Hello All,

This is my very first posting. I just purchased a used Scion 2005 with low mileage but I did notice the tachnometer is faulty. At idle, it reads below or close to zero and when I'm driving I'm sure its off by 1,000 rpm (too low). Anyone have any suggestion??

Timothy

 

most likely, someone had installed a guage face and then removed it before they sold you the vehicle. all you have to do is open the guage cluster, and re-position the needle to read "0" when the engine is off.. very easy to do.. grab the guage cluster black plastic surround - grab it in front of the clock area. press it down in the back with your finger tips, and pull it twords you - out away from the clock and spedo. it will pop off easily with a little pressure. once that is off, you will see 3 phillips screws holding the cluster in. remove these and don't drop them into the dash. use a magnetic screwdriver if you have one. once the 3 screws are out, wiggle the cluster out, and remove the plug connection from the back. take the cluster out, and look at the clear "cover" that surrounds the spedo / tach. see it has little tabs that hold it onto the cluster? press in the tabs and remove the clear face to gain access to the needles. all the needles have "stops" but not the fuel guage if i remember correctly. the tach needle should be resting on it's stop already, test it by moving it up to 3k rpm, and then back down to "zero" if it stops before "0" gently tap it down to "0". if it stops below "0", rotate the needle untill it hits the stop, then gently pull it straight "up" and off the cluster. reposition the needle at "0" and press it in. I personally would position it a little highter then the stated "0" mark and press the needle back in, then gently tap it against the "stop" untill it reaches zero, that way you know it is resting at zero agasint the stop. re-install the clear face cover, and re-install the plug in the back. screw that puppy back in to the dash, and press the black surround back on untill all the tabs on the back pop into place. this should take you about 10 minutes to do if you do it slowly. i can do mine in a minute or less..
it's very easy. remember though, the tach will not be 100% accurate, it's not digital. expect a little margin of error.

 

Thanks for the very detailed and informative repair. I will do this. The tach face is stock but I am thinking maybe it was faulty from the factory from the very beginning. I guess I shouldn't suspect that the speedo was altered to demo lower mileage or?? You will be seeing me here ofter. BTW I love that way this thing drives. I feel like buying a janitor's shirt of UPS brown short sleeve shirt and drive around like a delivery guy. Timothy

 

I was just wondering what other Scions XB'x are reving at 60 mph? Since my tachometer is reading low I would to get some idea what this value should be. Timothy

 

to the best of my knowlage, there is no way to change the odo reading, but lots of people do change out the guage face, as seen here - with a walkthough and pics below..
it could be that it was changed back to stock before the car was re-sold..

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...age+guage+face

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20758

when i am about 65mph in 5th gear my rpms are pretty close to 4k - that is off the top of my head.. we do rev high at freeway speeds, almost wish we had a 6th gear..

 

Tachometer is now reading correctly. Thanks for all your instructions. It was simple to do but I think the 2005 model is slightly different from your year. There is a plastic panel and not just the face panel that needs to be removed. There is also a screw tab that has to be removed before this panel can be removed. Then it was easy to remove the needle. However the needle does not have a stop. I did place the needle slightly above zero. All is OK. Thanks again. Timothy

 

glad it worked out well for you!
the first time i took mine apart, the first screw that holds the black surround onto the "dash" and guage cluster went shooting out somewhere. i just left it off as it's not nessecary as the push clips on the back of the souround hold the surround onto the dash and guage cluster assembly. it's not even really a screw, but more of a push fastner with a philips head. a quarter turn will loosen it enough to allow it to be popped out.

now that you are an expert on taking the guage apart, you can make new guage faces and change the color of guage illumination. I used film lighting "gels" to color mine. some people get colored Led's and swap them, but i found it much easier to cut a gel to fit over the clear light diffuser under the guage face.. during the day the guage face looks stock, but when i turn the lights on, it lights up amber to match my clock / stereo / etc...

happy motoring!

 

I have seen your speedo face (followed up on your threads). I think I'll leave mine stock. I actually like the business like appearance of it. Just did an oil change which is dead simple and was surprised how inexpensive the oil filter was. Falling in love with this vehicle...nice ride, lots of room, smooth quiet engine and good fuel economy. Thanks for all your help. Timothy