I had the torque converter replaced the other day and now the speedometer doesnt work. The transfer case had to be taken off to get the trans out, I think everything is hooked back up, but I cant see why it wont work. this is in my 97

 

There is a speed sensor on the transfer case - make sure its plugged in.

 

checked that! everything is plugeds in. i am going to try to replace the vss in the rear end monday. I cant see anything wrong though

 

Don't bother changing the sensor in the rear differential, on a 97 it only inputs to the ABS. The VSS on your truck is located on the transfer case.

 

That sensor can be rotated to mount, depending on the number of teeth on the gear. Either it is not engaging, or was mounted too tight and the gear shaft is broken.

 

that's right. the speedometer gear in the sensor is not concentric with the sensor itself. the gear probably isn't engaging on gear in the transfer case. take the bolt out that holds the retaining fork on, and turn the sensor 1/4 turn, then re-install the fork and bolt, and give her a whirl.

if it still doesn't work, try another 1/3 of a turn...

if you keep turning and it still isn't working, the sensor itself may be bad.

don't bother with the sensor in the rear diff, as said before. it should be for ABS only on your model truck.

 

No, not correct. If it is or was turned too far it will break the driveshaft. There are detents in the case of the sensor for the hold down fork. There are only a couple of correct positions. First remove the sensor and determine if the square driveshaft is broken. If it is the broken piece will be lodged, or might fall out of the gear when it is removed. Unbroken it is about an inch long. Then count the teeth on the gear. The outside of the speedometer adapter should have a couple sets of numbers on it. My book shows 32-38 and 39-45. The number of teeth on your gear will fall between one of those sets. When you install the adapter the range numbers of your gear needs to be positioned at 6 o'clock. Be sure to lube the o-ring with transmission fluid prior to assy.

 

I dont see how the speed. gear would be broke cause it was never taken out. only the cably was removed fron the gear itself. I have a gear vendors on the truck and the square wire for the cable comes out separate. I will go out and check now anyway and let you know.

 

I didn't say the gear could be broken, I said the shaft that drives it could be broken. If the sensor is rotated too far there will be a bind on the assy and the square driveshaft will break. It happened to me after a mechanic in Dallas "fixed" my inop speedometer in the fashion that Conn posted. Then there is the very small chance that the sensor failed, but I doubt that. Also look for a break in the wiring to the plug.

By the way, what does having a gear venders have to do with it?

 

I didnt remember how the speed gear pluged into the tailshaft. the gear vendors just has an extention cable that goes to it but it is the same.
my bad, sorry.
I took the gear out and it looks good. I put a drill at the end of the cable and ran the drill, but the speedometer didnt move. is there somewhere else this could be broke? the cables are all fine. it came on this afternoon for 7 miles and when i turned the truckoff and started going again, it didnt work

 

sending unit bad?

 

When you pulled the gear out did you disassemble the unit? There are three pieces, the gear, the adapter (which is the housing the sender attaches to) and the sender (it has the wire plug). The sender has a square driveshaft that goes into the gear. Did you check to see if it is broken? The square portion should be about an inch long. I'm confused about "the end of the cable". There is no cable to the speedometer. The sender creates an electric pulse that is sent to the pcm and then to the speedometer. If you put a drill on the gear or the sender driveshaft the key would have to be on (and possibly the engine running) for the speedo to register.