Speedometer and Odometer Issues
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
Speedometer and Odometer Issues
Just recently bought a 97 ES as my first car from someone in my neighborhood. The car has 208,000 miles and passed inspection in January. I have been having an issue with the speedometer and odometer. Every 2-3 days the odometer stops working, and while the speedometer will light up, it does not move. The check engine light also appears. This is fixed by unplugging the battery and then plugging it back in. However, it is pretty annoying to have to pop the hood and do stuff with the battery every few days. When the issue arose for the second time, I went to my work and ran a code scan on the car. I got three codes (All P0500 codes). They all said Vehicle Speed Sensor A. The codes go away after i unplug the battery (I'm assuming that resets the computers). I was told the issue is either my speed sensor (Which honestly I don't know very much about), or my cluster. Does anyone have any idea of what could be the issue?
Also, is there a way to get like a GPS speedometer that is external? Obviously repairing the speedometer of the car would be preferred but I just need a way to be able to determine my speed.
Also, is there a way to get like a GPS speedometer that is external? Obviously repairing the speedometer of the car would be preferred but I just need a way to be able to determine my speed.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 25,917
Likes: 4,274
From: Alberta
This company repairs clusters
https://www.taninautoelectronix.com/...luster-repair/
It could be your speed sensor as well but the intermittent nature points more to the cluster. In the mean time use a navigation app on your phone they display speed, not ideal but better than nothing.
https://www.taninautoelectronix.com/...luster-repair/
It could be your speed sensor as well but the intermittent nature points more to the cluster. In the mean time use a navigation app on your phone they display speed, not ideal but better than nothing.
Lead Lap
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 3,689
Likes: 1,101
From: Michigan
Hello,
It is a pretty common issue for those cars, here is a thread that explains the basics to check before shipping the cluster out. In short, your car still has sensor in the transmission, check that it outputs the signal and it gets to the cluster, if so, you will either need to repair your cluster, or get a used one, but there is no warranty that this issue will not repeat itself again.
Try tapping the cluster when it stops working, I've had a car with a similar issue, and when i would tap on the cluster, the speedometer would come back alive. If nothing else, it would definitely verify if your cluster is bad.
Hope this helps and best of luck!
It is a pretty common issue for those cars, here is a thread that explains the basics to check before shipping the cluster out. In short, your car still has sensor in the transmission, check that it outputs the signal and it gets to the cluster, if so, you will either need to repair your cluster, or get a used one, but there is no warranty that this issue will not repeat itself again.
Try tapping the cluster when it stops working, I've had a car with a similar issue, and when i would tap on the cluster, the speedometer would come back alive. If nothing else, it would definitely verify if your cluster is bad.
Hope this helps and best of luck!
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