Archived HeLp! Stuck in AZ with no speedo

[McCoyJ]

I;ve already searched need better advise. I drove my 1994 ram3500 manual 2wd to AZ from In just after buying it. I lost the mainshaft nut in OK. Didnt have the tools to fix it so i had it fixed at a shop my dad recommended when i got to AZ. Long story short, the guy said he had done it 100 times. No big deal got the updated nut, installed now no speedo for a month now. He keeps screwing with me. I replaced the Vss still no speedo. The abs light isnt on but the rear sensor is not kicking in either. This guy basically told me tuff @#$@ and sent me off. Now my transmission's leaking where he RTV'd it. Great. If anyone could get me a wiring diagram or any help i would appreciate it. Wiring values would help as well as the ohm value for the white wire or any advice on troubleshooting it. I'm leaving oct 31st and driving up through colorado and out to indiana and really love to have speedo and cruise. thanks for any help-travis

 

[Bob4x4]

Does the speedo gear turn?

 

[McCoyJ]

yes the speedo gear turns on the vss. The guy that installed the main shaft nut claims the speedo gear on it is meshing and working.

 

[GAmes]

You are confusing two systems. The rear sensor on the 94 doesn't drive the speedo. It is a sensor on the tailshaft or on a 4X4 the transfer case. If the guy didn't install the gear correctly he could have broken the shaft that the gear is on. First pull the assy that holds the gear. If that plastic gear is ruined (which I'll bet it is) check to see if the square shaft it rides on is about an inch long. If it is real short you will also have to replace the sensor. There are different positions to install the sensor, depending on the number of teeth on the gear. If he installed it in the wrong position the stress on the sensor shaft will break it. Oh, and you may as well write him off as a mech who does good work. It happened to me at a shop in Ft. Worth that I was recommended to.

 

[McCoyJ]

Ok GAmes thanks. I'm going to pull it off right now and check it out. I replaced the sensor there after he worked on my truck and pull that out and it was ok. What about the gear on the mainshaft. With out seeing a drawing of the assembly could he have put a washer or something in the wrong spot making the gear on the shaft not mesh. I'm going to put some white lithium grease on it and see. I'll post my findings. thanks.

 

[GAmes]

What about the gear on the mainshaft. With out seeing a drawing of the assembly could he have put a washer or something in the wrong spot making the gear on the shaft not mesh.

If you are talking about the worm gear that drives the speedo gear, I don't think so.

 

[Buffalo]

If it's appropriate, what shop & where in AZ did you deal with so that we can avoid a similar fate?



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[McCoyJ]

def. appropiate. The shop is located off of country club and 1st av. in Mesa. An older man owns it named Steve. avoid this place. GAmes i am talking about the worm gear on the mainshaft. I put white lithium grease all over the vss gear that slides into the trans. I drove 20 yards then pulled it out and nothing. None of the grease was pushed in between the teeth. The grease was exactly the same as when i put it onto the gear. So the gear is obviosly not meshing. I;m taking it back to the old man whick will most likely deny all claims. wish me luck

 

[DieselLady]

My friend recently installed 3. 54 gears in the diff and had to change the gear for the speedo. He tried a 33 tooth gear and the speedo what still off by about 6 mph so we went and got a 30 tooth gear which would only mesh on and off. A guy who has been doing trannys for like 40 years told me that the housing is offset and you can turn it to engage the teeth with the gear in the transmission. If you take it out and look at it you can see the gear is set off to the side a bit. Turn it gently untill it makes contact with the other gear and snug down the hold down bolt. Also befor you do that, have some one go under the truck and turn it to make sure it is working. We did that to confirm that everything from there to the dash was good. Doesn't take much to see it move. If that is good and you turn the offset untill it makes contact with the inner gear it should work. Good luck.

 

[GAmes]

My friend recently installed 3. 54 gears in the diff and had to change the gear for the speedo. He tried a 33 tooth gear and the speedo what still off by about 6 mph so we went and got a 30 tooth gear which would only mesh on and off. A guy who has been doing trannys for like 40 years told me that the housing is offset and you can turn it to engage the teeth with the gear in the transmission. If you take it out and look at it you can see the gear is set off to the side a bit. Turn it gently untill it makes contact with the other gear and snug down the hold down bolt. Also befor you do that, have some one go under the truck and turn it to make sure it is working. We did that to confirm that everything from there to the dash was good. Doesn't take much to see it move. If that is good and you turn the offset untill it makes contact with the inner gear it should work. Good luck.

What she said!



On edit, went out and got the manual.



Count the number of teeth. Note the index numbers on the adapter body. Range numbers should be installed in the 6 o'clock position.

 

[McCoyJ]

Thank you i finally solved it. when i replaced the vss i installed it correctly and when the mechanic checked it he said i had it in wrong, which i had it in correct. So i listened to him and left it. Today i noticed that and seeing the off centerness of it, which made since because earlier i was using white lithium grease on it and it was contacting. well i ended up finding a split wire on the white orange in the birds nest of wiring from the factory. Thanks for all of your quick resonse, i;ll be on my way to indy soon