1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Speedometer Issues

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by Jessofthesun, Nov 3, 2024.

  1. Nov 3, 2024 at 11:10 AM
    #1
    Jessofthesun

    Jessofthesun [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2024
    Member:
    #459975
    Messages:
    1
    Gender:
    Female
    First Name:
    Jesse
    Vehicle:
    1997 3.4l V6 Tacoma 4x4 Automatic
    Hey team! I’ve been following this forum for a while and have been grateful many a times for the shared knowledge. it’s my first time posting, as I’m having trouble figuring this problem out on my own:
    Last winter, on a freezing morning I started up the truck and heard a flapping noise behind the instrument cluster and the speedometer no longer worked, along with the odometer, and cruise control. Around this moment I got a code P0500 VSS as well. I replaced the VSS that plugs into the transmission, cleared the code, but it immediately came back. I used an app on my phone as a speedometer and a couple mechanics told me it wouldn’t cause any other issues and not to worry about doing it in a rush. I put it off till now! Until I started to get some transmission slippage on my rebuilt transmission I had put in 6 months ago… I looked into it some more and found a few sources stating that symptoms of a bad Vehicle Speed Sensor include transmission slipping, and that it affects the timing of the torque converter which can cause damage.
    So now I am trying to fix the speedometer. I have removed the instrument cluster and taken apart the speedometer gauge, cleaned it with denatured alcohol. Inside of the gauge, the part that connects to the cable, I found small bits of broken white plastic and there is old, dark, thick grease. When using a screwdriver to turn the mechanism it still spins the silver disk, and although the copper disk seems to function, the silver disk spinning does not cause the copper piece to spin. (I will include some photos soon to illustrate this better).
    I’m not sure what to do from here: - replace the gauge
    - not sure how to check if the cable is functioning.
    - replace or lube the cable.
    Also, if anyone has more information about its affect on the transmission, I’m all ears. I’m also wondering if when I fix the VSS code, if that will alleviate the transmission issues, or if I have caused damage to the tranny and now need to replace the torque converter.
    any info help! Thank you so much.
     
  2. Nov 3, 2024 at 11:35 AM
    #2
    ControlCar

    ControlCar My Moto: Help & Learn…period.

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2023
    Member:
    #429578
    Messages:
    3,617
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Steven
    Sugar Land TX
    Vehicle:
    1996 Taco 2.4L 2wd Automatic
    Clock Volt meter/LSPV Delete/Hyundai 16’s/FP gauge/after 9months of wrenching ZERO oil leaks
    Pix Plz!

    on my list to do
    Just started hearing “da da da da da” behind cluster
    Going to lube as a proactive response
    Another member here said to use powdered graphite (excellent idea)

    as far as damage to tranny……
    I’m going guess no

    mainly bc mechanical cable
    But can’t say for certain

    older cars with speedo cables run without cluster working if cable has failed
     

Products Discussed in

To Top