1996 Camry mystery problem - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

erok80 · 05-09-2009, 06:28 PM

my 1996 Toyota Camry LE 4cyl. 5 speed automatic is having a problem. The spedometer needle bounces up and down like crazy when the car begins to move and it wont shift out of/into 2nd gear.

I took it to the dealership and they reset some sensor , or something (im not exactly sure) and it ran perfectly.

But....they said they couldnt find any problem. It ran fine for about 3 months and then it happend again. I took it to the dealership and got the same result as last time.

Any ideas about what this might be? Im just sick of driving around just waiting for my car to break down

JCamry94 · 05-09-2009, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erok80

my 1996 Toyota Camry LE 4cyl. 5 speed automatic is having a problem. The spedometer needle bounces up and down like crazy when the car begins to move and it wont shift out of/into 2nd gear.

I took it to the dealership and they reset some sensor , or something (im not exactly sure) and it ran perfectly.

But....they said they couldnt find any problem. It ran fine for about 3 months and then it happend again. I took it to the dealership and got the same result as last time.

Any ideas about what this might be? Im just sick of driving around just waiting for my car to break down

#1 - "5 speed" and "automatic" are two completely different things.

#2 - Which do you have?

erok80 · 05-09-2009, 11:29 PM

its an automatic

8ac1v1c · 05-09-2009, 11:37 PM

Technically - he's right with 5speed auto......4 speeds plus OD

Good news is it's not the tranny - bad news is it's electrical gremlins in the shift solenoids. Next time it starts to happen - try disconnecting the ground terminal on your battery for about 5 mins - then reconnect. This usually resets the electrcal system. If it works - at least you don't got to to the dealership every three months.

Just make sure if you have a factory stereo, that you have the unlock code. And if you have an aftermarket alarm, that you have that transmitter ready when you connect the terminal back

***ASG14*** · 05-10-2009, 12:14 AM

Do you have the paperwork from the dealership when they fixed it the 1st time?

Quote:

Originally Posted by 8ac1v1c

Technically - he's right with 5speed auto......4 speeds plus OD

Um, no. The car has a 3 speeds + OD. 4-speed Auto.

8ac1v1c · 05-10-2009, 01:19 AM

It's 4-speed auto PLUS option of OD
When OD is an option - it is considered a seperate gear

***ASG14*** · 05-10-2009, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 8ac1v1c

It's 4-speed auto PLUS option of OD
When OD is an option - it is considered a seperate gear

The hell are you talking about?

The Gen 3/4 Camry had EITHER a 4-speed Auto or a 5-speed Manual. The Camry did not get a 5-speed Auto till the Gen 5.

Do I need to post up proof of these, or ust have 25 other people post it?

JCamry94 · 05-10-2009, 02:59 AM

I have 23 gears, actually.

***RningOnFumes*** · 05-10-2009, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCamry94

I have 23 gears, actually.

lol

ASG14 is correct. I used to have a gen3.5 cam auto and it was 4 gears, the 4th considered the OD gear.

***eyeball96*** · 05-10-2009, 07:22 AM

LMAO......Listen to ASG14, he knows!

hill8570 · 05-10-2009, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 8ac1v1c

Good news is it's not the tranny - bad news is it's electrical gremlins in the shift solenoids. Next time it starts to happen - try disconnecting the ground terminal on your battery for about 5 mins - then reconnect. This usually resets the electrcal system. If it works - at least you don't got to to the dealership every three months.

OK, I'm far from being a god of tranny troubleshooting, but why would a shift solenoid problem cause the speedo needle to "bounce up and down like crazy"?