Speedometer Not Working

Hello,

The Speedometer of my 96 Tacoma Ext Cab SR5 V6 4x4 has a problem. It stops working and the Engine Light came on for couple days now. I do lots of searching online but there is no certain information or answer. Someone said the Gear that connect to the Transmission is the problem. Moreover, someone said the Vehicle Speedometer Sensor in the Transmission failed and just replace the Sensor. I don't know what the Gear and Vehicle Speedometer Sensor look like and where they are. Do you have any idea? Please post a pix or steps to replace if you can. Any subjection would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

None of you have any idea to help me, guys, don't you?

 

Pull the speedo gear out and look at it. 1 bolt and very easy to access on the passenger side of the transfer case. If its broke I have a 28 tooth gear I'll send you for shipping fee

 

You said on the passenger side of the transfer case, is it at the end of the transfer case? I looked at it yesterday and I found a cable connects to the side end of the transfer case, but I'm not sure it's the VSS. I'll check it again tomorrow and then I'll report back here for you. I'll pay you for it if you can.

 

I'll take a picture when I get home from work today. But its a large cable just in front of where the ujoint connects to the transfer case.

 

ok, here you go: remove the bolt circled in yellow, then pull the cable and speedo gear assembly out. Hold a rag under it because gear oil will come out a little, then it will stop. Its not really enough to worry about. Look at the gear and see if it is intact. Or take a picture and post it

 

Thank you so much for posting the pix. I'll post a pix if I can. Now I got the cable out but I could not get the gear out at all. How do I remove the gear out?

 

After you remove the bolt I circled in yellow, just pull out on the piece the cable screws into. The gear will be on a shaft. Here is a great link.

 

Thank you so much for your steps and the links. It's dark outside now, so I'll try to do it tomorrow and then I'll be back here to let you know.

 

I took some pictures on the VSS from my truck and I tried to load/attach the pictures onto here, but I could not load/attach them from my Digital Camera at all. How can I upload the pictures here?

Below are the steps I did:
1. I took off the Speedometer Cable from the Gear of the Transfer Case.
2. I used a Flat Screwdriver to push the Gear out from the Transfer Case, but it came off a little bit only then it stucked. I felt like something is stucked in there. According to the pictures above as you showed/directed them to me. It could be stucked because of the end of the Gear.

Do I need to use a special tool to take the Gear out from the Transfer Case? Do the Auto Parts rent that tool? How can I take it off?

 

Using a computer, there is a drop down at the top of the screen when you are logged in called " Tacoma photos" and there is a upload photos link there. But back to the speedo gear, the piece that holds the gear should just pull out. If the gear is tore up, then it might take effort to pull it out. No special tool is needed.

 

Thank you so much for your time and advice. Please look at these three pix in order, 01109, 0262, and 0323, under my user name, Newby, on the link. The third pix, 0323, is the one which I told you earlier that I used a flat screwdriver to pull and the gear came off a little bit from the transfer case. Here is the link of the pix: http://www.tacomaworld.com/gallery/showgallery.php

About the gear, I'll try to pull it out again as you said, but I don't see any place/anywhere I can hold and pull it because it does not come off enough to hold and pull it at all. Anyway, I'll try once again.

 

did you try to rotate it as you pulled it out? There is an o-ring in there that gives some resistance. It should spin 360 degrees. You could try and rotate it as u pull on it. Also, if you copy the link in your picture (just under the photo) you can paste em directly into your post.

 

Here it is, the link of the pix as you told me: http://www.tacomaworld.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/333517/limit/recent

Ok, I'll try to pull and rotate it as you said, then I'll report to you here again.

 

I did as you subjected and I got the gear out from the transfer case. The gear oil came out a little bit and I found that some of the metal (similar as the sand) were mixed with the gear oil. I have the following questions for you. Please help/give me the answer as much as you can and I'll be appreciated for it.
1. Is the gear oil I mentioned above normal?
2. All I have to do just replace the new gear and then connect the speedometer cable back to it as it was before, is it right?
3. In this case, is the problem just the gear only or I have to replace the speedometer cable too?

 

the gear oil should be relatively clean. I would change it. How does the gear look? Do you have a picture? You said before, the speedo cable was good, right? I mean the end looks good, and turning it, made the speedometer turn? So then yes, just replace the gear as shown in the previous link and reconnect the existing speedo cable.

Here is a link to part #'s for the different gears.

Are you the original owner of the truck? It almost looks like the transfer case was worked on at some point (the bright red silicone in one of the pictures)

In any case, I am flying to DC today so it might be a while before I can check out this thread (6pm ish).

 

First of all, have a great and safe trip.

About the truck, I just bought it in late of this May from a guy who loved hunting a lot. The guy didn’t take care of the truck and I have to repaint the Tailgate (The Tailgate looks good but I just want to repaint it to match the truck because the color is fading and it’s off a little bit), the Bumper Fillers, and fix the Front Bumper because it dents a little bit. Also I have to replace these things: Wiper and Washer Motor, Muffler and Tail Pipe, Cup Holder, Under Radio Center Cover, Center Console Lid, Tail Lights, Two Front Corner Lights (Not signal Lights), two Front Brakes and Rotors, Lettering on both sides and the ones on the Tailgate, Tires, and Speedometer Gear which is the one you teach me how to replace it now. Other than those things, the truck still looks good and runs good.

The gear oil looks dirty and mixes with some metal pounder (similar to the sand). The gear warns out but it’s not too bad. I’ll try to take couple pictures of the gear and the gear oil to post here. As I look at the speedo cable, it still looks good, but I haven’t test it yet with the gear when I pulled the gear out from the transfercase. My garage is full of things and I just do it on my driveway only. It’s raining a lot here yesterday, today and might be tomorrow too, so I’ll test it sometime on this Wednesday or Thursday and then I’ll report back here to you.

I checked with NAPA, AutoZone, Advanced, and O’Reilly but there is no one carry the gear so I just went to order it at the dealer this morning. I’ll get it by tomorrow morning. I’ll try to take a picture with it and post here too.

Thank you so much for the link you provided above. It’s very helpful. I went to order the gear at the dealer and the guy told me that mine is the 30t. I’ll give you more information about it when I get it tomorrow.

 

I got the new gear from the dealer this morning. The part number is 33403-29105. It costs $35.89 plus tax then $38.40. I'll shoot a pix to post here tomorrow.

How can I clean the old gear oil out of the transfercase and put the new one in? What kind of gear oil do you recommend?

 

Search it in the forums. There are some real good explanations with step by step instructions. But the short version is remove the drain plug to drain the transfer case, reinstall the drain plug, remove fill plug and refill the transfer case until the oil starts to come out of the fill plug opening.

I would run the vehicle for a week or so, then check it or change it again since you have particulates in it just to semi-flush it out and verify you don't have a bigger problem.

The oil type/weight can also be found in this forum. Sorry I don't have manual around ( still in DC)

 

Thank you for your help. I truly know and understand you're so busy up there, but you still spent time to help me here. I appreciate it. Here is the link for my old and new gear: http://www.tacomaworld.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/334759/cat/500/ppuser/100792 I already swapped out the gear yesterday evening after I got home from work, but I didn't change the gear oil.

About the gear oil, you talked about the drain plug and fill plug. Do you mean those two big bolts on the transfercase. Please look at these pictures on my link: http://www.tacomaworld.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/334765/cat/500/ppuser/100792 and tell me more about it, because I'm not so sure. I want to mark those bolts as you did on your pictures above but I don't know how. I guess the drain plug is the button-left one and the fill plug is the top-right one, aren't they?