85 4runner: My oil pressure gauge gave out (oil sending unit was checked-good, and pressure is fine) so went to junkyard and took apart gauge cluster from later yr model. I wanted to maintain original odometer reading (190+k) so I took it apart and surgically removed the oil pressure gage and water temp gauge (they're inseperable).

Got it swapped and oil pressure gage works now (Yay!) but damn water temp gauge started acting up. I had to tap the heck out of it when it would get stuck, then it would come to life, then go out again. Now it's completely out. The damn neadles are fragile as heck. Anyone had similar experience? If so, is the water temp gauge shot or do I need to go shopping at the yard for another oil/water gauge pair again? Maybe I'll just swap in the whole gauge cluster and forget about the odometer. I'll try one last time to re-insert the neadle to see if that is the cause, but I must have taken it apart and put it back together about 20 times already. Thank god I have small hands like the Japanese <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Oh yes! I can certainly relate. In my experience, almost every time I worked on or removed the SR5 cluster, something would break in it.

Mine was doing that too when I swapped clusters. Check the ground for the temp gauge on the back of the panel. Mine were loose and when I tightened them up, it worked.

you can set the odometer to read whatever you want, i did when i put in my sr5 cluster. stock87's writeup tells how. ill try and find a link for you.

but why did you take the needle off in the first place? you shouldn't have too if you were just swapping the oil/water gauges.

I've swapped several gauge clusters, I did not find that you could disassemble the odometer and simply adjust it to whatever mileage you wanted. I did find that I could spin it with compressed air, but don't spin it too fast or things get destroyed.

My advice is to get the gauge you want and then swap the odometer in.. That's the easiest way to do it.
Gauges can be replaced as "components" in most clusters.. Simply unscrew.

Just be careful you don't break any of the plastic clips that hold your odometer (like I did in my 82) or it will never sit in there right and your mileage will be off.

man that write up was harder to find than i thought. you should put this back in your sig stock87 lol. but you can adjust the odo, pretty simple.

Stock87's SR5 Cluster Writeup

Come to think of it, you're right - I didn't have to remove the needles. I could have just used the face plate that came with it. Duh!

I didn't know about the ground wire in the back of the panel. I don't remember seeing that but that's what it probably is. Not sure what it looks like, but I will check it out. Thanks.

Thanks for the write-up on readjusting the odometer too.

After this, on to the next electrical problem...

The ground wire isn't a wire per se. It is part of that blue plastic circuit board thing on the back of the cluster with a maze of copper looking contacts. Make sure the nuts are tight on all of your contacts.