The "Go Baby" Speedometer Wire Mod
I've done this mod on a 1997, 1999, and 2001 Tacoma. As near as I can tell, all Tacomas come equipped with a governor that limits the stock speed to somewhere between 105 and 108 MPH. My 1997 V6 4X4 had a governor on it, and my 2001 V6 4X4 has one now. So after fooling around under the truck, I figured out a way to disable the governor quickly and easily, without the need to remove or reprogram any vehicle computer chips. Be warned, it ain't the most sophisticated mod you ever saw, but it is effective. Also, this mod only works on manual transmission trucks- NOT automatics. But why would you want anything else?
You'll need two 24-inch pieces of 16 or 18-gauge wire, electrical tape, a connection crimper, two butt connectors, two blade connectors, and a low-profile 12-volt toggle switch, and a Phillips and flat-head screwdriver.
Before going any further, I'll not comment on the advisability of driving at very high speeds in a truck. To each his own. Personally I like to haul ass every once in a while, and the whole idea of a "governor" is galling to me. As if we don't already have enough idiotic legislative restrictions on every aspect of our lives. Believe me when I tell you that this comes in handy those times when you absolutely need to get gone in a hurry.
The quickest, dirtiest way to disable the governor is to pull the signal sending plug from the end of the transmission, right before where the driveshaft exits the tranny housing. It's the one in the middle of this picture:
(See 1st attachment)
Not that you want to do this, because if you do, you lose your speedometer signal instantly and it's a pain to climb under your truck to disconnect or reconnect the plug when you're on a high-speed run from "whoever". So instead, for the time being just disconnect the plug and the clips that hold the plug wires secure to the chassis.(shown below) This is so you'll have the slack in the wires necessary to make your connections. More about that shortly.
(See 2nd attachment)
This is some other plug that may be attached to the target plug by the protective hard plastic wire covering. Just disconnect this plug, and pop out any of the retainers that may attach the wires to the truck. This is so you can draw the entire harness up into the cab.
(See 3rd attachment)
This shows the wires you want on the correct plug. I spliced into the center wire (the blue one) and it worked perfectly. You may want to pause at this point and take a short drive down the driveway, to verify that your speedometer is not receiving a signal.
(See 4th attachment)
In the cab, remove the four screws from the corners of the shift console, remove the screw from the side of the pushbutton 4WD knob (if so equipped) otherwise just unscrew whatever shift knobs are present. (I have to reiterate, this doesn't work on an automatic so don't bother.) Then carefully lift the shift console cover up, being careful not to over-stress the tabs of the console to the rear of the shift console.
(See 5th attachment)
I've done this mod on a 1997, 1999, and 2001 Tacoma. As near as I can tell, all Tacomas come equipped with a governor that limits the stock speed to somewhere between 105 and 108 MPH. My 1997 V6 4X4 had a governor on it, and my 2001 V6 4X4 has one now. So after fooling around under the truck, I figured out a way to disable the governor quickly and easily, without the need to remove or reprogram any vehicle computer chips. Be warned, it ain't the most sophisticated mod you ever saw, but it is effective. Also, this mod only works on manual transmission trucks- NOT automatics. But why would you want anything else?
You'll need two 24-inch pieces of 16 or 18-gauge wire, electrical tape, a connection crimper, two butt connectors, two blade connectors, and a low-profile 12-volt toggle switch, and a Phillips and flat-head screwdriver.
Before going any further, I'll not comment on the advisability of driving at very high speeds in a truck. To each his own. Personally I like to haul ass every once in a while, and the whole idea of a "governor" is galling to me. As if we don't already have enough idiotic legislative restrictions on every aspect of our lives. Believe me when I tell you that this comes in handy those times when you absolutely need to get gone in a hurry.
The quickest, dirtiest way to disable the governor is to pull the signal sending plug from the end of the transmission, right before where the driveshaft exits the tranny housing. It's the one in the middle of this picture:
(See 1st attachment)
Not that you want to do this, because if you do, you lose your speedometer signal instantly and it's a pain to climb under your truck to disconnect or reconnect the plug when you're on a high-speed run from "whoever". So instead, for the time being just disconnect the plug and the clips that hold the plug wires secure to the chassis.(shown below) This is so you'll have the slack in the wires necessary to make your connections. More about that shortly.
(See 2nd attachment)
This is some other plug that may be attached to the target plug by the protective hard plastic wire covering. Just disconnect this plug, and pop out any of the retainers that may attach the wires to the truck. This is so you can draw the entire harness up into the cab.
(See 3rd attachment)
This shows the wires you want on the correct plug. I spliced into the center wire (the blue one) and it worked perfectly. You may want to pause at this point and take a short drive down the driveway, to verify that your speedometer is not receiving a signal.
(See 4th attachment)
In the cab, remove the four screws from the corners of the shift console, remove the screw from the side of the pushbutton 4WD knob (if so equipped) otherwise just unscrew whatever shift knobs are present. (I have to reiterate, this doesn't work on an automatic so don't bother.) Then carefully lift the shift console cover up, being careful not to over-stress the tabs of the console to the rear of the shift console.
(See 5th attachment)
