Twitching Speedo Needle

I’ve noticed my speedo needle twitching, mostly during cruise control. Most of the threads on this forum related to this issue are from 5 or so years ago.

Has anyone had any recent experience with this? I have video evidence and am thinking about taking the truck to a dealer, but I despise the dealership so much. I am terrified of them screwing something else up on my brand new Tacoma.

https://youtube.com/shorts/6jqup-ucxiU?si=DpW9VWagkfgvznFy

 

Mines older, 2017, Its been twitching along for 5 years usually around 55 to 65 MPH. I pretend I don't see it and it hasn't gotten any worse.

 

I’m leaning more towards this route. The thought of some 20-something tech ripping my dash apart just gives me the willies. I wish you could get warranty parts for free and do the repairs yourself, but I understand how that goes against the entire idea of a warranty.

 

I did/do. My speedo and tach would twitch and a couple times it just went mia while driving. Long story short a dealer 7 hours away from me replaced my cluster under warranty. Now it only occasionally has a twitch. I'm out of warranty now so in the summer i'll take it out and see what I can do about it.

Also it's scary for sure that a 20 year old could be working on your truck but they gotta get experience somehow.

P.s. I used to be that 20 year old.. now i'm a red seal auto mechanic

 

I just hit 44k with my 20’ Taco and it just started doing this. I too pretend not to see it.

 

A dealer should be able to fix this with a new cluster. Or it may be a computer thing. May be the tip of an iceberg. You paid a lot of money for your truck.

 

There are Youtube videos showing gauge cluster removal for the purpose of replacing the easy-scratched plexiglas and installing speedometer correction modules for larger tires. It's a quick and non-invasive process. When replacing the gauge cluster with a different unit, there may be registration required with a scan tool, so it's best suited for the dealer.

Besides, the 20-something tech is probably very experienced with interior work doing airbag-system recalls, replacing seat heater modules, dropping the headliner for the 3rd brake light recall... Don't worry about the technician. Worry about what else may be wrong in your truck just waiting to surface.

 

I’ve heard more often than not that a new cluster doesn’t fix the problem. Which is steering me away from taking it in. I’m on the fence about it. If the dealer can provide me with a rental free of charge, I might go through with it. Just have to flash my tune off my truck before I take it in.

 

Haha thanks for the vote of confidence. I appreciate it.

 

Mine's done the same thing since new, only occasionally and only during highway driving, now nearing 40k miles. Hasn't gotten any worse, so I've also chosen to ignore it. I wonder if it has anything to do with the MT? Just noticed a few of us in this thread have MT trucks.

 

I thought the same. I’ve also only noticed it during cruise control. I’m wondering if the speed sensor combined with cruise control with the MT confuses the computer.

 

My 2020 mt just hit 123k I've noticed it between 65 and 70 mph a couple times so far, I did have an issue on vacation a couple years ago where it kicked me out of cruise control and put it into limp mode. Took it to a dealer near by but they couldn't find anything and the cel went away.

 

I’d have to look at the diagram. But the previous Gens sent the wheel speed signal to the Skid control ECU.
Then the skid control ECU sent the signal to the combination meter (gauge cluster) and then to the ECU.

In short, I’d want to scope the circuit to see where the signal is “bad”.
The signal will look similar to this

 

Ah yes i know some of these words, lol a bit much more than i have ability to do.

 

Yeah. To diagnose it correctly you need to see where in the line the signal is bad.
The important part is knowing if the signal is bad before the cluster…….

 

Took it to a dealer over a year ago for this issue. Even showed them not one, but TWO separate timestamped videos of it happening. But since they couldn’t reproduce it themselves, I was sent on my way. I just live with it knowing I’ll never get it fixed. Unless Toyota issues a service bulletin.

I hate dealerships so much.

 

Well, the thing is about that.
If they can’t reproduce it, they can’t definitively diagnose the issue.
The dealership and the tech are on the hook if they throw parts at it and it doesn’t fix it.
The dealership is out parts cost, and the tech doesn’t get paid his hours.

The only other option is charge the customer (you) diagnostic hours “trying” to reproduce the issue.
And that can get expensive fast. Most of the time, in those cases, they will ask you for a set number of diagnostic hours.
Say 2 hours customer pay, if they can’t find the issue, you either have to pay for more diagnostic time, or come get your truck still “broke”. (And pay your 2 hours diagnostic time)

That usually never goes well, and the customer (you) gets mad.
Therefore, most dealerships, and even independent shops, just send you home in the first place.

I feel you man. Sometimes, life sucks.
This is one of those times.

You’d be better off with broken “all the time” in your case.

 

3rd gen is the same setup. Wheel speed sensors report to ABS, ABS sends a calculated average speed to the combo meter as vehicle speed.

No clue what causes the twitching needles. I haven’t experienced them.

 

Do you have a speedometer corrector installed; such as Hyperlink or Rough Country? I ask because there is a “rounding” error each produce in the possible speed setting in cruise control. Might be something similar.

 

Everyone understands this, but it’s not like I drove in and simply gave them word of mouth. I showed them multiple pieces of video evidence. It should have been taken more seriously than them just waving me out the door after their techs probably drove it around the parking lot.

How are dealers supposed to address issues that happen so infrequently? Am I the owner supposed to leave my vehicle, on my own dime, with them for weeks until they can reproduce the fault? Even after showing them evidence that it’s happening? I’m sorry, but that’s bull crap. Outside of selling vehicles for manufacturers, dealerships exist only to nickel and dime you.