YACT.. speedometer sticks ~65mph

[NeoPTLD]

My speedometer begins to stick when I hit around 65 to 70mph and will stay stuck in the position for +/- 10mph or so. If I'm going 65mph and slow down, the needle will not move down at all, then it jumps to 55. Samething when I speed up from 65. It stays around, then abruptly jumps up to 75-80.

The speedometer doesn't give me any trouble below 55mph. It wobbles ever so slightly at 10-25mph if this have anything to do with this problem.

According to Chilton's, my car has an electronic speed sensor rather than a mechanical linkage. Given that, I'm assuming the problem is either in sensor or instrument cluster.

Since it picks up speed fine outside of the given range, I think the sensor is fine. My first guess is the bearing in speedometer is dragging. If this turns out to be the case is there anyway I can fix it?

If this isn't the case, where else do I look?

 

[Eli]

Hammer.

 

[Evadman]

What car and engine? Stick or Auto?

If it is electronic, it could be so many things based on car. Please list.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Evadman
What car and engine? Stick or Auto?

If it is electronic, it could be so many things based on car. Please list.

What? I thought everybody knew he drove a Mazda MPV!!!

How dare you not pay enough attention to the posts here! :|

😛

 

[NeoPTLD]

This is such a generic problem that there must be general troubleshooting guideline that isn't vehicle specific. I didn't post make and model as it won't be much of a help if you don't have a service for this model.

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: Evadman
What car and engine? Stick or Auto?
If it is electronic, it could be so many things based on car. Please list.

What? I thought everybody knew he drove a Mazda MPV!!!
How dare you not pay enough attention to the posts here! :|
😛

I just got back from Vegas like 3 hours ago. Please give me 24 hours before accusing me of inefficency.

Originally posted by: NeoPTLD
This is such a generic problem that there must be general troubleshooting guideline that isn't vehicle specific. I didn't post make and model as it won't be much of a help if you don't have a service for this model.

Everything is vehicle specific. End of story. There is not just 1 sensor used by every car manufacturer in the world since the beginning of sensors.

Is it Hall Effect? Gear Reduction Driven? Reluctor Wheel Sensor? Does the computer compute the speed based on trans gear and RPM? Does the lockup clutch engage between 55-65? Is the engine speed based on a reluctor or on a tach signal or from the alternator or from the computer itself as the coils are fired? Hell, are you reading the right Chiltons Book? and is the book even right?

If someone asks for the most basic info possible on your vehicle, don't say that it is generic and not give the information. If someone said "my computer will not boot" and you asked "how many times is it beeping" do you expect an answer of "You don't need to know that. it is a generic problem." No. HELLO! you are asking for help. We are trying to help, but we need information on your god damned car. If you are not going to give is this information, why the fvck am I wasing my time to help you?

 

[Pepsi90919]

Since it picks up speed fine outside of the given range, I think the sensor is fine

funny, i would be thinking the exact opposite.


watch your VSS output with a scan tool.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: NeoPTLD
This is such a generic problem that there must be general troubleshooting guideline that isn't vehicle specific. I didn't post make and model as it won't be much of a help if you don't have a service for this model.

Honestly, you aren't going to get any help with this kind of attitude.

You need to post the make, model and year of your automobile.

 

[NeoPTLD]

Bump

Additional info.

Below is true for 1987-1993 Mazda B2200 & B2600 pickup, MPV and Navajo:

The speed sensor inside the rear axle housing. Looking in Chilton's, the sensing probe that goes inside the axle looks like a knob with a slight notch sticking out on the top. It is probably a non-contact magnetic pick-up.

Sensor should have a resistance between 900 to 2,500 ohms.

but what the hell.. I pulled the instrument cluster and there is a mechanical speedometer cable in there.

 

[LordJezo]

That happened to me on my Crown Victoria once... mechanics said it was a few $100 to fix.

Instead I took it on the highway and gunned it to around 100mph. Thing popped right back into place and worked fine.

 

[Twista]

Originally posted by: LordJezo
That happened to me on my Crown Victoria once... mechanics said it was a few $100 to fix.

Instead I took it on the highway and gunned it to around 100mph. Thing popped right back into place and worked fine.

COOL, 100 FOR 100. hehe

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: LordJezo
That happened to me on my Crown Victoria once... mechanics said it was a few $100 to fix.

Instead I took it on the highway and gunned it to around 100mph. Thing popped right back into place and worked fine.

NeoPTLD, you may want to try this on a closed course or some place where it is permitted legally and doesn't harm anyone.

 

[NeoPTLD]

^

 

[Thegonagle]

Originally posted by: NeoPTLD
This is such a generic problem that there must be general troubleshooting guideline that isn't vehicle specific. I didn't post make and model as it won't be much of a help if you don't have a service for this model.

There's no such thing as a generic car, so please don't assume that any problem is a generic problem.

Everybody: When asking for car help, always post the year, make and model.

 

[Quixfire]

Originally posted by: NeoPTLD
Bump

Additional info.

Below is true for 1987-1993 Mazda B2200 & B2600 pickup, MPV and Navajo:

The speed sensor inside the rear axle housing. Looking in Chilton's, the sensing probe that goes inside the axle looks like a knob with a slight notch sticking out on the top. It is probably a non-contact magnetic pick-up.

Sensor should have a resistance between 900 to 2,500 ohms.

but what the hell.. I pulled the instrument cluster and there is a mechanical speedometer cable in there.

Since your van does have a cable I would recommend having it lubicated or do it yourself. It would be the cheaper repair if it fixes the problem. If you want a quick test of your speed sensor, check to see if your cruise control works normally. If it is OK, the most likely the sensor is ok, it it does the same thing you speedo does then it's most likely the fault.

Good Luck!