1994 4runner, v6 auto 4x4, speedometer and odometer are erratic. They either work together accurately, or both stop altogether. This has been going on for over a year (I only drive it about 1,000 miles a year), and they are working less and less frequently (maybe 10% of the time). They seem to work less when it is humid/rainy.

Unlike many of the speedometer posts I've noticed NO problems with the transmission/auto shifting (so VSS is ok???), although I only use it for in-town driving and never above 55 mph. I don't know if it has a mechanical or electrical speedometer cable. I need a cheap and easy fix, or no fix (if it isn't going to destroy the vehicle by ignoring the problem). Any ideas?

Also, on rare occasions, there is a loud, high-pitched squeal from the engine that lasts for several seconds and then goes away, without causing any performance issues. This may be totally unrelated, just thought I'd mention it......

Thanks!

 

if yours is like mine i have a 95 its electric with wires going into the cab then to a small motor that spins the cable to the gauge, the cable could be stuck and binding causing it to not work or the motor may be going bad. mine squealed intermientlay until i lubed it and its quiet and doesnt waver anymore, as far as the tach check the plugs on the coil for corrosion or maybe its a bad ground, ive never dealt with a bad tach before. good luck let us know what you find.

 

Well, you could get a GPS.

You almost certainly have the electronic VSS1 (the transmission is controlled by VSS2). For me (and others on this forum) it failed in just the way you are describing. It is easy to replace, except for the cost. RockAuto has it for about
$270.

I'm glad I fixed mine (it also took out the cruise control along with the speedo). But I don't think it did anything that would "destroy" the vehicle.

 

Blake - thanks, I hope a little oil will do it! But were do I apply the lube? Do I look under the hood where wires are entering the cab? Take off the dash?? And the tachometer works fine it is the odometer that stops with the speedometer.

Scope - I read some posts about the transmission eventually blowing when the speedometer stopped working due to the VSS. Didn't know there were 2 of them.

 

I see that yours is an auto. I was having this same issue, but I noticed it was consistent with the tranny oil temp. After the tranny warmed up, speedo worked fine.

I hadn't changed the fluid in a while, so I took it in to a shop and had them flush and fill the system, problem solved!

I guess there's a certain fluid level in the system that doesn't produce bad shifts, but messes with the electronic speed sender.

Good luck!