Instrument Cluster Circuit Board is Bad! $1000 bucks!!!
03-27-11, 06:51 AM
#301
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Hey Guys, I've been reading through this thread for a while now and have tried various things to fix my gauge cluster. still no luck. Here's the skinny. I have a '93 LS400. I had the blinking needles and no back lighting about 2 years ago and replaced the 3 capacitors that listed (c212, c147, c142) and that fixed my problem for a while. Recently they went out again, and tried the same fix and had no luck. I decided to bite the bullet and pay to get them fixed. I sent them to Jim Walker to get fixed. I had him recondition the needles and repair the problem. When I got them back and installed them in the dash it still didn't work. I sent them back to Jim and he tested them out and said they were fine. So the problem has to be in the car electrical. Can anybody tell me which pins on the connectors supply the voltage to the gauge cluster, so I can start trouble shooting the problem with the car.
04-07-11, 02:01 AM
#303
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The Speedometer, tach and temp gauge all move, but have no lights. The fuel gauge doesn't work at all the P,N, and R indicators work, but not the rest of the AT indicators. I've done some more testing and found that if I plug in the white connector and then start the car, the needles and back lighting come up. If I then plug the rest of the connectors to the back of the cluster, all my gauges and indicators light up and work. Of course when I turn off the car and try to start it again I'm back to No backlights, fuel gauge, etc....
04-07-11, 06:37 PM
#304
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I just bought a 93 LS with 125k miles with this problem and it flickers. Glad I just registered to the site to find out everyone is having the problem. Anyone in the bayarea or sacramento area know how to fix it? I can pay you as I am not savy with electronics on a car.
04-09-11, 04:32 AM
#305
Intermediate
The Speedometer, tach and temp gauge all move, but have no lights. The fuel gauge doesn't work at all the P,N, and R indicators work, but not the rest of the AT indicators. I've done some more testing and found that if I plug in the white connector and then start the car, the needles and back lighting come up. If I then plug the rest of the connectors to the back of the cluster, all my gauges and indicators light up and work. Of course when I turn off the car and try to start it again I'm back to No backlights, fuel gauge, etc....
It was working before I had it shipped here from 350 miles away.
EDIT: Just took our first long drive and the temp climbed into the low 50's. After 15 minutes or so of driving at highway speeds 'pop!' it came on.
Last edited by wnyjazz; 04-09-11 at 09:56 AM.
04-19-11, 11:27 AM
#306
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If any of you are from the westcoast region, there is a company called bba on ebay that does this repair for $80. They have a special going on for upgraded 2 day air shipping for free so you don't have to wait long. Repair is estimated to take 3 business days.
04-27-11, 07:49 AM
#308
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05-03-11, 12:32 PM
#310
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Just wanted to update you guys on this company on ebay. There name is bba-remaninc and they do excellent work. They repaired my needles, sluggish fuel gauge and the flickering light problem. I just received my cluster back and everything works great. Total time for service and shipping was only 5 business days!
05-09-11, 03:43 PM
#311
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I think we should all find one lawyer and file a class action. A $50,000 car should not have a problem like this. It was hot today and my 1994 LS400 which I just bought with 80K, the panel went dark every gauge but the gas gauge is working but are not lit. It is almost 80 degrees out side so it ain't the cold. It is **** poor over top unnecessry bells and wistels that I was afraid of went I bought it. How can they not take responsibilty for an obvious defect?
05-09-11, 05:25 PM
#312
I think we should all find one lawyer and file a class action. A $50,000 car should not have a problem like this. It was hot today and my 1994 LS400 which I just bought with 80K, the panel went dark every gauge but the gas gauge is working but are not lit. It is almost 80 degrees out side so it ain't the cold. It is **** poor over top unnecessry bells and wistels that I was afraid of went I bought it. How can they not take responsibilty for an obvious defect?
05-09-11, 08:16 PM
#313
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Uh so you saying Lexus did it on purpose so we would all pay $50,000 for new cars over a $1000.00 gauge panel. What brilliant marketing! Maybe next time they'll have the steering wheel come off in your hands. Oh that won't work that will only cost you your life, then you won't be able to buy another one.
05-10-11, 05:35 AM
#314
Pole Position
He's not saying they did it on purpose, he's saying your car is 17 years old and parts break. NOTHING is made to last forever, especially electronic capacitors that go through all the heat and cold cycles every year for 17 years. Every vehicle made has at least a few common problems. You talk about getting a lawyer, is the circuit board a life threatening issue? NO. This is just like any other car, things break. It's just you bought a Lexus not a Geo Prizm, parts are more expensive. That's the price of luxury. If you read this thread, and many others, you can find dirrections for a DIY fix which will cost less then $10. (alot better then $1000) That's why these threads are made, to give people info on how to fix their own car and save money. Anyway, there are links that's already posted in this thread on how to fix it, give it a shot.
