Hello helping a friend with his new to him 4runner. It's assumed to be a 1993. It's a 4wd auto. Trans has a mechanical speedometer out put but I take the dash apart and it has an electronic speedometer in it. I would just get a cable for it but it won't hook up to the guage cluster. Also figured maybe the trans was changed it could have been electric with speed sensor but there is no loose pig tail for one and the wire harness doesn't look mangled like someone cut it off. I don't think the cluster was changed because the mileage seems consistent with the paperwork but I don't really know. Any advice on where to go that is the quickest easy fix. If it's any help it seems to shift ok when driving but throws the speedometer error code on the CEL. Thanks in advance.

 

It's pretty important to know what you've got, along with any known or suspected modifications.
The Vin label on the driver's door jam will have the vin, but also the production date. model number, axle and trans.
If all you have is the vin there are several internet sites that will give you info. Toyota.com has the best

 

If you have the electronic Combination Meter (Instrument Panel), you should have the wire down to the connector at the back end of the transfer case. You've already looked, but if the connector is still there it should look something like this:

Do you have (the non-functioning) speedometer cable visible either at the transfer case or the Combination Meter? Do you have the wire (colors given above) at the Combination Meter?

As you point out, it's possible the Combination Meter was replaced with the wrong one, or the transmission/transfer case was replaced with the non-electronic one. The presence/absence of a speedometer cable would at least be a clue.

What if you don't have either? SFAIK, the electronic sender just bolts up to the same hole in the transfer case where a speedo cable might connect. The sender is available from RockAuto (and the dealer). Unfortunately, you need to get the correct sender (that fits the diameter of the hole in the transfer case), and the senders usually don't come with the gear (the gear determines the calibration, so when a sender fails you just re-use the old gear.) I don't know how to figure out which sender is correct.

 

I appreciate the reply lots of help. I looked and there is no wire anywhere for a electronic system. The cable is also missing. We decided we would just get a new gauge cluster and add a cable. Will be the simplest fix I think. Thanks again.

 

You'll still need the correct gear at the transfer case end. Since you won't be buying a new Combination Meter, you might be able to get the cable with the drive gear still on it, and it might be the one you need.

You still have a bit of a mystery to solve, so we'd all appreciate hearing back from you (with photos) when you get it working.