kmph - above the zero mark - switch off the engine and then leave it for about a minute it could drop to 0 instead of sub zero.

I don't know really, I'm just thinking off the top of my head here. I don't want to fiddle with it too much just incase the needle stops moving altogther.

[Tamago]

it's a stepper motor that drives the needle, it just needs to be reset. try removing the needle, go for a drive, shut off the car, turn the ignition back on and put the needle back on at "0"

[jonathancash]

I think I'll try that first thing tomorrow morning and see if it works! Thanks

[jonathancash]

That worked perfectly, thanks Guys!