Combination meter failure - is the dealership trying to scam me?

No, the dealer solution involves removing the failed printed circuit board (PCB) which is called the Combination Meter (CM), programming the new CM with your odometer reading, and installing the new CM into the car. This is the only official repair a dealer can do and costs because they install a new part.

What your friend did is quite common and it is what we recommend people do to fix this problem because the cost is significantly lower. There is a place in Texas that will either repair your CM or swap your old CM with one they have repaired. With this option, they also program the CM they supply with your odometer reading.

I would ask your friend if she could help you do the repair yourself, being that it is the most economical option.

 

Ripping off the dash top is a 40-minute job on a bad day here most people will break the air vents which are now available for $69 on Amazon and they fit so be prepared for that or you'll be driving around with just the black vent stuck in the ductwork and the gray silver trim piece in the trash which can work too but it's kind of a pain that's about it there's nothing to getting the dash top off at all other than the trim you have to remove around the small windows and that sort of thing now that your friends done it once it'll take her about 44 minutes to rip it off of your car and once you see it done what you'll never need to do it again probably you'll be able to do it too And yes the dealer is correct who messes with the dealer nobody in their right mind like been mentioned above I got the Texas hybrids unit in a car here never looked back I removed the little speaker off the back of the board before I install it now I have no warning buzzers bells whistles nothing it's a quiet car all the lights work but my seat belt doesn't beep at me the whole time I'm getting in the car and getting out the driveway etc etc It's dead silent inside I like it very much

 

the stealership is always your last option, not the first.. I still have lots of capacitors in my desk because you buy these in bulk in Amazon for $10. If you know how to solder then it will be a very cheap fix..

 

If Toyota stealerships were in charge of home repair they'd tell you that leaky faucet in your bathroom needs to be fixed and the only way to to do that is to charge you $50K to remodel the entire bathroom, but since that's so expensive you'd be better off accepting a financing plan to tear down the whole house and replace it with a new one.

 

someone has to pay to keep the lights on...


you can get a replacement meter from texas hybrid batteries for $200., and take a whack at it yourself.
there are youtubes

 

As long as Toyota Stealerships can keep the lights out in people's heads when it comes to them wondering if they're being scammed the lights will always be shining the brightest on the stealership's outrageous prices.

 

so far, sp good, and unlikely to change