New Engine. multiple issues. Odometer speedometer

[davj3368]

Just had the engine replaced in my 2000 Camry. Yesterday was first day I drove it, and it ran fine, except I noticed it was idling about 800 rpms higher than it should. Today, things were okay at first, then it started jumping out of gear (it's automatic) and the speedometer would drop to zero, even though I was still moving along at 60mph. I made it to work, and now the list of problems are:

drops out of gear....and back into gear

speedometer doesn't show speed (analog)

Odometer isn't incrementing. (digital)

Any clues as to what might be causing this?

I called the shop that did the work and they gave me the run-around...saying it sounds like tranny, car sat for a months....blah blah. I told them I'd drive it today and tomorrow and make a list before bringing it back.

Dave

[2wickedtoyz]

they screwed up. i've done plenty of engine swaps and never had that that problem. your speed sensor should be on the back of your tranny. check to see if anything is broken and tie wrapped or zip tied or even tapped.

[davj3368]

Cool. I'll take a look at it tonight....hopefully its something I can easily find and test. they put one motor in, gave it back, and it rattled terribly, so I gave it back. they then put another motor in, gave it back, now it's doing this. Hopefully that is all thats wrong with it.

[davj3368]

Ok, I've driven my car three full days now, and here is what is going on...

80% of the time the car drives fine....but the rest of the time the car will drop out of gear, the speedometer drops to zero, and the odometer doesn't increment. I'm sure it's the speed sensor (judging from wickedtoyz' reply and others who have had similar problems) but I'm not sure how to troubleshoot that sensor. It is toward the rear of the transmission housing, and hard to reach. Can someone tell me where the wires go from the sensor? I'm good with a voltmeter, so I can check it out...if someone can tell me what to do. Is there a link to a wiring diagram somewhere?

Thanks guys.

[davj3368]

removed speed sensor this morning, cleaned contacts...and wiring connector. reinstalled....working for the moment.

Still, if anyone has a link to the wiring diagram I'd need to troubleshoot this sensor I'd appreciate it. If the problem comes back, I guess I'll just buy a new sensor, but I just have a hard time believing the sensor is failing since I JUST GOT THE MOTOR REPLACED.

[93celicaconv]

I'm not that familiar with the 2000 Camry, but... What engine do you have in there?

It is possible, to get the old engine out, they needed to disconnect just about everything on the wiring harness, and the transmission's speed sensor may be on that harness.

And it is possible that the easiest way for them to get the engine out was to take it out with the transmission. At least that is the recommended way on Toyota Celicas. If so, then the mechanic had to remove the transmission linkages, wiring harnesses, etc. Did they get the shift linkage adjusted properly? If not, that could cause the problem you are having with it going on of gear.

Hopefully you have a mechanic that you can trust, and they will tell you how they removed the engine. But I can see how something like this could happen from an engine replacement.

[Chris Crash]

Yeah just sounds like some wiring issues. My first swap I had tons of these little problems because I forgot to plug something in, or plugged it into the wrong spot or whatever.

[davj3368]

UPDATE....

Last weekend I pulled the Vehicle Speed Sensor and cleaned up the connections. I also took it apart just to see how it worked.

Anyway, it has not messed up since! could the connection have been so dirty that it would fail?

My engine also never heats up....so I'm hoping the thermostat is just stuck.

[93celicaconv]

Maybe the connection wasn't snapped in properly, or maybe the connection got dirty during the engine removal process, and you cleaned it up to allow it to work again. Either way, it sounds like you figured it out and fixed it, CONGRATS!

Don't run an engine too long that doesn't warm up. That will cause the engine to run rich and could cause problems later down the road. It could also cool oil in the head to quickly, allowing sludge buildup, which these engines were prone to anyway without the extra help of a stuck open thermostat.

[SoulTaker]

Originally Posted by 2wickedtoyz

...i've done plenty of engine swaps...

You've done alot of engine swaps, can you help me do one?