No speedometer after SpeedCal install

[87lc2]

Just installed a SpeedCal into my 96 Cobra and now the speedo is dead. I checked the installation a few times and everything is where it should be. I searched and found a few people had a problem with a bad connection at the power wire so I soldered it to the lighter wire and check with a voltmetee, its definitely getting power. What else could it be? btw, I have the switches set to the correct settings.

 

[Pearl02]

When I installed the speedcal my speedo didn't work either. Turned out that the fuse to the cig lighter was blown. I replaced the fuse and I works now. Did you check the fuse to the cig lighter? Pearl02.

 

[98COBRA281]

i just bought a sped cal form AM, hooked it up and nothing, i could not get it to work, i tried everything!, they sent me a new one and it works perfect

 

[stangGT97]

i just bought a sped cal form AM, hooked it up and nothing, i could not get it to work, i tried everything!, they sent me a new one and it works perfect

Same experience here. My first one was dead on arrival, which I only discovered after spending a few hours trying to get it to work. I got a replacement, and stupidly blew the Cig lighter fuse by touching the two wires together, but after replacing the fuse, the new box worked.

Also, do not use the dipswitch settings supplied with the speedcal. I used those and my speedometer didn't work. I got the correct settings from here and once I put those in, everything worked perfectly.

Maybe DM is having a high failure rate with this latest batch?

 

[87lc2]

The cig lighter fuse was blown and I replaced it and still nothing....I guess the unit might be bad after all. Is there any way to test it to see if its any good?

 

[stangGT97]

The cig lighter fuse was blown and I replaced it and still nothing....I guess the unit might be bad after all. Is there any way to test it to see if its any good?

Did you verify your dipswitch settings with those on the AmericanMuscle website? If improperly set, you'll get no speedo reading. Otherwise, I wasn't able to find a way to check if the unit was defective or not.

 

[87lc2]

Yea, I verified the switch settings, checked them a few times. Ive seen through other posts that there is a red LED that lights up when it gets a signal from the VSS, but Im getting nothing. In fact, I dont even see an LED inside of the SpeedCal. Did they make some without the LED or am I missing something?

 

[87lc2]

After searching the net, I have some conflicting info. The american muscle website install instructions say the pink power wire from the VSS mates to the gray wire on the speedcal connector. However, I found another site that says the ground wire from the VSS should go to the gray connector on the speedcal. Which is correct?

 

[stangGT97]

I followed the AM instructions with success. Use those.

 

[blackfang]

After searching the net, I have some conflicting info. The american muscle website install instructions say the pink power wire from the VSS mates to the gray wire on the speedcal connector. However, I found another site that says the ground wire from the VSS should go to the gray connector on the speedcal. Which is correct?

That is the same thing. It is just AM's instructions should be clearer and need to be a little more correct. I just checked my website as i did a writeup on that for when I installed it on my old Cobra 7 years ago. To find the ground wire, the Pink/orange wire is for 94-98 cars only, the 99+ have a gray/red wire instead.

Take the connector shell and lay in down where the flat part is down. Then install the green wire from the speedcal in the left contact hole, and
the blue wire in the right contact hole until you hear a faint click. Then re-install the red contact lock.

Also did you double check the red power wire is truly powered off the cigarette lighter wires? Sometimes the scrotch lock will snap, but it ill not puncture the wires making a connection.

That could be some of the confusion or problem. I know i had my blue/green wires backward and the speed did not work. I swapped them and it worked fine. Hope this helps.

 

[bboylobo]

if all your fuses are good and the connections are sound, try resetting the computer. just take the positive termenal off for a half hour and hook it back on. I did this when my speedo was not working for no reason.

 

[87lc2]

BlackFang, I actually used your install instructions from your Mustang Tech page, they were very helpful. However, I installed the blue/green wires like you said to, maybe that why its not working. Ill try and flip them and see what happens. On the american muscle site it says it doesnt matter where the blue/green wires go.

 

[blackfang]

Have you also double check the red power wire where it is scrotch locked to the cigarette lighter wire to make sure it really is spliced and it is getting power? Sometimes it won't make a connection. I have heard some speedcal coming dead as well.

 

[87lc2]

Yes, I have verified 12v to the red speedcal wire. I didnt use the scotch lock, I spliced it in so its definitely getting power. Like I said above, are your directions on your tech site for the blue/green wires incorrect? Should I try and flip them? I have also thought it may be a bad speedcal. If I cant get it working tonight, Im going to get a replacement.

 

[blackfang]

Yes, I have verified 12v to the red speedcal wire. I didnt use the scotch lock, I spliced it in so its definitely getting power. Like I said above, are your directions on your tech site for the blue/green wires incorrect? Should I try and flip them? I have also thought it may be a bad speedcal. If I cant get it working tonight, Im going to get a replacement.

If they aren't then some other magical power has caused my speedcal to be working perfect for the past 7 years

I have even installed others the exact same method and they worked fine.

 

[87lc2]

Oh you meant you had them the "other" way and they didnt work, then you did them the way it shows on your page and they were fine. Thats what i followed so I have no clue whats wrong, Ill try to get a replacement and see what happens. Thanks for your help.

 

[87lc2]

Ok, got a new unit and the first one was defective. However, I still have no speedo and all switches are correctly set. Driving with the lid off of the speedcal I can see the red LED lighting up whenever Im moving, so I assume its getting a signal from the VSS. What else could be wrong?

 

[87lc2]

Final update, the speedometer does move when I hit about 40 mph, but not very much. Also, the odometer is going like crazy. Wouldnt the speedo be extra fast if the odometer was spinning like that? Im confused...

 

[stangGT97]

Final update, the speedometer does move when I hit about 40 mph, but not very much. Also, the odometer is going like crazy. Wouldnt the speedo be extra fast if the odometer was spinning like that? Im confused...

That sounds like bad dipswitch settings.