Let me start out by saying, i've never been a truck guy, always into the import car sceen.. have my own custom car shop, website, forum....etc I was looking for sommething to drive this winter, something 4x4 cuz i live out in the sticks and the winters here are pretty bad, when i saw a 1991 toyota 5 speed 4cyl on the net for sale. I went to check it out and I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT, yeah it may sound silly, but i did... The truck seems to need alot of work, does have some rust issues and maybe motor or tranny issues? Like i said, i've never owned a truck, so i don't know much about them or what to look for that may need fixing. I did the basic, plugs, oil change, plug wires, new battery...etc What i have noticed and the issues that i'm unsure about are

1) When i'm driving up a hill, sometimes the truck makes a noise almost like i'm dragging something, nothing to loud, but it's noticeable, seems to do it more in some gears then others, but 90% of the time it only does it when i'm going up a hill

2) The speedometer don't work, i have no idea how to go about fixing it or where to even look to see if i can fix it

3) When i first start it, it runs idles fine, but after i'm driving it and i stop at a red light, it idles up and down, almost like i'm tapping on a gas a bit?

Any help with these issues would be great! Thank you very much, Bruce

2. Check the speedometer cable (assuming it is a mechanical speedo), if may not be screwed into the back of the transfer case or to the back of the speedometer or the cable itself may be broken.

3. See the 2nd Q&A on the web page below:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/TLCA_TruckTech/TruckTech.04.09.html

Sounds like your idle is set too high.

if thats not it check the wires that go to it, the speedo & the O2 sensor run together I had a 92 and the wires got into the exaust and fried both of them. Dont know if thats ur prob to but it might be.

Well, i crawled under the truck, and what i believe to be the speedometer cable, seemed fine and screwed in. I under screwed it, and it was a small round piece of metal with a small notch at the end of it, it looks like it must fit into some type of fitting when it is screwed back it... i screwed it back in and tightned it, gave it a try and still nothing, if that indeed what the correct cable. I guess i'll have to try taking the dash apart, any tips on that? Cause all i could really see where the two screws just above the steering wheel by the cluster and i'm sure there is more to it that that lol And to go further into the dragging noise it makes coming up a hill, could it be the 5 speed tranny is bad, i found a good deal on a rebuilt one, but i dont want to jump to that, if there could be an easier fix.. Is there a way to add more gear lube to the transfer case without having it removed from the truck? Cuz when i was messing with the speedo cable (if that indeed is what it was) i noticed a place where i could probaby drain the fluid, but the spot to where it looks like you could add it, dosent seem high enough up on it to fill it as much as you would like

dont know if this is your problem but I had a chevy that wouldnt run right when the speedo didnt work cause the computer thought the motor was w.f.o. all the time.how many miles on it ?open up your exhaust for a nice boost.

Yes, you can drain/refill the t-case (and transmission) in place. Fill to the level of the fill plug (make sure you can get it out before pulling the drain plug):
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/4R_TechInfo.shtml#Fluids

Not sure if you can reach the back of the speedo to remove the cable, but if so, see if the center of the cable moves when you turn the t-case end.

The speedometer comes apart pretty easy - it's mainly removing the trim around it.

The cable has a trick to it. You need to reach back there (you really can't see much) and squeeze the plastic release on two sides of the cable.
Once out, you should be able to determine if you've got a mechanical problem with the trans, cable, or drive gear on the cable.

Purchase a factory service manual. You will need it!
Toyota makes an excellent one. There are also links to online FSMs at the top of this forum.

i had a problem with my speedo one time also. there is a ball bearing that sits inside the t-case with the end of the speedo wire. that ball creates a grove on the end of the wire and stops the wire from catching what it needs to in order to tell you how fast you are going. you can try taking the wire off the t-case and turning it while watching your speedo.

I bought a haynes manual today for it. and i'll give that speedo trick a shot tonight. Also, i have noticed that i'm going threw radiator fluid pretty fast, but there isn't a leak, but it is coming out threw the overflow bottle? It temp guage goes up pretty quick now, could it be the therostat? Or maybe a block somewhere in the lines?