Automatic transmission - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

nic72 · 05-01-2007, 08:15 PM

Hi i have a 1,8l toyota corolla '98 with 120k miles and i have a trouble: sometime the automatic transmission doesn't work. At the same time disappear the mileage display. Somebody know what's the problem?
thank's a lot

Ghost · 05-03-2007, 07:46 AM

check your battery and all the connections leading to it (+) and (-) terminals. Than check the alternator.

nic72 · 05-03-2007, 01:57 PM

Hi, thank's for reply.Yesterday i went to the toyota garege for check the electronic box (sorry i don't know the right english name) and after one hour and 105$ they said me that everything is fine. But they just check the electronic stuff and the automatic transmission and the odometer... not all the electric connection! I think you are right it's a electric problem, two years ago the last owner had changed the key block... maybe is a hot-wires...Now i wanna just wait to have the problem for check the wires... think you that is a possibility?

w203 · 05-04-2007, 01:41 AM

For the odometer problem, how is your VSS?

Ghost · 05-04-2007, 07:34 AM

maybe there might be a problem with the ECM, since it dictates a lot of electrical controls on the car........ I am not sure though. Is your check engine light on or off?

nic72 · 05-04-2007, 11:45 AM

The check engine was light on, but i have reset it because i was sure that was a electronic problem, for this reason the guy in the toyota garage doesn't found any information.

nic72 · 05-04-2007, 12:18 PM

Sorry but i don't know how and where is the VVS...but you think that the odometer have some problem? It disappear just when the automatic transmission doesn't shift the gears... maybe the pump of A/T don't have energy and doesn't work for this reason...

geoff5093 · 05-04-2007, 01:49 PM

I've noticed that on my older cars, the spedometer was always about 2-3mph over that of what those fixed radars show.

Ghost · 05-04-2007, 02:30 PM

I know that this might sound a little silly, but did you check all the ground wires to see if all of them are attached to metal parts under the hood.

nic72 · 05-04-2007, 02:38 PM

No...this is a possibility....i will check this afternoon... and i let you know. Thank's

nic72 · 05-10-2007, 06:45 PM

It's happened again!!! I checked all the wires and the ground connection...for one week the car run well without any problem. Today i was driving at 30 mph, and the problem happened again...the car doesn't change the gear and the odometer disappear. I stopped the car and wait 2-3 minutes and, after few failed shot, the car turn on regular (i can see the odometer display). Is possible for you that are some think usured like the brush of alternator? And somebody know if corolla have for change gear only the depression control in the butterfly body or have too a speedometer check?

Dopey92 · 06-05-2007, 02:13 PM

Believe this! I have the exact same car with the exact same problem this morning!

Mileage is only 140k kms. Anyway, things I have also noticed is that the wiper will not work.

I tried taking out the fuse for the wiper, and at first, I was able to shift out of P. I put it back, it didn't and when I took it back out, I was not able to shift out of P again.

There has to be an electronic short somewhere. I've checked all the fuses and none are gone. Break lights function normally.

Only way for me to take it out of P is to use the manual override button next to the shifter (annoying), but even with that, I can drive, but speedometer/odometer does not work.

I think I will have to check the Brake switch under the dash and other connections when I get the chance.

Will post back results.

UPDATE: Brake switch under dash checks out. With the key in the ignition and turned to the "on" position without starting car, the dash lights up including odometer and I was able to shift out of P (with the brakes depressed). However, after starting the car, it's lights out for the dash and shifting out of P is a no go.

I plugged in my OBD2 reader and it gave me the code P0500 which is the Speed Sensor, but I'm not sure how this malfunction could be causing the above problem???
The Haynes manual does list pictures and testing specs for "key interlock solenoid" and "shift control unit", so I'm going to take things apart to get to them and test them out. Will post back.

UPDATE 2: Checked and tested specs for "key interlock solenoid" and "shift control unit", everything checks out for both resistance and voltage.
Only thing left to do is take out the Speed Sensor like the OBD2 reader says and test that.

This is getting very frustrating! Everything seems to check out. But still same problem...With the key in the ignition and turned to the "on" position without starting car, the dash lights up including odometer and I was able to shift out of P (with the brakes depressed). However, after starting the car, it's lights out for the dash and shifting out of P is a no go.