trouble with digital speedo

[shaved80]

my speedometer went out. whenever i first start my truck and drive it'll work for about 30 seconds, well sort of work, i accelerate and it keeps going up to 50 then back down to 0 where it stays. i pulled out the speedo gear and it looked fine, put it back in then it worked for a day and went out again. is this something to do with my digital gauges not wired right, or is it with my tranny? it sucks because it's also the odometer so it hasn't been keeping my miles..

[roundedline]

PM me you telephone number...

Has anything changed with the wiring or did it just start doing this...

To eliminate the gauge from being the culprit pull the mechanical sensor off the trans and hook a high speed drill to it with the cluster still connected and see if it goes above 50.  If it works, the it is the trans.  If it doesn't, it is the speed sensor.

Chris Lucas
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
www.captkaoscustoms.com
Project Su
Jimmy 2WD Project

Edited by: roundedline at: 3/24/06 10:43 am

[Texarado]

Any followup on the speed sensor? I think mine may be out as well.

[roundedline]

I haven't hear from Shaved80 yet...

Texarado,
Is this on you Dakota gauges?

Chris Lucas
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
www.captkaoscustoms.com
Project Su
Jimmy 2WD Project

[shaved80]

i haven't had time to mess with it...i disconnected it from the computer and reconnected it but that didn't do a thing. i'll try to check the sender tomorrow

Edited by: shaved80 at: 3/28/06 7:05 pm

[Texarado]

"Is this on you Dakota gauges?"

Naw, my speedo is stock. I noticed in the   catalog that there is a speed sensor on the 8?-86 models. Mine is a 86 w/cruise control. It doesn't necessarily bounce as with a cable problem. It over speeds at speeds above 50 or so. I'll be driving about 70-75 and the speedo will shoot up to 90 or 100 and stay there a few minutes and then return to normal.

[shaved80]

i pulled out the sender, and the gear was loose on it, put it back in and it's working fine right now. we'll see how it is tomorrow

[roundedline]

Texarado,
The 82-87's have a VSS that was connected to the back of the speedo that gave a signal to the Cruise control.  It still uses a speedo cable for the actual speedometer.  The VSS would make your cruise stop working, not the speedo.  Trucks that didn't have a cruise control (except for '87's) didn't have the VSS typically.  Have you lubed your cable?  Sounds like it is binding?

Shaved,
Let me know if you have any other problems.

Chris Lucas
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
www.captkaoscustoms.com
Project Su
Jimmy 2WD Project

[shaved80]

after about 10 minutes it went back out

i guess i'll have to check the sender when i get back  

[Texarado]

Chris, I'll lube the cable this weekend and see what happens. Thanks.

[roundedline]

Let me know what you find Shaved!

Chris Lucas
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
www.captkaoscustoms.com
Project Su
Jimmy 2WD Project

[shaved80]

i feel pretty stupid to admit this, but i didn't push the sender in all the way so the gear kept slipping. i took it out, checked the cable with a drill and it worked fine, so then i took out the sender, checked both gears and they were both fine. before i used to just push the sender in with my hand and you could still see a slight amount of o-ring, but this time i tapped it in with a hammer then reconnected it, 2 days and it still works!

[roundedline]

EXCELLENT!  I am glad you figured it out.  I might need to make a mental note for myself on that.

Chris Lucas
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
www.captkaoscustoms.com
Project Su
Jimmy 2WD Project