I had a great day driving in the snow today. We probably have 4-6 inches on the ground now with another 6-12 coming overnight. Wahoo!!!!

It was the Mrs.'s birthday today, so we were heading to my folks house for a brunch. Anyway, on the way there after a quick stop at Starbucks, I didn't see any movement out of my speedo - and I was probably going 35 mph (in 4Hi). As I drove for a while, it started working again. When we left - no speedo again. It didn't work the whole way home. I was in 4Hi the whole time if that makes a difference.

This is actually the second speedo head in this 4Runner. The first one quit at about 42K miles. It had the needle bouncing up and down like it was a paddle on a pinball machine. It was also affecting the transmission shifting - it was hanging in 2nd and sounded like it was slipping. The switch of the speedo head cured it completely.

This time, there has been no ill effects on the tranny shifting. I just don't know how fast I'm going. It would be OK if it was me driving all the time, but this is my wife's daily driver.

Does this sound like a cable lubing issue? I've never lubed it. Or do I need another speedo head to swap it out? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

if it doent move at all your cable mite have broke or the gear behind where the cable hooks to transfer case mite be stripped

 

happened to me in my '93, it was some sort of sensor, i forget the name.

 

I had the exact problem. A new speed sensor cured it.

Hey Ryan: Go Jackets!

 

My wife just called and said the "check engine" light just came on. The speedo has not worked for a couple of days - Are the two related?

Anyone replaced the speed sensor themselves? How difficult is this?

 

I just got off the phone with the Toyota dealer. It appears that the speed sensor is under the vehicle, attached to the tranny. The part alone is about $200. Does this seem right? Anyone replaced one of these? Think I can get one at a junkyard? This unit failing would cause the check engine light he said. So if I replace this myself, does the check engine light go away? Is there another way to clear it?

 

Cebby, I'm not 100% on this, but I believe disconnecting the batt. cable for approx. 5 min. will clear the engine codes.
With all the wet snow you folks have been getting (and all the consequent PLAYING I know youve been doing) is it possible the connection is wet/coroded? Before you plunk-down 200 dead presidents, try removing the sensor. Clean it/dry it w/ some elec. parts cleaner... maybe a little elect. conn. grease, and try it again.
Just a thought........

 

Good idea - I will do just about anything not to buy a "new" one. That would cut into my mod money!!

 

How much was the sensor? I am having the same issue.

 

someone said around 200 clams... OUCH!!

 

Ouch!

 

Well, the Runner cured itself with absolutely no intervention from me. I must have had too much snow packed up under the tranny, etc. and made it act screwy:confused: .

If it ever stops snowing (I give up!! UNCLE!!), I'll get under there and check things out. I guess I'll let sleeping dogs lie or if ain't broke don't fix it or (insert saying here).

 

Cebby, I think Christine just healed herself............... You sure your power "just went out."

 

Well I had an issue with my spedometer also, except this is a good issue. About 4 months before I got my truck lifted the spedometer wasn't reading right. It was reading FASTER than what I was going. For example it would say 30 but I was going about 27-28 mph. I tested it plenty of times to make sure. well I got my lift and along with that 33" tires. I had 31's before. And guess what? the spedometer is dead on now. No gear change or anything like that. I don't understand that nor does anyone else. It's nice though, everyone else that I know has had problems with their spedometer reading too slow after they put on bigger tires. One thing though, don't think about it for to long or else you'll get really confused.

 

Wait a minute...she started up and went four wheelin' without me....that b***h. Just like a woman.

I got a scare today - the back window wouldn't go down, but then I drew from the zen-like wisdom of the Yotatech masters and checked the rear wiper to be sure it was up. Sure enough, it was caught on some snow (imagine that, snow - here of all places). Window still works like a charm.

I wonder what Christine has in store for me next...

 

Well, the problem has returned. Good wet weather the last couple of days. No speedo and got the check engine. If I sit in traffice for a long time, check engine light goes off. Vehicle must know it's going "0".

And I was hoping for some warm weather to check under there...

 

I have absolutely no idea how people lived before Al Gore invented the internet. I got a call from the wife today as she was driving to school. She said the speedo went out and the check engine light came on. So what do I do? I search YT and I find Cebby has the same exact problem, I know where to look and how much it costs. I love the internet.

Mike, did you ever fix this problem? How did it turn out?

 

Mine managed to cure itself, surprisingly. It happened after I was playing in rocker panel deep snow for a few days. I think I must have soaked/froze the sensor somehow. The snow metled away and so did my problem.

I got a quote from a dealer online, but it's on my home machine. I'll post it tonight.

 

Mine's in the process of healing itself too, but I have a feeling the problem is going to come back. Did you look into how hard it would be to fix it yourself? I'll look in the chiltons when I get home.

 

I didn't want to be crawling around in slush over the winter, so I never looked into it. I have the Toyota shop manual coming in a few days...