speedometer stuck

[19865.0]

ok i went out driving the other day and my speedometer dident work for about a mile it was stuck at zero and then it went to 15 and got stuck at 15 this ever happen to any one? is it the cable or somthing else ? the car was sitting for like 4 months . it's a 89 lx 5.0 , any body got ideas?

 

[5.0LOfFun]

do you have whaite face gages? sometimes they swell when the weather gets warm causing the speedo to not be able to move fluid.

 

[87'GTstang]

Check the speddometer cable for excessive wear and possibly breakage - especially in the header and K-member area. Also if the cluster was ever taken out, if the needle was put back on - it's too tight. Or even check for improper routing ie: anywhere it's kinked or bent too much.

 

[19865.0]

its all stock and its stuck on 5 mi hr now

 

[19865.0]

anybody?

 

[jaketuff]

anybody?

Speedo cable - lubricate that sucker?

JOUT

 

[jrichker]

If the speedo cable messes up, it won't cause the pointer to stick. The pointer has no direct connection to the speedo cable. It uses a drum with magnets on it to couple to the pointer. The drum turns and tries to twist the circular steel disk that is mounted on the pointer spindle. The magnetic force is all that connects the drum to the circular disk.

Look in the yellow pages for a Speedometer shop, or plan to make a trip to the junkyard.

 

[87'GTstang]

If the speedo cable messes up, it won't cause the pointer to stick. The pointer has no direct connection to the speedo cable. It uses a drum with magnets on it to couple to the pointer. The drum turns and tries to twist the circular steel disk that is mounted on the pointer spindle. The magnetic force is all that connects the drum to the circular disk.

Look in the yellow pages for a Speedometer shop, or plan to make a trip to the junkyard.

Yeah I kind of though that it was in the unit as I know devices such as the tach and the speedometer are self-resetting at a pre-determined position. Jriichker got it right 19865.0, If the cable did stick, malfunction, break, or whatever, the needle would have more than likely reset itself back at 0. The problem has to lie in the speedometer unit itself.

 

[kevin2m4]

you tried smacking it first right?

 

[MSM0075]

Check the spedo cable, It shouldent be the speed sensor cause it wouldent get 'stuck' it would just stay on zero. Never had white face gauges but that could also be a reason.

 

[87'GTstang]

Check the spedo cable, It shouldent be the speed sensor cause it wouldent get 'stuck' it would just stay on zero. Never had white face gauges but that could also be a reason.

But if the resistors or magnets went bad, then it wouldn't be allowed to reset itself. If it was the needle put on too tight, then at least the needle would flutter or have some type of flick of movement. If the cable was broke, it would go back to 0 and stay there. The speedo relies on varible resistance. They are not mechanically linked to the cable (they are not a 1:1 ratio). The cable has to turn many revolutions for even the gauge to start registering. So if this movement stops, then by default the needle goes back to 0. In order for the needle to register the cable must be in rotation full-time and moving in a fast rate at that. It cannot be the cable if something is still registering on the gauge. Something is making it stick in that spot and/or nothing is allowing the needle to turn inside the assembly.

 

[MSM0075]

But if the resistors or magnets went bad, then it wouldn't be allowed to reset itself. If it was the needle put on too tight, then at least the needle would flutter or have some type of flick of movement. If the cable was broke, it would go back to 0 and stay there. The speedo relies on varible resistance. They are not mechanically linked to the cable (they are not a 1:1 ratio). The cable has to turn many revolutions for even the gauge to start registering. So if this movement stops, then by default the needle goes back to 0. In order for the needle to register the cable must be in rotation full-time and moving in a fast rate at that. It cannot be the cable if something is still registering on the gauge. Something is making it stick in that spot and/or nothing is allowing the needle to turn inside the assembly.

What he said.