Help my speedometer, mileage, and trip meter do not work, only the tachometer works

[holden j caufield]

So it was really cold one morning and I dosed the windows of my 93si (190k miles manual tranny) to thaw some of the ice. I forgot that my driver side window was slightly open so some water hit the gauges. It worked on the way to work but on the way home the speedometer did not work, the idle bounced and the check engine light went on.
I disconnected the battery to reset the ECU and speedometer and everything worked again on the way to work. The last 5 miles on the way home when I put it in neutral on a downhill the speedometer stopped working.

Now nothing on the gauges works but the tachometer. I thought it was the speed sensor but that wouldn't explain why the mileage and trip meter don't work now. Also with the bouncing idle the car turned off twice in the past few days when I was at a stop sign.

Could this be a distributor problem? I was certain this was a speed senor prob but is it possible I shorted the cluster gauge? Thanks

Thanks

 

[Colt45]

wtf does the distributor have to do with the speedo?

 

[thirdeye]

Originally posted by: Colt45
wtf does the distributor have to do with the speedo?

Yeah really, that would probably be the last thing I'd worry about. You might be shorting out a wire somewhere in the cluster.

 

[Minerva]

Probably shorted out something on the package pcb. It may work later but if stray currents caused instability it probably self destructed.

 

[Evadman]

speed sensor or related

 

[M2008S]

1) check all the fuses. look in your manual for a diagram or on the bakc of the fusebox cover). especially check the one controlling gauges. check all of them too, not just the one. replace any bad ones and see if that fixed it. like.. check all the easy stuff before taking the gauges out or anything like that.

2) do dash lights work? like you say it might be the whole gauge cluster. im not sure why the trip and odom are broken also (unless theyre electronic and arent the rolley ones??). if you know how to take it apart, check the wiring to the gauges and make sure its all connected

3) PM me lol. i might be able to help more. im not quite sure on anything else but ill get thinking. in the mean time, try that. be sure to replace the bad fuses with the correct ones (IE 15 amp for 15 amp, etc. im sure you know this)

 

[M2008S]

btw dont put water on the windows, it might crack them

 

[holden j caufield]

Yeah I just put cold water not even luke warm to ensure I wouldn't crack the windows. But I changed out the fuse for the gauges with the right amp and it's still the same problem.

 

[jadinolf]

Heck, all you need is your tachometer. Ignore the other crap.

 

[Pepsi90919]

i have no idea what a "93si" is, is it a car?

also distributors typically feed the tachometer not the speedometer

 

[Minerva]

mechanical gauges ftw!

93si sounds like a Honda to me.

 

[holden j caufield]

Originally posted by: jadinolf
Heck, all you need is your tachometer. Ignore the other crap.

agreed, I know how fast I'm going by the tach and which gear I'm in. But the bouncing idle sometimes shuts off the car when I'm at a complete stop or coasting

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: Minerva
mechanical gauges ftw!

93si sounds like a Honda to me.

mechanical speedometers blow. after 150,000+ km they start doing the wavy dance

 

[Minerva]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: Minerva
mechanical gauges ftw!

93si sounds like a Honda to me.

mechanical speedometers blow. after 150,000+ km they start doing the wavy dance

At low speeds the needle quivers but I like it.

Pseudo mechanicals use a dynamo that powers a d'arsonval movement meter. Quite reliable as the only components are resistor bridges. The brushes on the dynamo will last a really long time. We have a Frieze aerovane at the marina that's been running since 1980 based on this and the blade is always turning. Probably has more "miles" on it than the space shuttle fleet and the weather helm meter's needle is still butter smooth. 60's tech ftw.

 

[M2008S]

yeah mechanical gauges give out but i believe his are electronic... assuming a 93si is a 1993 civic SI

:-/ i dont have too much more info other than to check connections like i said. you might wanna see about getting them repaired? dead gauges can be repaired.. ive seen it done for maybe $170. maybe the junkyard has a whole new cluster.. or EBAY

 

[holden j caufield]

Would mechanical gauge failure cause a boucing idle and engine shut off

 

[M2008S]

nonworking mechanical gauges should not cause engine shutdown. my trucks oil pressure and speedo do not work and its fine . i think now theres a few little problems going on.. take it to a local garage and ask them to put it on a scanner. or a local autozone will scan it for free. call a honda dealer up and ask them about what to do and tell them what happened... those are the best bets. i say a scan because it dies and the dealer because of the gauges. im a simple 'backyard mechanic' and ive never really worked on hondas... my uncle owns a shop but i cant ask him since hes closed.