very strange electrical and mechanical problem - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

freeline95 · 10-26-2010, 09:55 PM

I have a 1998 Toyota Camry, automatic, with a 2.2L.
I was driving down the road and passed a car and all of the sudden the car started going crazy. Their is so much that happened that i don't even know how to explain all of it so i will just name a few key issues that i have determined. I am a mechanic myself and no one can figure it out not even my local toyota dealerships.

The instrument cluster went crazy such as, the speedo went crazy (jumps all over the place), which made it shift erratically, the gear indicator thinks that it is in two gears at the same time but it isn't.
So that i could drive it home i removed the gauges fuse but i only got 3 gear's and sometimes it wont downshift with the fuse out and sometimes it takes it like a 1/4 of a mile to shift out of 1st gear with the fuse out. the most strangest thing is that with the fuse out sometimes the gauges will come on when the car shifts down out of third gear but go right back out when it shift's back into third and while it is working in that state the speedo doesn't even move.

The weirdest thing that is happening is that with the gauges fuse in place when i put the car into 1st gear with the shifter the starter engages and makes the brake light (on instrument cluster), rear tail light failure light, and L light come on, on the instrument cluster (yes i can start the car by doing that). but if i remove the gauges fuse it doesn't try to start itself when i put it in the L position.

Have already checked all common stuff such as fuses, wiring, ect... I had it hooked up to a computer and the only thing that came up was speed sensor, shift solenoid A, and shift solenoid B. I think that those codes are bogus because those couldn't cause such problem's i don't think.

Any advice would greatly appreciated because I am clueless and so is anyone that i talk to and i really don't want to have to buy another car. (don't have the money)
thank you.

Chris Crash · 10-26-2010, 09:58 PM

those codes would definitely cause your problems.

freeline95 · 10-26-2010, 10:03 PM

the only thing that im wondering is how those code's would make the car try to start itself when i put it in L with the shifter???

Chris Crash · 10-26-2010, 10:08 PM

This sounds somewhat similar to a problem my father had recently with the Mercury Villager. It turned out to be a shorted out main circuit.

freeline95 · 10-26-2010, 10:12 PM

I have checked all ground's and pretty much all of the wiring, and connection's. Hopefully someone knows a good spot to check for wiring problem's that i may have missed.

Chris Crash · 10-26-2010, 10:16 PM

Any fuses blown? Check your relays. All of them.

jtex2717 · 10-26-2010, 10:21 PM

I have seen that problem a lot lately with the starter in multiple vehicles...we have been replacing the starter because they were shorting out...never saw this before this year....prob gotta bad starter...along side w/ the shifter solenoid...

freeline95 · 10-26-2010, 10:35 PM

I have checked all of the fuses and relay's.

Is it possible for the starter to cause all of these problems.

***Mister_Perkins*** · 10-27-2010, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freeline95

I have a 1998 Toyota Camry, automatic, with a 2.2L.
I was driving down the road and passed a car and all of the sudden the car started going crazy. Their is so much that happened that i don't even know how to explain all of it so i will just name a few key issues that i have determined. I am a mechanic myself and no one can figure it out not even my local toyota dealerships.

The instrument cluster went crazy such as, the speedo went crazy (jumps all over the place), which made it shift erratically, the gear indicator thinks that it is in two gears at the same time but it isn't.
So that i could drive it home i removed the gauges fuse but i only got 3 gear's and sometimes it wont downshift with the fuse out and sometimes it takes it like a 1/4 of a mile to shift out of 1st gear with the fuse out. the most strangest thing is that with the fuse out sometimes the gauges will come on when the car shifts down out of third gear but go right back out when it shift's back into third and while it is working in that state the speedo doesn't even move.

The weirdest thing that is happening is that with the gauges fuse in place when i put the car into 1st gear with the shifter the starter engages and makes the brake light (on instrument cluster), rear tail light failure light, and L light come on, on the instrument cluster (yes i can start the car by doing that). but if i remove the gauges fuse it doesn't try to start itself when i put it in the L position.

Have already checked all common stuff such as fuses, wiring, ect... I had it hooked up to a computer and the only thing that came up was speed sensor, shift solenoid A, and shift solenoid B. I think that those codes are bogus because those couldn't cause such problem's i don't think.

Any advice would greatly appreciated because I am clueless and so is anyone that i talk to and i really don't want to have to buy another car. (don't have the money)
thank you.

Transmission Control Module or faulty NSS. I have both if you need it out of a 1992 LE That I rolled a while ago

It was sky blue. wish i wouldnt have rolled it. It had a sun roof! lol

***Mister_Perkins*** · 10-27-2010, 09:16 AM

^^ I dont think your supposed to give links to FSM on the boards

freeline95 · 10-27-2010, 09:42 AM

Sorry About the spaces. And where is the transmission control module located at on the car? I know where the nss is at on it.

***LynchburgCSI*** · 10-27-2010, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister_Perkins

^^ I dont think your supposed to give links to FSM on the boards

Don't worry. He's about to get banned for that. He's been warned 3 times now.

deadrx7conv · 10-27-2010, 03:32 PM

My Ford did the same thing when the vehicle speed sensor quit working. And, my Nissan had the same issue when the alternator was on the brink.
If you brushed cleaned all the chasis/electrical grounds(inspecting/checking means nothing), then I'd have the alternator tested. Most auto part stores will test it for free.

***Mister_Perkins*** · 10-27-2010, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freeline95

Sorry About the spaces. And where is the transmission control module located at on the car? I know where the nss is at on it.

i meant to say faulty Engine Control Module. sorry

check the grounds first though. Bad grounds cause all sorts of weird stuff

freeline95 · 10-27-2010, 06:32 PM

I will check the grounds again and I will try to locate a speed sensor at a junk yard those things are like $200!!! And a friend said that he thought that it could be the ECM I will try the sensor first and if that don't fix it I will try the ECM. Thanks for the advice again guys keep em coming I'm to the point where I will just abut try anything.