Odometer Doesn't Work But Speedo Needle Does

The odometers (main one and trip one) on my speedo are not working, but the needle works fine. Is it a bad guage or is there a separate cable driving the odometers?

--Steve

Same cable. I can't think of anything other than a bad gauge that would cause that problem. I have no idea if there's a way to repair. I'm sure KStyer does though!

You can probably take it off and see what the problem is and maybe find the parts to do it yourself, but I would just send the whole thing out for rebuild. Clocks by Roger will do an excellent job, give them a try.

It will need a rebuild by someone who knows what they're doing. The odometer has several small, very fragile parts that maintains its settings and doesn't take much to screw it up. There are a number of rebuilders...I believe the cost is somewhere around $175 to rebuild and calibrate the entire speedometer head.

Its not to hard to do your self. It sounds like the plastic retainer that stops the rotation of the main gears to be turned back.
The plastic get brittle with age and heat.I just had to do mine.
Took about 45 minutes to R&R without any problems.
You can get it rebuilt by some of the Catalog companys that put new faceplates on at the same time with the better mph face that goes from 85 max to 175 mph and matches the old faceplate.

When you pull the speedometer assembly you can see the gear drive on the back of the unit. The gauge itself does not use these gears, it is direct off of the cable. If you turn the cable input by hand you can watch the gears operate, and can easily see where the movement stops on the way to the Odometer. Sometimes a clip comes out of place that holds the gear or odometer inplace. If so, tighten up the clip by squeezing it back together, the reinstall it. If the gears are worn or broken you can find replacements. Several GM speedo units use the same gears and clips, so a used one from something else may work if you can't find new ones. Ususally there is a repair shop around that has them. Electrosound on Brookpark Rd in Cleveland OH has them. The stuff is delicate, but not difficult. Take care not to bend the rotating vanes or interfear with the speedo itself, or you could change the calibration, and throw off the speed reading. Most GM units spin the cable input at 1000 RPM for 60 MPH.

Ken Styer

|UPDATED|3/30/2004 8:28:46 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Thanks all. I'll pull the speedo and check things out then. Easy to remove the speedo? Just remove the left
dash panel?

Steve

Not too bad. The wires and speedo cable are hard to reach. When the panel is loose pull it forward slightly then you can get to the connectors. You will find that if you push the cable into the speedo it will unclip easily. If there is tension on the cable, the clip won't want to move.

Ken Styer

Had a similar problem on my 80. Pulled the face plate off and got out the ol wd-40 and lubed the tumblers. works great now........

Does the whole unit need to come out to get the faceplate off to lube?

Mine turns, 1s place is 1 turn/mile 10s is 10.5 miles/turn 100s...etc until 10,000 doesn't flip completely until almost 12500 has passed.

Scot