Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS)
2017 Toyota Camry · 2.5L I4
Sensor Type
hall-effect
Waveform Type
dc-square
Location
Mounted on transaxle housing near left axle output shaft (driver side), monitoring counter gear
Pins
3-pin connector
Timebase
20ms/div at 30 mph, 5ms/div at 60 mph
Voltage Scale
5V/div
Trigger
6V, rising edge
Wiring
Pink (12V power from ECM), Black/Yellow (signal output to ECM pin E12), Brown (ground)
Expected Voltage Range
At Idle
0V to 0V
At Higher RPM
0V to 12V
Expected Pattern
Square wave switching between 0V and 12V, 4 pulses per driveshaft revolution from internal 4-tooth reluctor
Known-Good Waveform
Clean digital square wave alternating between 0V and battery voltage (11-14V) with sharp rising and falling edges. Frequency increases proportionally with vehicle speed - approximately 40 Hz at 10 mph, 200 Hz at 50 mph. Duty cycle should remain near 50% across all speeds with consistent pulse width spacing.
Common Failure Patterns
No signal output, voltage stuck at 0V or 12V
Cause: Failed Hall effect sensor IC, open or shorted signal wire, loss of power or ground to sensor
Erratic signal with random dropout, inconsistent pulse width
Cause: Contaminated reluctor wheel from metal particles in transmission fluid, loose sensor mounting allowing movement
Related DTCs: P0503
Rounded edges on square wave, slow rise/fall times
Cause: Corroded connector terminals increasing resistance, failing sensor output transistor, damaged wiring with increased capacitance
Related DTCs: P0503
Diagnostic Tips
Verify 12V power supply at pink wire with key on before condemning sensor. On U660E transmission, internal transaxle issues causing erratic counter gear rotation can mimic VSS failure - compare VSS frequency to ABS wheel speed sensor data during road test to verify transaxle operation.
Always confirm waveform data with your vehicle's OEM service manual before diagnosing.
Free, no signup. View all waveforms for this vehicle