93 corolla speed sensor - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

monkeymech · 09-08-2010, 10:52 AM

I am a shade tree mechanic usually performing the regular maintenance of my vehicles...oil changes,brakes , bulbs,belts. My daughter is starting to drive so i finally decided to tackle a long broken speedometer issue.

I have a 93 corolla DX 1.8L auto trans with AC. I have searched this and other car forums to find a fix to my problem. The speedometer is not registering speed although sometimes it register the correct speed or just hovers at 30mph when stopped. From what I've read I have one of two problems: the speed sensor is bad or the instrument cluster is bad. I purchased both from a salvage yard . I wanted to start with the sensor first then the cluster since I thought the cluster would be more difficult.

I removed the bolt from the sensor after disconnecting it but can't get it to budge. I have tried to wiggle it loose as that seemed to be the reccomended way of getting it out. There is not much wiggle room here. I've also tried to wedge a screwdriver between the bolt hole side of the sensor and the mount. Nothing seems to get it to budge. Unless there is another faster which I cannot see then the only other thing that can be holding it on is some kind of gasket material. In the process of all the wiggling ,tapping ,etc. I have broken part of the cast on the sensor where the bolt goes through. Am I missing a fastener or is it just the ancient, stubborn connection that refuses to let go?

tim

***TrailDust*** · 09-08-2010, 10:55 AM

Hi, Tim, and welcome to Toyota Nation! Let me move your thread over to the Corolla forums so the members there can lend you a hand.

**TOYOPARTSMAN** · 09-08-2010, 11:44 AM

Pictured I see a snap ring at the bse of the sensor, probably to hold it to the speed gear in the transmission. Have you pulled that yet?

monkeymech · 09-08-2010, 12:14 PM

That sounds like the problem. There is not much room to work with. How do I get this snap ring off? I don't see an access to it.

**TOYOPARTSMAN** · 09-08-2010, 12:49 PM

I honestly don't know, I can't find it in the repair manual anywhere.

monkeymech · 09-08-2010, 12:57 PM

I have been surfing the internet and saw something that gave me an idea. It was for an Avalon they suggested twisting the sensor. I'm thinking that maybe if I rotate the sensor then the ring will disengage. I will try that as soon as it stops raining.

monkeymech · 09-08-2010, 02:02 PM

Well if you rotate it counter clockwise it pops right out! I had to work it cw and ccw a few times while applying power lube to get it around enough but it finally came out! Now back to the salvage yard to see if they have the right part since the one they gave me was longer and skinnier than the old part!

thanks for the help!
tim

speedy25 · 09-11-2010, 01:57 PM

The speed sensor is easy to test, and you should have before removing it. Just hook up a meter to it and see if it has a "pulse" as you move the car a bit. For the most part they are reliable.

You should have been doing some reading on here. Theres another thread with someone having speedo problems and after all the smoke cleared it was bad solder joints on the speedo board.

Do some more reading and save yourself some headaches.

Yes and the VSS can be hard to get out as you found since it usually corrodes itself into the trans.

-SP

monkeymech · 09-11-2010, 11:29 PM

Thanks Speedy! I am new to these forum sites so I must have missed the other post(s) you mentioned. The thing I found most frustrating was getting the VSS out. All the posts I had seen just mentioned 'removing' the VSS with no specifics other than 'wiggling'. I finally found a post relating to an Avalon that suggested rotating it...wish I'd found it sooner but mission accomplished and I won't forget it.

I did test the VSS which was bad. Then after I replaced it the speedometer still didn't work so I replaced the cluster panel. This has been broken for a long time so I'm not surprised that I had to replace both. I can't complain since this car has 330k miles on it besides tires brakes and normal maintenance items the only other problem I've had was with the alternator which has been replaced twice in the cars lifetime- not too bad for an 18 year old vehicle.

speedy25 · 09-12-2010, 09:12 PM

Not bad at all. Thats what makes them so great.

If you only knew..... The Alternator brushes are usually good for about 150k. The pair cost less than $5 and thats usually all they need when the alternator quits.

-SP