Another "Speedometer not working thread" (3 Viewers)

[cc93cruiser]

Yes I searched.
Today while going to work, I noticed that my speedo/odometer gave out and was not reading anything. I told myself I would check it out after work. I really didn't think anything of it, after all it only tells me how fast I am going.
Well, after work came and I jumped in my cruiser to start my whopping 5 mile commute, and I noticed there was a new problem. While I was on the freeway, I noticed that the O/D Off Light was blinking. I quickly thought to myself, that this was odd. My cruiser was driving perfectly and the O/D was engaged. I told myself, well lets see what happens if I turn off the O/D, so I did it and it dissengaged. So the tranny is working flawlessly, just this damn light is blinking.
Well, I exited the freeway and got to the first light. Damn. The cruiser was idiling really low, about 250rpm. Yet another problem. I was fustrated to say the least. I just got home and I started searching here on mud and I read a lot about faulty Vehicle Speed Sensor. My Question to all: Can a bad VSS cause the O/D Off light to flash and the cause sparatic idling?

 

[-Spike-]

I don't know about the idle, but when I broke my VSS off the O/D light blinked. It's a CEL (check engine light) for the tranny (or CTL, if you prefer). You can pull codes for problems.

 

[cc93cruiser]

Thanks for the response. This makes me feel a lot better. I will have to dig into my dad's 94 and borrow his VSS and see if this fixes problem. In the mean time, it should be safe to drive with the blinking light, right?

 

[IdahoDoug]

FYI, pulling the speed sensor off your truck is a quick/easy affair. You'll want to spend about 5 minutes with a toothbrush and solvent spray or similar cleaning off the crud atop it that could contaminate the assembly. Then it's a single bolt and you twist/pull it out. You'll either see the teeth on the plastic gear are stripped, or the unit is siezed. Replacing is a piece of cake. PM me for tips.

DougM

 

[cc93cruiser]

FYI, pulling the speed sensor off your truck is a quick/easy affair. You'll want to spend about 5 minutes with a toothbrush and solvent spray or similar cleaning off the crud atop it that could contaminate the assembly. Then it's a single bolt and you twist/pull it out. You'll either see the teeth on the plastic gear are stripped, or the unit is siezed. Replacing is a piece of cake. PM me for tips.

DougM

Doug, thanks for the input.I was wondering were the plastic little gear was located. Thanks again, like you mentioned, seems pretty simple. I will let you guys know what I find.

 

[serenity]

Slight hijack, but my speedo doesn't work until the motor heats up it seems. kicks in about 5 minutes down the the road usually. its a mechanical speedo to so im clueless as to what it is, works perfectly after the initial 5 minute period.

 

[-Spike-]

Slight hijack, but my speedo doesn't work until the motor heats up it seems. kicks in about 5 minutes down the the road usually. its a mechanical speedo to so im clueless as to what it is, works perfectly after the initial 5 minute period.

From what I remember of mechanical speedometers, at the speedometer the force of the spinning cable is converted to a spinning magnetic field which causes the needle to move. Dry grease or dirt in the needle mechanism will cause it not to move freely, and as it warms it may move more easily. I'm sure there's better information on the web explaining this and how to clean it/what to look for, but that might give you a starting point to understand what's going on at least.

 

[cc93cruiser]

Today I had the chance of finally seeing which of the Vehicle Speed Sensors was the one that was at fault for my O/D Off blinking light. My dad has a 93 himself, so I figured that it would be a simple swap to try and figure which sensor was at fault.

Well, when pulling out the VSS #1, I saw that the plastic spur gear was in perfect condition so that quicky eliminated that potential problem. Next I swapped the entire VSS #1 off of my dad's 93 and my speedometer was still not working. Another potential problem eliminated. I checked the FSM and I notcied that there was a 2nd VSS located on the tranny itself. I swapped that one with my dad's 93 and still no workie!

After discovering that this was going to get a little more involved, I busted out the FSM again and I quickly searched for the codes and how to read the code the O/D OFF light was throwing out. After about 10 mins of trying to find a paper clip, I finally found one and was able to read the code. It is code 42. My question is where do I now start looking for the problem? I forgot my FSM at parents house, so I can't remeber what was the description of the code. But I believe it was check VSS #1 which I did, and check for short/severed wiring?

 

[kev301]

My speedometer stop working over the weekend and after reading some of the post, i replace my speed sensor on the transfer case and it work...

thanks for the help.

 

[LC Buddy]

Hi, I have read through most of the posts regaring these speedo issues, but seems no one comes back to say what the fix was? Can anyone shed some light on what they eventually found to be the cause.... with on going speedo....odo problems?

 

[TexasJack]

The speedometer in my 91 LS400 quit working and I decided to just use my GPS unit as a speedometer. Since I put 35 inch tires on my Landcruiser I am using the GPS in it as well. It is accurate and easy to see and I don't have to take my eyes off the road as long to see it. Just sayin.

 

[lilevo]

The speedometer in my 91 LS400 quit working and I decided to just use my GPS unit as a speedometer. Since I put 35 inch tires on my Landcruiser I am using the GPS in it as well. It is accurate and easy to see and I don't have to take my eyes off the road as long to see it. Just sayin.

We can repair the speedo on your LS!

 

[serenity]

Anyone know if the speedometer stops working, does that affect the odometer? I just purchased a lower-mile 80 and noticed the speedometer was noted as not working in the past. Now I am questioning the mileage... Tried searching the threads and wanted to revive this one if there was any interest.

Simple answer is, yes it effects your odometer.

 

[serenity]

Slight hijack, but my speedo doesn't work until the motor heats up it seems. kicks in about 5 minutes down the the road usually. its a mechanical speedo to so im clueless as to what it is, works perfectly after the initial 5 minute period.

Since this thread was bumped I thought I would update from my previous post.

I was wrong, I actually have an electronic speedo. I assume the transfer case heating up cooked moisture out of it and it started working after 5 minutes, eventually it stopped working altogether though so I replaced it with a new eBay unit.

 

[prerunner84]

Ok, I have the same problem no od light but I grounded the ground wire to the vss twice and it worked for a few days. Now it’s jumpy and not working. I’m thinking a bad wire somewhere? But where? Anyone else shed any light? pretty frustrating because it started working for a short time

 

[Tapage]

I have yet to see the wiring fail .. ( not saying it's impossible ) but if are not the VSS I move tho the speedo itself on the dash..

 

[hh4whiskey]

Got to bump this up. 95 w/electric, gear at t case seems good. Stopped working, then worked yesterday afternoon after washing down engine compartment. When it was working, it was jumping during acceleration and in park when revving. Today, it doesn’t work again.

Crazy, I know. Wiring short? Where next?

 

[prerunner84]

I had the same issue tried everything So I got a new sending unit. You can find them on eBay for around $15. That’s what I did. work perfectly no issue

 

[Michael Hanson]

Hi, So is their a rebuild kit for the speedometer plastic gears in the 1991 Land Cuiser ? Thanks, Mike

 

[Technician1985]

I had a VSS code but when I started digging around I found the cable was damaged, and came apart completely when I tugged on it.