MerryGoRound

Hi, I've usually been able to find what I need on this site or other 4runner sites.

However, I cannot find any information or others who had symptoms similar to what I am experiencing now.

In around december 2014, I was cruising down the highway (cc on) when the cruise cut off (cruise light stayed on). What's also weird is the fuel gauge went straight to empty and stayed there. When driving home the CEL threw a code that was for a Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS).

A couple days later the CEL went away, the fuel gauge returned to normal operation and cruise control worked again.

Fast forward to May 4, 2015. Driving home, cruise cuts out and fuel gauge goes straight to E.

I don't know why this is happening. How are these two instruments (and possibly the VSS) connected?

I've looked around and seen ideas such as brake pedal spring maybe not pulling up on the pedal and completing the circuit, but how would that explain what's happening with the fuel gauge? So basically I don't know where to start.

I'm going on a cross country trip in 4 weeks so I'd love to fix this before then.

MerryGoRound

Looking through my FSM for some answer. I'd also like to add the following information.

I happened to have the TORQUE App running to monitor Trans Temp since I installed a B&M cooler. When the incident happened, I noticed the TORQUE app was reading a Speed of 0 while the vehicle speedometer was reading correctly, so it MUST be a Vehicle Speed Sensor? But once again how is it connected to the Fuel Gauge?

maachine

i'd start with double checking ground wires that they are clean and tight.

are you sure your torque app wasnt reading the gps speed and not vehicle speed?

and i believe the vss can be cleaned. not sure where they are in tacomas.

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

Once it throws the speed sensor code the cruise control will drop out.

Both the fuel gauge and the cruise control light are powered by the 10 amp gauge fuse. On the 97 yours might be different.

If this is a physical damage to the wire harness the speed sensor and fuel gauge could be bundled together just a guess as I don`t have the 2000 4Runner EWD

MerryGoRound

I will try checking Ground wires. No idea where they are but I'll look and see what I can find.


I'm pretty sure the Torque App reads vehicle speed from the ECU. The VSS must have been malfunctioning thus cutting CC operation (read this in the FSM too). As the VSS malfunctioned, Torque APP speed went to 0 mph.


I did notice, looking at wiring diagrams, that the fuel gauge and VSS signals are sent to the 'E' Block of the wiring harness. Going to try to find this 'E' block tonight and see what I can find out.


Is there a simple test I can do with the VSS? Can I clean it? The FSM said to connect to a Toyota tester and spin the driveshaft. I saw somewhere that you can unplug the VSS try to drive it, if it stays in low gear, then vss is operating fine?

maachine

the torque app can read both GPS and the computer's speed. just depends on which one you put on the screen.

MerryGoRound

The code is officially a P0500.

Does anyone have any diagrams showing locations of ground wires related to the 'E' Block? Location of the 'E' Block as well?

I found the VSS #2 and just unplugged it and plugged it back in. Sometimes that works. That's all so far

maachine

trace the negative wire from the battery and see where it goes

MerryGoRound

I really have no experience with wiring, so I'm not sure 100% how it works in theory.

The 'E' block connector contains wires for these sensors.

1. Speed control unit
2. vss
3. ECM
4. Fuel sender gauge (FSG)
5. FSG
6. FSG
7. P/N position switch
9. Speed control unit
10. TAIL Fuse
11. Light Control Rheostat
12. DOME Fuse

Notice there is no # 8 in the list. Is there a ground wire in this slot? if yes, then this is most likely the one causing problems?

I followed the wiring loom from the vss, and the wires go between the engine block and intake manifold. Talk about inaccessibility! WTF?! advice?