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Speedometer Reading Low On Stock 03 Gt

  • Thread starter Thread starter silvergtcoupe03
  • Start date Start date Jun 26, 2012
S

silvergtcoupe03

New Member
May 25, 2012
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1
Jun 26, 2012
#1
  • Jun 26, 2012
  • #1
I have a problem with my speedometer where it reads that i'm going slower than i really am. If the speedometer reads that im going 40, it will really be like 47, or if im going 45 i'll be going 52 or 53. I've already gotten 2 tickets from this and i need to find a solution for this. I was rear ended by some kid about a few months ago and needed a new (used) rear axle, i have no idea if that could be any cause. Any ideas?
 

txredgt

10 Year Member
Oct 26, 2009
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Jun 26, 2012
#2
  • Jun 26, 2012
  • #2
Probably due to the car having a different rear end gear ratio and never having that corrected in the computer.
 
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silvergtcoupe03

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May 25, 2012
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Jun 26, 2012
#3
  • Jun 26, 2012
  • #3
the axle they switched it out with had the same gear ratio so idk if it could be that, but would resetting the computer do anything?
 
4

40oz

Member
Jan 9, 2006
499
3
18
Minneapolis
Jun 27, 2012
#4
  • Jun 27, 2012
  • #4
Sounds like the replacement rear axle came out of a car with a taller rear gear than the factory 3.27 that came in all '03's. Based on your first post, I'd guess you have 2.73's.

You could try disconnecting the battery for half an hour, but I can't see any scenario where that will solve your problem.

I'm sure you get better mileage on the freeway and around town, but those tall gears are really hurting performance. I don't know how long ago the work was done, but if insurance paid for the work you should let them know the job isn't done, or wasn't done properly. Your car should be as good as before the accident or better. Right now it is worse, and you could have dealt with those tickets by demonstrating your speedo was improperly calibrated due to the second-rate work done by the shop.
 

trinity_gt

10 Year Member
Jan 31, 2003
3,125
81
99
Canada
Jun 27, 2012
#5
  • Jun 27, 2012
  • #5
silvergtcoupe03 said:
I have a problem with my speedometer where it reads that i'm going slower than i really am. If the speedometer reads that im going 40, it will really be like 47, or if im going 45 i'll be going 52 or 53. I've already gotten 2 tickets from this and i need to find a solution for this. I was rear ended by some kid about a few months ago and needed a new (used) rear axle, i have no idea if that could be any cause. Any ideas?
Click to expand...

You need to tell us where the replacement rear end came from.

I agree with 40oz: The math seems to indicate that the rear axle under your car right now has a 2.73:1 ratio. This might suggest that the rear came from a mid 90s Mustang. Just out of curiosity do the rear wheels seem to sit further "under the car" than before the replacement? Earlier rears were narrower than New Edge rears were...
 
S

silvergtcoupe03

New Member
May 25, 2012
12
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Jun 30, 2012
#6
  • Jun 30, 2012
  • #6
the shop it was sent to bought a used rear axle from somewhere that had a wrecked mustang with a working rear end, that rear end was then taken out and put in my mustang, the shop said it was the same gear ratio, and i actually get worse mileage than i did before, the car doesnt feel much different than it did before this happened, i might just take it somewhere to get the speedometer calibrated because i have no idea how to work on speedometers, the tach reads fine tho but idk if that has to do with anything
 

Shiroelex

There's nothing worse than aut
Founding Member
Aug 23, 2001
728
1
27
Westland, MI
Jun 30, 2012
#7
  • Jun 30, 2012
  • #7
I wouldn't rely on a differential tag being 100% right. They may have only looked at that and not the internals. You could always do the old school method of jacking up the rear end, putting the car in neutral, and spinning the tires by hand to see how many revolutions the driveshaft makes in relation to one tire rotation. (If your car has a limited slip, both tires should spin the same direction, and you only need to spin them one full rotation. If you have an open differential, one tire will spin forward and the other backward. If it's an open diff, leave one rear tire on the ground. Turn the tire that's off of the ground two full rotations, not one.) Mark a line on the tire you are spinning, and one on the driveshaft.

So, Limited slip: Both wheels off the ground, turn one complete rotation and count driveshaft rotations.

Open Diff: Lift one wheel off the ground and turn 2 complete rotations, then count driveshaft rotations.

It might be a bit hard to count the rotations. I usually make chalk marks to line things up with. If your driveshaft turns roughly 3 and a quarter turns, that should be 3.27s. If it only spins 2 and a quarter turns, sounds like 2.73s.
 
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