Speedometer stopped working
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 105
Likes: 20
From: Newton Iowa
Speedometer stopped working
My odometer and trip meter have never worked since I've had the car. My speedo would bounce a bit after sitting for a week or so then smooth out. This past weekend it completely stopped. I need to diagnose whether it is the cable, trans gear, or guage. Where is the logical place to start? I'm inclined to think at the trans. Visually inspect gear and check cable with a drill in reverse. My question is, do my symptoms lean more to the guage than the cable or trans gear? And what parts would I need to put it back together if I don't find a problem at the trans? Thanks in advance
Trent
Trent
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 7,495
Likes: 2,654
From: Really Central IL Illinois
You have the logic down in my opinion:
Use a drill in reverse at the transmission to spin the cable. If it works, check the teeth on the plastic gear for worn teeth (remove the bullet),check the hole in the gear for the cable it is still square, and check the end of the cable is still squared off. Pull on the cable to see if you can remove it from the bottom (shouldn't be able to unless it is broken).
If the speedometer doesn't work spinning the cable from the transmission, check and make sure the nut is tight at the back of the speedometer. Then remove the cable sheath at the back of the speedometer and pull the cable to assure it is not broken.
If the speedometer still doesn't work, pull the cluster and repair or send off the head unit.
Use a drill in reverse at the transmission to spin the cable. If it works, check the teeth on the plastic gear for worn teeth (remove the bullet),check the hole in the gear for the cable it is still square, and check the end of the cable is still squared off. Pull on the cable to see if you can remove it from the bottom (shouldn't be able to unless it is broken).
If the speedometer doesn't work spinning the cable from the transmission, check and make sure the nut is tight at the back of the speedometer. Then remove the cable sheath at the back of the speedometer and pull the cable to assure it is not broken.
If the speedometer still doesn't work, pull the cluster and repair or send off the head unit.
Last edited by R66; Oct 14, 2020 at 09:34 PM.
