Speedometer stuck pegged over 200 MPH
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Needles themselves are plastic. 
A strong magnet MAY affect the stepper motor metal parts behind the gauge face.
A strong magnet MAY affect the stepper motor metal parts behind the gauge face.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Gah you all convinced me, I bought the magnet Bill mentioned. I know someone who'd love to have their littler sampler of magnets too, so good enough reason to just go ahead and order them. Not sure what I'm going to do with it besides hopefully fix the gauge. Hopefully not smash my finger between it and a metal surface, which is the only thing I can think of happening now...
Good for you! The magnets are chrome plated. If you let the magnet slam on a magnetic surface hard or slam together hard, the face of the magnet will chip or break. There not that strong that they will crush your fingers but,,,,,, if you have TWO like I do and let them snap together and you get some SKIN between the two magnets, it makes a hell of a blood blister!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,804
Likes: 358
From: Northville, MI
The GM800 trucks were notorious with having the stepper motors fail. On my Escalade the oil pressure and gas gauge took a hike. Replaced the stepper motors 3 yrs ago and all was good. It sounds like it may be your stepper motor since the magnet cannot move it.
1/4 mile/AutoX
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,442
Likes: 2,186
From: Buffalo Texas
1/4 mile/AutoX
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,442
Likes: 2,186
From: Buffalo Texas
Yeah, I'm in agreement it probably is that motor. The problem is, all those kits say they're for the trucks so I'm not sure if they're compatible or not. I called a local shop that was quite familiar with the issue and says they buy them in a kit. It might be the exact same stepper motors, but I'd feel better knowing a place that installs them all the time ordered and installed it as I sure don't want to take my dash cluster apart and do all this and risk it being the wrong thing.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/97-04-CHEVY-...lVOUsH&vxp=mtr
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1/4 mile/AutoX
Joined: Jun 2014
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From: Buffalo Texas
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
I used the side of the magnet. Try the side and if it doesn't move flip the magnet 180 deg and try it again. I moved mine easily. Yes. It was movable from behind the glass.
Bill
1/4 mile/AutoX
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,442
Likes: 2,186
From: Buffalo Texas
I tried all sides of the magnet when I tried it and none worked. One of the sides should've been the strongest and they did nothing. However, I was driving around the other day and looked down and saw the speedo was reading correctly again. I've since started the car several times and each time it's been working. So I guess for now it's fixed? Beats me what fixed it, I figured I'd just use the digital speedo until the shop got the parts in. It may stop working again, but for now I'll take it 
My only guess is that normally I do key to on, wait a few seconds, then start the car. I think the other day I was in a hurry and just started the car immediately, so maybe the extra juice of starting it as it tried to sweep re-energized it? Best guess I got, or a bump on the expressway made it come back on. I got used to not looking at it though so not sure when it started working again.
My only guess is that normally I do key to on, wait a few seconds, then start the car. I think the other day I was in a hurry and just started the car immediately, so maybe the extra juice of starting it as it tried to sweep re-energized it? Best guess I got, or a bump on the expressway made it come back on. I got used to not looking at it though so not sure when it started working again.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
I doubt it was a BUMP cause I banged the hell out of the spare cluster and the needle didn't even budge. I even turned it upside down and shook the crap out of it and NOTHING.
Sorry the magnet didn't work for you BUT,,, I'm ecstatic that its back to working.
Happy THANKSGIVING!
Bill
Sorry the magnet didn't work for you BUT,,, I'm ecstatic that its back to working.
Happy THANKSGIVING!
Bill
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 46
From: Springfield IL.
Oldtimer
I'm not sure about buying a magnet as the fix, I did ask a local shop and they said they were familiar with the issue and mentioned the replacement stepper motors are cheap. I didn't ask about the labor costs but I'm not sure how much of a temporary fix the magnet might be. Hmm I'll have to weigh it, the magnet is cool though I'm not sure what use I'd have for it considering the expense. I also have no idea where to safely store a powerful magnet.
I did try a fairly powerful speaker driver magnet that had been completely removed from the basket and cone but it didn't even budge against that. I actually have some old reel to reels and some cassettes here and there so I'm leery of bringing a magnet into the house that might accidentally ruin any of my tapes. Not a problem most would have though!
I did try a fairly powerful speaker driver magnet that had been completely removed from the basket and cone but it didn't even budge against that. I actually have some old reel to reels and some cassettes here and there so I'm leery of bringing a magnet into the house that might accidentally ruin any of my tapes. Not a problem most would have though!
1st Gear
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Speedo stuck beyond 220 mph
Had the same problem, happened when changing battery. Took it out and the needle gets physical stuck on the plastic internals. Take the clear plastic out and use a toothpick carefully and get the needle unstuck, goes back to zero and works as it should. If you have HUD speedo with display correctly. When replacing the battery remove the fuses for Instrument panel. If when you turn the key nothing happens you have the correct fuse.
Pissed me off as I had removed cluster fixed then worked on battery and it happened again. Expert on removing the cluster.
Pissed me off as I had removed cluster fixed then worked on battery and it happened again. Expert on removing the cluster.