Is the Gauge Cluster Required?

[skylinedrifter]

I want to send my gauge cluster out to have blue LEDs added, but I don't want to pay extra $$$ to have an extra while the unit is being repaired. I do ride a motorcycle, also, so I think I could go the 3-4 days without a car, but just in case I need it, can the car be driven without the gauge cluster? I imagine I could well gauge my speed to within 5mph and I certainly know how to shift without looking at the tach...Is it possible to drive the car without the gauge cluster?

[northvibe]

That im not sure of...i think not, i bet they have a computer system that checks for feed back...be interesting to see though. if your sending it to that guy to do the mod i thought he sent out loaners for the time yours is out, unless that costs more.

[ColonelPanic]

You can, but you won't be able to use cruise, AFAIK that's the only negative. Aside from losing oil pressure, overheating, or running out of fuel and not knowing about it.Legally, more than likely you can't drive one without the cluster in place. If you put miles on the car without the cluster recording the mileage, your odometer reading won't be correct and most states usually frown upon that sort of thing. It becomes fraud or something like that. I don't know if you have anything to worry about if it's just a few miles. Too bad these clusters aren't GM where the mileage is stored in the BCM and the cluster's job is only to display the number it gets from the BCM, not keep track of the mileage.

[skylinedrifter]

Yeah. It costs $30 plus shipping. I'd rather (removed) myself out to my parents doing yardwork for the weekend and snag their Mini Cooper S in exchange than pay that extra $$$.

[ColonelPanic]

Oh heck yeah, a loaner Cooper is far better than a loaner cluster! Go drive the go-kart!

[KaosStarr]

Ok, ColonelPanic, you were saying about the gauge cluster and how you wouldn't be able to keep track of the oil, gas, heat, and miles. Now with the miles, in theory. Wouldn't it still have to save in the BCM or some other sort of place, because if he sends a loner out, then its not going to get the correct reading on the cluster when it returns because it wasn't in the car as you added more miles. Or.. How would you go about reprogramming the cluster to add those miles?

[ColonelPanic]

I don't think the Toyota system saves mileage anywhere but in the cluster. The loaner cluster's mileage is probably whatever it was when the person bought the cluster, plus all of the mileage any subsequent borrowers have put on their cars. To get the cluster reprogrammed, one would probably need to take it to one of the few companies who are certified to change mileage, dealers aren't even allowed to mess with this stuff... I'd say people like Specmo could do this though. Not sure what sort of red tape you'd have to go through to get the miles added on though.

[Jahntassa]

I don't think 5-10 miles out of a cluster is going to be anything to really worry about. Now if you take a cross-country drive without it, that'd be more concerning.