Speedo jumps wildly...help!
10-08-2001, 05:22 PM
#1
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Posts: 23
Speedo jumps wildly...help!
Some more help..please. My speedo jumps erratically at times..bouncing from 30 to 60 MPH..and at low speeds, buzzing away crazily as it oscillates and whacks the needle stop.
Is this a speedo problem or is it the speed sensor in the tranny?
Hoping for the tranny..so much easier to get at!!
Thanks..
Is this a speedo problem or is it the speed sensor in the tranny?
Hoping for the tranny..so much easier to get at!!
Thanks..
10-08-2001, 06:08 PM
#2
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Join Date: Sep 2001
Posts: 273
wow i thought my friend was the only one with this problem. it appears that the guages in his 87 turbo volvo are crazy, i think i have a video of it somewhere, its really funny, they bounce all over the play uncontrolably. i have no idea whats wrong with it though sorry
10-09-2001, 04:36 AM
#4
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Posts: 23
Brent, Thanks for the tip. What's the cause..? Sounds like a bad connection to the PCB..? So, the problem is not a bad speedo movement..just a bad connection? How hard is it to take apart the dash and get the unit out? I have the shop manual but have not studied it for this yet..
10-09-2001, 05:00 AM
#5
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Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 64
I Think the exact same thing happened to my mom several years ago with the 90SE. Dealer fixed it with a new Speedo Head (?) (recalling part name from memory, could be wrong). I can dig up the reciept for the repair if anyone needs it.
10-09-2001, 06:34 AM
#6
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Originally posted by Mwb90SE
I Think the exact same thing happened to my mom several years ago with the 90SE. Dealer fixed it with a new Speedo Head (?) (recalling part name from memory, could be wrong). I can dig up the reciept for the repair if anyone needs it.
I Think the exact same thing happened to my mom several years ago with the 90SE. Dealer fixed it with a new Speedo Head (?) (recalling part name from memory, could be wrong). I can dig up the reciept for the repair if anyone needs it.
10-09-2001, 09:08 AM
#8
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Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 25
my 94 GXE bounces at random times too. Its been doing it since the car was near new but I could never get it to do it when the dealer was looking so I never bothered getting it fixed. Sometimes it randomly jumps up +10/15 mph and sometimes it works just fine. 
10-09-2001, 09:09 AM
#9
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Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,238
that happened in my prelude and a mechanic friend of mine told me it wsa the speedo cable. i'm not sure how maximas gauges work if they're electronic or cable driven. anyway he told me to put vaseline on the ends of the cable and wash it down with wd-40 or replace the cable. being a cheap *** i did the vaseline and wd it worked till i sold it. just my experience i'm not telling you to do this 
10-09-2001, 12:43 PM
#10
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Join Date: Feb 2001
Posts: 313
Originally posted by 90maxse forever
Brent, Thanks for the tip. What's the cause..? Sounds like a bad connection to the PCB..? So, the problem is not a bad speedo movement..just a bad connection? How hard is it to take apart the dash and get the unit out? I have the shop manual but have not studied it for this yet..
Brent, Thanks for the tip. What's the cause..? Sounds like a bad connection to the PCB..? So, the problem is not a bad speedo movement..just a bad connection? How hard is it to take apart the dash and get the unit out? I have the shop manual but have not studied it for this yet..
The unit is easy to get out, I have taken it out, resoldered the joints and replace in under 2 hours. That worked for about 2 years, then I had to replace the speedo unit.
Remove all your centre console trim, the around the steering column (optional - but makes the job easier), the main dash trim then you should see the gauges which are held in with 4 screws. Unscrew and unplug the harnesses. (They only connect into their socket so don't worry about remembering where they go)
Remove the front clear housing of the gauges and then the black trim and then the white trim (it might be the other way around, but you'll see what I mean. The speedo unit is held in by 4 (maybe 5 screws) in the centre and perhaps 1 at the centre top. Unscrew, and slowly pull the speedo unit out. You'll see the PCB and then resolder all connections and then reassemble.
Brent.
10-09-2001, 09:16 PM
#11
Wow, you guys are all going about it the hard way. Your problem is the Speed Sensor. It is located under the oil filter near the firewall. It looks like a little metal cylinder with a black rubber piece on top. It is common for this unit to fail (replaced it twice on my old 89' Max). Look to see if the rubber piece has popped up. This indicates that the speed sensor is bad. It works on vacuum pressure, so if the rubber popped up, the seal is broken. A new Speed sensor costs about $100.00 to replace. For now, you can just push the rubber piece back in. That should stop the erratic movements temporarily.
10-09-2001, 10:15 PM
#12
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Join Date: Feb 2001
Posts: 313
Originally posted by NightRider
Wow, you guys are all going about it the hard way. Your problem is the Speed Sensor. It is located under the oil filter near the firewall. It looks like a little metal cylinder with a black rubber piece on top. It is common for this unit to fail (replaced it twice on my old 89' Max). Look to see if the rubber piece has popped up. This indicates that the speed sensor is bad. It works on vacuum pressure, so if the rubber popped up, the seal is broken. A new Speed sensor costs about $100.00 to replace. For now, you can just push the rubber piece back in. That should stop the erratic movements temporarily.
Wow, you guys are all going about it the hard way. Your problem is the Speed Sensor. It is located under the oil filter near the firewall. It looks like a little metal cylinder with a black rubber piece on top. It is common for this unit to fail (replaced it twice on my old 89' Max). Look to see if the rubber piece has popped up. This indicates that the speed sensor is bad. It works on vacuum pressure, so if the rubber popped up, the seal is broken. A new Speed sensor costs about $100.00 to replace. For now, you can just push the rubber piece back in. That should stop the erratic movements temporarily.
Brent.
10-11-2001, 02:21 PM
#13
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Posts: 23
Originally posted by NightRider
Wow, you guys are all going about it the hard way. Your problem is the Speed Sensor. It is located under the oil filter near the firewall. It looks like a little metal cylinder with a black rubber piece on top. It is common for this unit to fail (replaced it twice on my old 89' Max). Look to see if the rubber piece has popped up. This indicates that the speed sensor is bad. It works on vacuum pressure, so if the rubber popped up, the seal is broken. A new Speed sensor costs about $100.00 to replace. For now, you can just push the rubber piece back in. That should stop the erratic movements temporarily.
Wow, you guys are all going about it the hard way. Your problem is the Speed Sensor. It is located under the oil filter near the firewall. It looks like a little metal cylinder with a black rubber piece on top. It is common for this unit to fail (replaced it twice on my old 89' Max). Look to see if the rubber piece has popped up. This indicates that the speed sensor is bad. It works on vacuum pressure, so if the rubber popped up, the seal is broken. A new Speed sensor costs about $100.00 to replace. For now, you can just push the rubber piece back in. That should stop the erratic movements temporarily.
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