Speedo is going nuts... (Check Engine Light!), (Updated!) Options

[[Freemantle]]

Topic sums it up pretty well. My speedo jumps sporadically and eventually dies at zero, bouncing up sporadically. Whenever I had problems with this before it was always electricity problems screwing up the voltage readings from the Hall effect sensors. No dice, I tested it thourougly; my electrical system is running strong.

My next stop is the vehicle speed sensor. On my CRX it's right over the transmission housing, but I can't seem to find it on this 7A-FE. Is Toyota hiding it or am I just looking right past it?


Edit I threw a solid CEL today! I the car was slow to start, and then after about 10 minutes of driving i threw a solid CEL (but no limp mode). Where do I jump to pull the CEL and is there a directory of CEL definitions anywhere around?

This post has been edited by [Freemantle]: Jan 16, 2006 - 2:49 PM

[[Freemantle]]

Bump to the top for new edits!

[lagos]

it would help to know what year your car is. fill in all your profile info.

if its obd1 you can just jump TE and E1 with a wire. then count the blinks to read the codes. if its obd2 then u need a code reader.

if your code comes up as speed sensor. then it might be your speedo sensor on the tranny OR your gauge cluster. look around on the tranny to find the sensor. on my GT its right on top .

[1900WattCelica]

I have this exact problem on my 93 Geo Prizm (4A-FE). I threw a code 42 which is the VSS code. I changed the VSS on the tranny and the ECU and the behavior remains the same. Lagos, you say it may be the guage cluster eh? Suprised an output would throw a CEL.

[[Freemantle]]

I have this exact problem on my 93 Geo Prizm (4A-FE). I threw a code 42 which is the VSS code. I changed the VSS on the tranny and the ECU and the behavior remains the same. Lagos, you say it may be the guage cluster eh? Suprised an output would throw a CEL.

Ressurection and update - I did pull a VSS code. I replaced that this afternoon with no improvement. I'm going to go ahead and search the classifieds/ebay for a cheap ST gauge cluster. My battery is marked C-1 (so it's 5 years old) and my V-AFC only reads about 12.2 volts in the system at idle (regular 14.4 at cruise speed) so I think I have the headlight dimness problem pegged as another problem.

The CEL light i threw only occours when I exceed about 73~ MPH (3250 RPM on the V-AFC). It dosen't always stick and has no effect on performance. Just another thing on the list of things I need to replace on this car (plastic casting on teh radiator looks pretty bad, that's the next on my list).

Just dropping the update for anyone else who'se experienced this.