The wife hauls the youngen to school and comes back in with the cheery news that her speedometer has quit working.

She didn't mention the odometer; but, I assume it quit when the speedometer quit.

Where is the first place I look??

I don't even know if it is cable-driven(hopefully) or electronic.

Thanks.

 

Probably electronic if hers is in your sig. I just had to replace the speed sensor in mine, back by the rear of trans, but mine is a manual. I dont kow about the autos.

 

If it is electronic the first thing that I would do is take the front bezel off the check the connections. If it is cable driven then you have a busted cable maybe. Find out where each of the ends are and see which side a busted. I wish I could help more. Good Luck

 

Bk, not sure at all which system an auto will have...
IF its the electronic, try simply cleaning and crimping the connector at teh tranny first.. they are notorious for getting corrosion/grime in them.
If that fails to correct the problem, do a search on here for 'troubleshooting " the speedo/VSS.. there is a method of testing the VSS by putting it in a cordless drill at a specific RPM and measuring the amperage output, but I cant recall the details.....I do know it was posted in this forum a long time ago. A replacement for the VSS is available at NAPA for around 45$..
Check the square drives of the VSS and gear reducer if you have one, some models dont..

I have had the VSS on mine actually work itself completly loose as well..

 

My mechanical speedometer, once loosened off down below at the transmission and I tightened it up and it worked fine again. Yes for both mechanical or electronic they will take out the odometer as well when the speedometer quits

 

Yep, make sure it's actually attached before you get too involved.

 

All she did was to jump in and take off.

The speedometer was working as soon as she hit the road.

Maybe it will work a while longer, giving me time to get under there and start diagnosing why it took this short vacation.

Assuming it is an electrical speedometer, I figure something somewhere needs cleaning/checking.

Thanks for all the replies.

 

BK, thats how they are! everytime I think I have mine figured out, it does something different...or starts working differently...
think of it as part of the trucks "charm"

 

BK
I think somewhere there is a truck like yours made out of sticks and twigs and some voodoo witch doctor keeps breaking another part off your truck.
Man, you are having the worst luck.
Good luck.
Jim

 

NAHHH.....it wouldn't be no fun if it was perfect all the time, ....or would it??

I figure the previous owner had let a few things go and all of a sudden they started snowballing on him, scaring him into selling it.

Of course the NAPA fan clutch episode is NAPA's fault.

 

The speedo on my 91 comes & goes too.
Whack the dash when it don't work & it will start working.
Sound familiar????