'99 Avalon XLS - Speedometer Jumps when idle

[Finnish_Fox]

Hello all...

I have noticed a very weird occurrence in my '99 Avalon XLS. The car has less than 80k on it. I've mentioned the issue to my mechanic who has been unable to replicate the issue when he's driven it...

...but of of course it happens every now and then when I drive.

The Symptom:

I will be driving normally... not doing anything out of the ordinary. I will come to a stop light and full stop. As I am waiting, the tachometer stays steady (~800-1000 RPM, if I remember correctly) but the speedometer needle jumps...

It doesn't just jump though. It acts as if it is accelerating when I am at a complete stop. I've seen the needle go 120+ mph. Even more bizarre is that the odometer turns if it happens long enough or when there are 8/10-9/10s until it rolls over to the next number.

Any ideas?

[KyleCannon]

Originally Posted by Finnish_Fox

Hello all...

I have noticed a very weird occurrence in my '99 Avalon XLS. The car has less than 80k on it. I've mentioned the issue to my mechanic who has been unable to replicate the issue when he's driven it...

...but of of course it happens every now and then when I drive.

The Symptom:

I will be driving normally... not doing anything out of the ordinary. I will come to a stop light and full stop. As I am waiting, the tachometer stays steady (~800-1000 RPM, if I remember correctly) but the speedometer needle jumps...

It doesn't just jump though. It acts as if it is accelerating when I am at a complete stop. I've seen the needle go 120+ mph. Even more bizarre is that the odometer turns if it happens long enough or when there are 8/10-9/10s until it rolls over to the next number.

Any ideas?

sorry, but i don't have any clue, but that is a cool little glitch, but not on the part of figuring it out.. may be your computer system or transmission?

[Finnish_Fox]

Originally Posted by KyleCannon

sorry, but i don't have any clue, but that is a cool little glitch, but not on the part of figuring it out.. may be your computer system or transmission?

It certainly is strange...

[sseaman]

i know some other toyotas have strange things like this when the alternator is starting to have problems, you may have it checked out

[Finnish_Fox]

Originally Posted by sseaman

i know some other toyotas have strange things like this when the alternator is starting to have problems, you may have it checked out

Thanks.

My mechanic has not mentioned anything about it and he is reputable (family has been using him since '92).

I'll keep an eye on it.

[Finnish_Fox]

Anyone else experience anything like this?

[aznstylez]

Maybe a ghost is playing with your mind. My dad used to have a 90' Grand Prix. Same thing happened. The needle just jumped to 120mph while driving and just stays there. It goes back to 0 or whatever mileage you thought you were at whenever it wants to.

[mmejia]

Does it happen when you are in park or neutral? Or just when you are stopped with the brake and still in drive?

[Finnish_Fox]

Originally Posted by mmejia

Does it happen when you are in park or neutral? Or just when you are stopped with the brake and still in drive?

It definitely happens in drive, but when stopped using the brake.

It does not typically happen in park and I don't really keep the car in neutral ever.

It may have happened once or twice in park, but it would be very rare if it has happened.