Speedo cable snapped? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Spetz · 05-11-2007, 09:25 AM

So, all of a sudden my speedo doesn't work
I assume the cable has snapped.

Just wondering how expensive these cables are, and how hard it is to change them?

Apparently the cable was changed about 15,000km before I bought it. Is it a common issue these cars have?

Tommy · 05-11-2007, 09:46 AM

odd. if its been replaced before, its could be the gear inside the transmission that the cable connects to. the cable itself is easy to replace, i dunno about the gear though. Look on the firewall towards the middle of the car and you can see the cable. it unscrews from there, then you can unscrew it from the transmission. Pull the cable out and see if the pin that goes into the transmission is still intact.

not sure how much a new cable is, but a junk yard should have plenty and would be cheap.

Spetz · 05-11-2007, 10:54 PM

And how would I isolate the problem?

ie, figure out where it went wrong/broke?

atobe · 05-12-2007, 12:09 AM

interesting...never heard of this problem... i'd say the easiest way is take out the guage cluster and drive and see if the speedo cable is spinning.. if it is then your gauge is broken or some part of it is.. if it's not then it's probbly the cable... easiest way i can think of... unless you can have someone look at your tranny and see if the speedo cable gear is moving while you drive

Tommy · 05-12-2007, 10:50 AM

the only place the cable would likely break is at the transmission side. just pull it out and see if the pin is there.

IvanHoe · 05-12-2007, 11:06 AM

My cable/speedo makes a slight noise when I drive.....kinda like keys brushing against the column

Kep · 05-14-2007, 11:47 AM

The cable is easy to reach and is in two parts. There's a large knurled knob on the transmission and a joint before the firewall. I've never removed it from the back of the speedometer. I expect that the biggest hassle would be getting to it. However, if the problem is at the transmission it is easy to remove the cable but like said above, there may be an underlying problem that is causing the damage.

Ivanhoe, get some transmission cable lube and open the cable at the union. Squirt the lube in both ways and elevate the cable going into the firewall for a while to let the lube get up to the top. I left mine tied up overnight. After-wards it was like new.

Kep

es250nut · 05-24-2007, 01:57 AM

If you undo the coupler near the firewall and spin the cable to the spedo by hand it should jump a bit indicating the speedometer and cable to it are fine. I just did this to the AllTrac I just bought and now I know it has either a bad cable or the gear in the tranny is broke, only problem is I can't seem to get the lower cable loose from the tranny.

es250nut · 06-03-2007, 02:15 AM

Update: got the speedo fixed. In the Alltrac there is a 90 degree cable adapter that comes out the back side of the transmission so the speedo cable can be screwed into it in a similar place as the other trannies available in the Camrys. In this case the adapter seized and caused a short shaft to shear off the keyed ear. After freeing up, cleaning and lubing the seized part I got a replacement shaft from Toyota for about $9.

Now the speedometer works and I'll be able to figure out what the gas mileage is on the Alltrac.