odometer gear broke

[RobbieH]

We have that seemingly common problem with the odometer and trip meter going out and the speedo still working on the 91. 5 D250 "project". The previous owner said it quit working one day when he pushed the reset button on the trip meter. We are guessing that the little blue gear broke. Is it safe to assume this and attempt to replace the gear or should we send the whole unit to United Speedometer in Houston for a $165. 00 rebuild? I know to some this may seem like a minor issue, but the new owner needs to record mileage for work plus we want to keep the maintenance on schedule, not to mention we want to see how many miles we can put on this thing . Does someone have a source for a replacement gear if that's the route we should take? Thanks.

 

[bgilbert]

Junkyard you usually can get the whole guage cluster for $25-$40 around here. Bill

 

[C. Harlan]

My old 91 did the same thing. . I never bothered with it, and it got annoying sometimes, but now that you mention it, I think it quit working when I reset the trip meter. . I did not know I wasnt alone on this issue. . the dealer where I traded it in at told me I had disconnected it intentionally, and I just laughed at them. So do you just replace it with another instrument cluster from another 1st gen?



-Chris-

 

[RobbieH]

Bringing this back to top for another question.



We found a local place to rebuild the speedo (www.zepco.com). Trying to get the cluster out to remove the guage to take it to them and are having problems with the gear selector wire. Don't want to tear anything up... . matter of fact just by messing around with it last night, now it is saying it's in nuetral when it's really in drive . How is it connected? Can't get the cluster out far enough to see what's going on. Any ideas on the best way to remove the speedo would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[dpuckett]

Not sure about geting the speedo out, but there is a wire/ cable somewhere in there that attaches to the shift lever, and I think you can adjust it or bend the wire or something along those lines. I'll look on Mom's rig when she gets back in town.



Daniel

 

[Philip]

Drop the column down just a little by loosening the two mounting bolts on the bottom side. After you have it down about an 1" you will see the string and the small metal tab it is hooked to. Just bend the tab as needed to correct the indicator.

 

[RobbieH]

Thanks for the info. I'll look around the column for where it attaches. Hopefully (if i'm understanding this right), i can disconnect the cable there and remove the cluster so i can get the speedo out and take it to have it rebuilt. Then when i reinstall it i can bend the tab that i apparently bent while messing around trying to get the cluster out the other day to fix the indicator.

 

[dpuckett]

Your speedo is electronic; the cable I was referring to is the tab and wire Philip referred to. There are two plug ins to unhook to get the gauge cluster out



-DP

 

[RobbieH]

Just to make sure we are on the same page... .



I removed the screws and plug ins on the cluster and had it almost out when the wire/cable for the shift indicator held me up. I couldn't figure out how to get it disconnected in order to completely remove the cluster. I apparently bent the metal tab where it connects to the column because it is not accurate at this time (says N when in D).



Here's what i need to know.....



Do i need to remove the whole cluster to get the speedo out? If so, how do i disconnect the wire/cable in order to do this? I will bend the metal tab and get my shifter indicator lined back up when i reinstall the speedo after it's been rebuilt. In the mean time, i haven't been able to even get the speedo out .

 

[Philip]

You need to drop the coulmn down to unhook the string which operates the gearshift indicator. It just hooks over the tab. When you get done and the cluster back in. Just bend the tab as needed to correct the indicator.



You do need to remove the whole cluster to get the speedo out. Also by lowering the steering column. It allows the bezel to come out of the dash pocket easyer. By not lowering the column you take a good chance of breaking the bezel. Be sure to remove the screws from the map light also.

 

[Wayno]

Originally posted by RobbieH

We have that seemingly common problem with the odometer and trip meter going out and the speedo still working on the 91. 5 D250 "project". The previous owner said it quit working one day when he pushed the reset button on the trip meter. We are guessing that the little blue gear broke. Is it safe to assume this and attempt to replace the gear or should we send the whole unit to United Speedometer in Houston for a $165. 00 rebuild? I know to some this may seem like a minor issue, but the new owner needs to record mileage for work plus we want to keep the maintenance on schedule, not to mention we want to see how many miles we can put on this thing . Does someone have a source for a replacement gear if that's the route we should take? Thanks.

Thats where I took mine to get it fixed . They told me some of my electronics had went out in the speedo . Oh yea I did the junk yard thing here in the Houston area and everyone that could speekie the English just laugh went I told them that I was looking for just a speedo .

 

[RobbieH]

Thanks for the info Philip and DP. Will pull it this week and send it to be rebuilt.