95 Camry 5SFE Speedometer Failure - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

pcwace · 02-12-2009, 02:30 PM

188k on my 95 Camry and I recently (within last 1,000 miles), topped off the differential ATF (was a bit low) and now suddenly the speedometer/odometer occasionally cuts out and O/D light flashes, along with erratic shifting. No CIL.

Any ideas? If it's the tranny speed sensor, how often do those actually go bad? Could ATF be contaminating it somehow? At $175 and up for those things, I'm not anxious to just assume it's bad and replace.

***96paseo*** · 02-13-2009, 12:17 AM

Flashing o/d light is basically the transmission's version of a CEL. You should get your code checked to see what the blinking pattern corresponds to (shift solenoids, etc.), then go from there. How is the condition of your fluid?

pcwace · 02-13-2009, 01:02 PM

It was nice and bright red and clear. The flashing O/D light always corresponds to the speedometer cutting out. This is also an intermittant problem. It doesn't always happen. When it starts cutting out, I can accelerate and it will go away temporarily until I deccelerate.

***96paseo*** · 02-13-2009, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pcwace

It was nice and bright red and clear. The flashing O/D light always corresponds to the speedometer cutting out. This is also an intermittant problem. It doesn't always happen. When it starts cutting out, I can accelerate and it will go away temporarily until I deccelerate.

You most likely have a bad speedometer driven gear or the sensor itself is malfunctioning. The sensor is located on the differential housing. Remove it and inspect the gear for broken or worn teeth.

pcwace · 02-13-2009, 01:54 PM

Okay, will do. Thanks!

pcwace · 09-23-2010, 03:14 PM

Just as a followup:

The problem went away all on it's own for about 19 months and then reared it's ugly head once again, and once again as an intermittent problem. Within the last week it finally was failing more than working and I was able to track it down to the sensor, itself.

Usually with intermittent electrical problems, I suspect wiring harnesses and connectors, but when I was able to eliminate every-other possibility and the sensor failed long enough for me to do a bench-test on it, I was able to confirm it to be the culprit.

So, I guess the lesson in all of this, is don't over-fill the diff with ATF. When I pulled the gear and assembly out of the sensor, ATF poured out of it. When I pulled the sensor, itself, apart, there was obvious signs of ATF contamination and apparently the electronics don't like ATF.

And by the way, I was able to find a ebay auction for new on that sensor that was substantially cheaper than any of the dozen local shops I called. (cheapest locally: $165 (and not in stock) - ebay: $49 with free shipping).
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMEWNX%3AIT

Camry's running great now!

peshwa · 09-23-2010, 03:22 PM

Thanks for the update. But do you imply that speedometer was contaminated from inside of the differential housing? wow...thats interesting. How is it working now?

pcwace · 09-24-2010, 05:47 PM

Well, the sensor does fit into the top of the differential housing and the gear assembly is supposed to be partially under-ATF, but it's not meant to have active ATF well up into the electronics portion which sits outside of the diff housing.

The new sensor is working flawlessly. 500 miles on it so far and all is well. Keeping my fingers crossed!