Can an instrument cluster be fixed?

Author: Jason

What is an instrument cluster or speedometer?

An instrument cluster otherwise known as a gauge cluster, speedometer, dials, or IP cluster is the TV or computer monitor for your car or truck. The cluster is an assembly of gauges, dials, displays, and needles that monitor and display the vital statistics and measurements of your engine and vehicle. This vital group of components can also fail tragically.

What does it mean when speedometers are analog or digital?

When cars and gauges were first created they used direct analog movement. This means the speed sensor from the transmission was connected to the instrument cluster by a long, spinning wire that directly corresponded with the mechanical movement of the transmission gears. This spinning ratio drove a gear behind the speedometer needle and that corresponded to a numeric marking on the gauge overlay that told you how fast you were driving. Think about this. Typically when we want to know how fast something is going we either use a radar, laser, or GPS satellite tracking to physically track and calculate the distance and speed it is traveling at. This also explains why speedometer vs. GPS readings can have a discrepancy. More on that in a later blog.

The invention of digital speedometers with VFD, LCD, and TFT

Eventually in the 1990’s and 2000’s companies decided to get rid of spinning cables in favor of electronic signals. They still used a spinning plastic gear inside the transmission or transfer case, but the rest of the signal was sent to the ECU or speedometer digitally. The signal was then electronically translated to the numbers you read on the digital screen or on the gauge overlay. Speaking of digital screens this was a fairly common trend in the 1980’s. Companies like Nissan, Toyota, GM, and Ford decided to go all digital and thus the digital dashboards were born. Gauge needles were gone in favor of heavy electronic components and green digital VFD (vacuum fluorescent display) screens similar to your VCR.

Do digital or electronic speedometers fail?

New technology such as digital gauges led to failures and failures lead to repairs. Gauge repair companies were common back in the 1980’s. The bottom line is If an instrument cluster fails it can be repaired. Our methods of repair vary from complete cluster replacements, new components, rebuilding existing components, or replacing components with used components. These options depend on the supply chain.

Can I fix my own speedometer?

The biggest issue with instrument repair is part or component availability. Typically manufacturers don’t sell individual components or parts to repair gauges. Toyota used to do it back in the 1990’s, but stopped that practice in the early 2000’s. After 5-10 years dealers no longer produce or sell new gauge clusters. This is where Tanin Electronix comes in to play. We have a vast network of parts and component vendors to obtain the parts needed to rebuild your instrument gauges.

The move back to analog speedometers when digital technology failed.

Car manufacturers quickly realized how expensive digital screens cost and reverted back to analog gauges by the early 1990’s again. Analog gauges with needles are still around today, but auto makers have once again moved back to digital screens, LCD’s, and TFT displays to monitor your car’s vital signs. VFD’s are rarely used, LCD screens are typically one or two color green screens, and TFT displays are small full color monitors. Tanin Auto Electronix stays ahead of the curve and we stock many of these electronic components so when your gauges fail we are able to fully repair and rebuild your speedometer.

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