Speedo Cable?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 303
Likes: 0
From: Miami FL
Speedo Cable?
Drove to the keys this week and on my way the trip counter stop working so did my speedometer. I called my mechanic and he told me that my 87 did not come with a speedo cable but a sensor on the tranny that goes connected to the instrument cluster. Sorry for the dumb question but is this true? I was under the assumption it was a regular speedometer cable like most cars that turns within inside another.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,861
Likes: 4
From: Houston TX
Re: Speedo Cable? (MrNuke)
Yes, it is an electronic sensor on the tailshaft housing of the transmission, driver's side. The main thing to check is to look and see if the mechanical-appearing odometer at the top right hand corner of the dash cluster still works. If it does, there is an issue with the gauge cluster. If it's not working, check the wiring to the sensor (it's a big round sensor that's counter-sunk into the tailshaft housing). If all looks ok, you may have a problem with the sensor.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 303
Likes: 0
From: Miami FL
Re: Speedo Cable? (CorvetteZ51Racer)
The main thing to check is to look and see if the mechanical-appearing odometer at the top right hand corner of the dash cluster still works. If it does, there is an issue with the gauge cluster. If it's not working, check the wiring to the sensor (it's a big round sensor that's counter-sunk into the tailshaft housing).
1. Take out the cluster and inspect it
2. Take out the computer and see if it's fried
3. check the wiring that goes to the computer which is a real pain in the a$# to do.
So can anyone give any suggestions or what you think might be causing this problem? :confused:
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,861
Likes: 4
From: Houston TX
Re: Speedo Cable? (My87)
second my mechanic and I tried four sensors the cluster would show the speed when he would move it or do whatever he did under the car but as soon as we would attach the sensor and drive the car it would stay at zero.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 303
Likes: 0
From: Miami FL
Re: Speedo Cable? (CorvetteZ51Racer)
Ok, ya got me confused now. I thought you were saying that you tried to hook up 4 different sensors to the wiring, and that moving the sensor around, it would show on the dash, but then you plug the sensor into the tranny and it does nothing??? Is this right?
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,861
Likes: 4
From: Houston TX
Re: Speedo Cable? (My87)
Ok, ya got me confused now. I thought you were saying that you tried to hook up 4 different sensors to the wiring, and that moving the sensor around, it would show on the dash, but then you plug the sensor into the tranny and it does nothing??? Is this right?
Right,, when we would install it it would not work or would sometimes show a few miles then drop to zero and stay there
Right,, when we would install it it would not work or would sometimes show a few miles then drop to zero and stay there
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 303
Likes: 0
From: Miami FL
Re: Speedo Cable? (CorvetteZ51Racer)
Well, if it works 100% properly with the sensor plugged into the wiring, but out of the tailshaft housing, but then it doesn't work when you plug it back into the tailshaft housing, that tells me it isn't turning inside the tailshaft housing....I wonder if there isn't some sort of problem internal to the trans.
:nonod:
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 303
Likes: 0
From: Miami FL
Re: Speedo Cable? (My87)
My mechanic tested some sort of thingy (sorry forgot what he called it) inside the housing which he said made the sensor turn and he told me that part worked fine.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,861
Likes: 4
From: Houston TX
Re: Speedo Cable? (My87)
Well, if it works 100% properly with the sensor plugged into the wiring, but out of the tailshaft housing, but then it doesn't work when you plug it back into the tailshaft housing, that tells me it isn't turning inside the tailshaft housing....I wonder if there isn't some sort of problem internal to the trans.
See that now just scares me alot..
:nonod:
See that now just scares me alot..
:nonod:
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,386
Likes: 689
From: Boise ID
Re: Speedo Cable? (My87)
Could it be a broken wire or connector making a intermitted connection? When the sensor is pulled out of the tailshaft housing the wire is at a different angle and the circuit is made???
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 303
Likes: 0
From: Miami FL
Re: Speedo Cable? (87SAM)
Could it be a broken wire or connector making a intermitted connection? When the sensor is pulled out of the tailshaft housing the wire is at a different angle and the circuit is made???
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 4,691
Likes: 1
From: Framingham MA
Re: Speedo Cable? (My87)
Ok problem begins, First the odometer is not moving, second my mechanic and I tried four sensors the cluster would show the speed when he would move it or do whatever he did under the car but as soon as we would attach the sensor and drive the car it would stay at zero. It would sometimes go up to 20 or 36 miles per hour then suddenly drop to zero again. I really need all your help now because we have no clue what to do next here are the options he told me.
1. Take out the cluster and inspect it
2. Take out the computer and see if it's fried
3. check the wiring that goes to the computer which is a real pain in the a$# to do.
1. Take out the cluster and inspect it
2. Take out the computer and see if it's fried
3. check the wiring that goes to the computer which is a real pain in the a$# to do.
BTW this gear is a cheap plastic gear (less than $10)
[Modified by dgoodhue, 3:46 PM 2/28/2003]
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 303
Likes: 0
From: Miami FL
Re: Speedo Cable? (dgoodhue)
BTW this gear is a cheap plastic gear (less than $10)
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 303
Likes: 0
From: Miami FL
Re: Speedo Cable? (My87)
OK, I drove it yesterday and it worked for almost the entire day, it gave me the speed everything about three miles from the house....... :banghead:
it went back to zero again. Oh and every time it messes up it also gives me a service engine with a 24 code. But when I drove it yesterday and it was working the service engine light never came up until I was getting home.
it went back to zero again. Oh and every time it messes up it also gives me a service engine with a 24 code. But when I drove it yesterday and it was working the service engine light never came up until I was getting home.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 4,691
Likes: 1
From: Framingham MA
Re: Speedo Cable? (My87)
BTW this gear is a cheap plastic gear (less than $10)
That is the weird part he tested the gear and told me it was ok. Any other sug?????? I am out of ideas :( :confused:
That is the weird part he tested the gear and told me it was ok. Any other sug?????? I am out of ideas :( :confused: