2009 Toyota Camry XLS- odometer not working???

[SEIndSAM]

Mary-(Wife)
Hello, I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice about what is going on with my Camry? My odometer is randomly not working , It will work for awhile, then drop to zero and in a few minutes go back to working normally. When this happens the ABS light and brake light comes on. Is this something expensive to fix? Thanks.

 

[Lpherr]

Speedometer and not odometer, correct? Check the ABS module.

 

[indyblue]

Maybe VSS (vehicle speed sensor) going bad, just my educated guess. Likely an easy fix. Sensor should be on/near transmisssion output shaft somewhere.

Any problems with shifting or cruise control reported? Get a scanner on it to see any codes.

5 Common Bad Speed Sensor Symptoms​

Transmission problems​

Vehicle speed information relayed by the VSS is used by the transmission control module (TCM) or powertrain control module (PCM) to determine shift timing. Therefore, a failing speed sensor will have a direct impact on automatic transmission operation.

One of the most common signs of a bad speed sensor is abnormal automatic transmission operation. If the VSS is faulty, the transmission may exhibit symptoms such as delayed shifts, hard shifts, and limited gear operation.

Erratic speedometer readings​

Many vehicles use the VSS as a primary input for speedometer operation, which means a malfunctioning VSS can cause the speedometer to produce an erratic reading—or no reading at all.

Your vehicle will continue to run without a working speedometer. However, not knowing how fast you’re going will make it difficult to drive safely.

Inability to engage cruise control​

Typically, your vehicle’s cruise control will automatically be disabled by the PCM as soon as it fails to receive information from the VSS. This is because the system requires the sensor’s data in order to keep your car running at a constant speed.

A bad speed sensor may automatically disable your vehicle’s cruise control.

Lack of torque converter clutch application​

The torque converter clutch is activated at a pre-programmed speed. Without accurate information from the vehicle speed sensors, the transmission torque converter will be unable to apply the clutch and form a mechanical link between the engine and transmission.

This can cause slipping, reduced fuel economy, and an overheated transmission.

Check Engine Light is triggered​

Your vehicle’s check engine light can be triggered by the PCM for a myriad of reasons—one of which is a faulty VSS. You’ll need to connect your vehicle to an OBD-II scan tool to confirm whether the error code is pointing to a VSS malfunction.

Other warning lights such as those for the ABS and traction control systems may also appear on the dashboard.

What Causes the Speed Sensor To Fail?​

An internal electrical fault in the speed sensor​

A speed sensor that is damaged internally can result in an abnormal output signal or no signal at all. Typically, the sensor can be tested with a digital voltmeter or oscilloscope.

Seek the help of a trusted mechanic if you suspect that you have a faulty VSS so it can be tested—and replaced if needed.

Quite often this is the cause of the speedometer malfunctioning and replacement should solve the problem.

DTC P0500: VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR CIRCUIT

Circuit Description
VSS outputs a 4-pulse signal for every revolution of rotor shaft, which is driven by transaxle output shaft. Signal is sent to instrument cluster to operate speedometer. Instrument cluster then sends signal to ECM. Signal is used by ECM to determine vehicle speed. DTC is set if there is no VSS signal to ECM while vehicle is being driven and park/neutral switch is off. Possible causes are:

Defective vehicle speed sensor.
Vehicle speed sensor circuit is open or shorted.
Defective instrument cluster.
Defective ECM.

 

[PGRChaplain]

I'd guess Speed Sensor.

 

[PGRChaplain]

Toyota Camry Speedometer Not Working: Causes + How to Fix | Drivetrain Resource

One of the most inconvenient things that can happen to your Toyota Camry is when the speedometer stops working. You don't realize how much you look at the thing until it's always sitting at 0 MPH while driving down the road. If your car’s speedometer is not working, it's usually caused by an...

www.700r4transmissionhq.com

 

[WebSnyper]

Speedometer and not odometer, correct? Check the ABS module.

Or the speed sensor

 

[Ark]

My first two guesses are a failing vehicle speed sensor, or a screwy dash cluster.

ABS module will turn lights on when it's not seeing good signals from the speed sensors, because that's what it uses to activate the ABS system and it can't tell when to activate without a speed sensor signal. The speed sensors are also used to run the odometer, which is simply stored as a value in the car's computer and then displayed on that little screen. So both systems will be unhappy if they can't see a good speed sensor value.

Simplest way to check this is with a scan tool that can see live data from the speed sensors. Either it'll consistently throw codes for one sensor, or you'll see the one that doesn't agree with the others. Looks like an 09 Camry has one on each wheel plus one on the transmission under the air box. The sensors can fail without visual evidence, but sometimes they can also fail because the wiring is torn or deteriorated or because the hall effect wheel on the axle has broken somehow. The 4 on the wheels are down by the wheel hubs where they can get hot, wet, or struck by debris.

I'd only suspect the dash cluster if there were no trouble codes being set for ABS and no issues with the signal from the sensors. An ABS module could also fail but those are pretty rare.