Weird problem with Speed Sensor/Speedo

[drivein]

Hello all, been a toyota nation browser for a while, this is the first time I've been unable to search ang find my answers. Anyways here I go.

Problem: My speedometers been acting up, Ex. I'll be on the freeway doing 55-70 and the speedo will shut down and show 0mph. Its been doing it more often and for longer periods of time. ( it started 3 months ago but it would only do it for a split second, now it goes down for 10-30 seconds, causing the check engine light to comeon).

From what I have read . it can be 5 things:
~Speed sensor on trans, ( check it out and looks ok)
~Wires between Speed sensor and dash cluster
~Dash Cluster computer module
~wiring between dash and ECU
~the ECU

If anybody has any advice nows the time to let me know.

[SmartedPanda]

"Officer, I swear it said 0MPH, not 110MPH! It's not my fault!"
Does it only do it after 50MPH?

[drivein]

No, it does not matter what speed im going, I just notice it more often because it downshifts out of OD. Its done it from a dead stop, 25mph, 40mph. The shifting also gets real funky when the speedos down. think its the ecu going to default shift points

[Kep]

I doubt if I'll be much help but let's get the basics. What year model and milage? Any modifications? How did you determine that the speed sensor was OK? Have you pulled any error codes?

You might try resetting the ECU and see if it is better for a while (until it reprograms itself).

Kep

[96CamrySport]

if the transmission is shifting out of OD, then it's not a user-side fault- in other words, your speedo and wires between ecu and speedo are ok. To be honest, it sounds like the vehicle speed sensor is going away. The associated wiring would also cause a similar issue; and toyota's wiring isn't the most robust. This can most likely be diagnosed by a shop with an oscilliscope, but you might also be able to see the signal go away with a voltmeter.

[drivein]

Wow, Forgot tp include basic info.
Car Specs, 96 Toyota Camry LE 4banger with auto tranny. Cars been well maintained and is at the 198,xxx miles. No mods at all, all stock.
CODES-p0500 is the only code it will pull and only after the speedo goes down for a several seconds.

Today It got much worse, I have a 15 mile drive to work, only 9 miles showed on my tripmeter, so for about 40% of my commute my speedo was down.

to test, I put my speed sensor in another Camry and it was working fine, however i was not able to put the other sensor in my car not enough time, plus I no longer have access to that car. I bet if i did it again today, results would be different