Ok, so I know this topic is covered often, but I need some help. I am having issues with the factory tach and now odometer in an fd I have. I contact DNA speedometers and they no longer service Rx7 clusters. Most places I find on Google do not list Mazda as a brand they can service. I am looking for someone that can repair my cluster. I have verified voltage and a ground at the tachometer, which leads me to believe it is a problem with the gauge itself. Lmk if anyone can help out with this.

Thanks,
Austin

 

I also had multiple issues with the cluster. Once I repolaced the battery, I amazingly had a working odometer et all. Not sure why, but unhook your battery, give it a Serious charge and see if things change.


There's also a fairly New post that shows how to jump wire the positive/negatives on the cluster to make things work. worth a search.

 

I fixed mine, it was a hell of a process to do it. I replaced all the caps and re soldered all surface chips/drivers to no avail... After scratching my head and taking it in and out of the car testing it and re soldering I did some more research on this site and found a post talking about the screw terminals on the back of the tach not only secure it but transfers the tach signal, 12v and a ground path. I am not taking credit for this info just repeating it, I don't remember the original poster of that info. Anyway I checked the 12v screw and it had 12v on it so that was good so I put a jumper wire on the ground and then to the metal structure in the dash. The odometer started working immediately. I suspect it could be the grounding point for the entire cluster because some other lights came on that were not on previously. Hope this helps btw search "extremely simple tach repair" I think that is the title to the thread.

 

I think I would like to try and repair another one just to see if I could get another one working! I actually thought it was kinda fun......

 

I found that post, it is in the interior section. My tach has 12v power, a good ground, and a 5v signal(although it was closer to 8v). The speedometer works, but the odometer just started going out.

Im looking for someone that knows what they are doing that can repair my cluster. I don't know where to turn at this point.

Thanks,
Austin

 

If you were closer I would be glad to take a look at it. Once out of the car the cluster isn't that bad to deal with but then again I am an electrician by trade haha. If it is acting erratic it could just be the caps which isn't to bad to do if you can solder......

 

I cant solder to save my life lol.

 

Shipping a cluster is risky too..........

 

ah surprised dna wont fix them anymore. When they fixed my white 2002 cluster they had a few other rx7 ones they were working on too.

Another friend of mine used these guys back in the day too http://www.instrumentclusters.com/

 

^I spoke with this company this morning and they said they could fix my issues. Its a flat rate of $275 for the repairs. If i go with this option I will update with how it turns out.

-Austin

 

RX7.com offers this service, not sure who they outsource to but they do great work. Had mine done and they are like brand new, cost $300.00.

 

At USD 275 you can buy another one on the forum or ebay for 1/2 the price

 

I've used zepco in texas a few times with good results.

 

The problem is I would need the mileage to be 100% correct. After messing around with it for a few hours this morning, everything now appears to be working for the time being. Only problem is the buzzer for the key goes off at random.

Austin

 

I want to try and tackle this fix myself. My tach is completely inop and I found a tutorial on here once, but can't find it again. If anyone has the link could you please post it.

Thanks,

Alex

 

This didn't work for me https://www.rx7club.com/interior-ext...epair-1055763/, my problem might be deeper. I'll be taking my cluster to a local shop here that specializes in them. Hopefully they'll be able to figure it out.

 

Update: I took my cluster to Hamps Speedometer in Alpharetta, GA on Wednesday 11:30am and just got it back a few hours ago, Friday 11:30am. The tach wasn't working, the needle would just jump around. I paid $150 dollars and now it works great. The website is Hamp's Speedometer Repair - The Nation's Best Quality Instrument Cluster Repair Company. He accepts clusters shipped in too.

 

Thanks for the info... my mileage just went out last week...

 

I can finally post in the regular forums.

My cluster is currently down at Hamps. They got it last Thurs and it will probably be ready by tomorrow. I had 6-7 bad capacitors on the tach and odometer. It the OG cluster that has the correct mileage for my cars title.

 

Let us know how it works out with Hamps. We used to refer all cluster related issues to DNA but that appears to no longer be a viable option and I'll need a new shop to start referring business to. Thanks!

 

I have two clusters that don't work.

My original USDM one speedo/tach/odo don't work.

Bought a JDM one, speedo/odo work, tach doesn't.

Followed 2 guides to a T, and they still dont work.

 

My ODO was super difficult to fix. I had to desolder the display (very hard because there are so many pins) and fix the solder joints on the display driver which is directly underneath it. This is after replacing all the caps twice. It still doesn't like to turn on right away when it's cold! Most of the surface mount chips on it are NLA, but I even considered scavenging some from other junkyard mazdas.

If you are desperate (sounds like you are) I can take a whack at your original cluster using my technique.

 

I'm going to work on this issue this weekend. I'm going to borrow a "working" cluster in see if its actually my cluster or something wrong near the X-14 plug. If all else fails i'll PM you.

 

It took Hamps a few extra weeks to get mine completed. They ran out of capacitors.

It should be arriving today. I am in the middle of replacing all of my coolant lines so I won't know for sure if its working for a few weeks. It works on a test bench. They had to replace 12 capacitors.

The cluster in my car now has a tach that only works when its warm out. The OG cluster that I had fixed had no tach or odometer. The mileage is high but it matches the DMV title, I hope.

 

My rpm and speedo bounce somes. Not as much as it used to after I got it fixed long ago. But now it seems to do every blue moon. Or if it's super cold out my rpms may not even work sometimes rpm and speedo,till like 30 mins of driving and the car is 100% hot or sometimes not even then.. getting a little tired of it and want it fixxed...

also guage is like 6mph off. If I'm doing 70, on GPS or passing a cop speed display it would say 64-65. Not sure if it's always been like that since iv had the car or happened a couple years after