1996 Camry Mystery problem

[erok80]

my 1996 Toyota Camry LE 4cyl. 5 speed automatic is having a problem. The spedometer needle bounces up and down like crazy when the car begins to move and it wont shift out of/into 2nd gear.

I took it to the dealership and they reset some sensor , or something (im not exactly sure) and it ran perfectly.

But....they said they couldnt find any problem. It ran fine for about 3 months and then it happend again. I took it to the dealership and got the same result as last time.

Any ideas about what this might be? Im just sick of driving around just waiting for my car to break down

[RIP]

Sounds like a fault in the Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) circuit. This sensor signal is used by the speedometer and is used to determine shift timing. Usually the sensor fails but this can also be caused by a fault in the Engine Control Unit (ECU) or wiring/connections between the VSS and ECU. Autozone will read your codes using an OBDII scanner for free in most states. A P0500, 501,502, or 503 error code will confirm. http://www.obd-codes.com/p0500

Not positive this applies to your car but when the ECU detects a transmission fault the OD OFF light may blink indicating a failure has been recorded.

[erok80]

thanks for the reply, this sounds like the most legit answer I have heard thus far. I will investgate. Thanks a mill.