Wierd problem

[Paul H.]

Today while driving my check engine light came on and at the same time the speedometer quit working. Any clues? Thanks.

 

[mikes4runner]

Check your speedometer cable, sounds like it broke.

Not sure if that would throw a check engine light.

 

[TSP-MIKE]

There could only be 2 problems. It's either a broken cable or stripped gears. Where the cable goes into the transmission, there is a gear that spins the speedometer cable. It is made of plastic so it will wear down and eventually stop spinning. That's about all it can be.

FYI It can't be the wires because the cable spins the speedometer first, then that also spins the odometer. The computer picks up a signal from the speedometer, there is another sensor in the speedometer that picks up the signal and tells the computer when to shift.

Mike

 

[86runner-sas]

could he maybe just re lube the ends of the cable and have it work again?

 

[Paul H.]

Update: took it to a local mech. after some test he determined that the speed sensor on the transmission was bad. Ordered one, installed, did not fix. After scratching their heads a bit, they told me to take it to toyota. That is where it is at now. Hopefully they will find the problem.

 

[mikes4runner]

If it threw the check engine light what code was given?.

Keep us updated.

 

[Paul H.]

It was a code 42.

 

[TSP-MIKE]

Code 42 is the Vehicle speed sensor.

When you brought it to the shop which speed sensor did they replace? Was it the one on the transmission, or the transfercase?

Mike

 

[Paul H.]

The one on the transmission.

 

[TSP-MIKE]

I don't know if you have a cable or a sensor, but if you have a cable you will need to replace the cable or the gear in the transmission. If there is a sensor then you will need to replace that. That's all that there can be.

Mike

 

[Paul H.]

The dealership call me late yesterday and told me that the sensor was good and that the speedometer was the actual culprit. He said that this was the first time he had ever heard of one going bad. They ordered one and hopefully this will fix it.

 

[Paul H.]

Update: the new speedo fixed the problem. Good news, I only have 14 miles on my truck. The bad news, it cost me $390.

 

[SUBTEGRAL]

$390 for a speedometer ... damn.

 

[T?@\7]

omg.