Toyota - Scion :: 2005 - Speedometer / Gas Gauge Failing Intermittently
Apr 3, 2016
2005 Scion xA 127,000 miles
Problem started with speedometer not working occasionally. Now it works about 75% of the time. Often if I park for several minutes and restart the car the speedometer will work again. Sometimes after I start the car at first it won't work. Then I hear a click and a whir and it works.
Recently the gas gauge has been failing occasionally. I start the car and the needle doesn't move. I restart the car immediately and it works.
Only once the tachometer didn't work at first. Then the needle jumped up suddenly. I found at least 14 possible causes online:
1. Relay
2. ECU
3. Loose wire or connector in cluster
4. Speed sensor
5. Fuse
6. Gauge
7. Electrical short––recalibrate speedometer
8. Faulty speedometer head
9. Bad transducer
10. Dirty connection
11. Body control module (BCM) hung up
12. Bad ground
13. Bad stepper motor
14. Bad alternator diodes
QUESTION 1: Given that the problem has gotten worse over time, it's intermittent, and now two gauges are involved, what's the most likely cause?
QUESTION 2: A garage told me it's illegal to buy a used instrument panel and have the odometer reset. Is that true?
QUESTION 3: If not illegal, what's the cheapest way to get a reliable IP and get it reset? I can't afford a new cluster at a dealer.
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