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Getting little help in the 80's section and search has yielded mixed results as to whether it's an actual cable on my '94 or a speed sensor. Wouldn't know where it was anyway. I see one reference in the FSM to a speedometer cable and references to a VSS (variable speed sensor) I believe. Only reasonable suggestion was to remove the sensor, clean the contacts and reinstall to see if that cures it. Where is it on the tranny/transfer case???
Post I put in the 80's section:
Was up in Big Bear this weekend for Mountain Rendezvous this past weekend. Started the truck Saturday morning to go out for a run and the speedometer/odometer was dead. All other gauges, RPM's were all working. Only reference on a quick look in the FSM was to a speedometer cable, but search here in the 80's section references a speed sensor on later models also.
Suggestions? Is it just a speedometer cable or a sensor? Easy fix?
I've got two weeks before next outing and would really like to have a working speedometer.
Nothing guys?
Found something in the FSM in the Body Electrical section on speedometer not working and it points to the #1 sensor. Need to rig some test prongs to hook up to the battery to apply a charge to the sensor. That and a voltmeter to test the sensor.
Only other suggestion from the 80's section post was worn teeth on the guage at the cluster. Don't even want to go there! I'd think the speedometer would have acted 'funny' for awhile if the teeth at the guage cluster were worn out - not an all of a sudden stopped working.
Shoot, until I crawl under there and find this sensor, for all I know a random rouge rock might have bounced up there and damaged the harness at or near the connection.
Mine went out.. give me a call... i can help you with it Brent. Just need to reboot my brain from the Off Road Expo..
Update. Spoke with CDAN. Could be either the speed sensor that went out on Dave in 2010 or it could be the speedo correction gear I installed back in 2004 to correct the speedometer for the 285 vs 275 stock tires. 32 tooth gear is stock and Slee used to sell a 31 tooth gear that darn near corrects the tire size difference to the 285's.
Dan suggested pulling the speedo correction gear to see if it's in good shape and not seized, then chuck up a cordless drill to the truck side and see if the speedometer works. If it does the correction gear is shot - I did keep the OEM 32 tooth gear. Also inspect the wiring to that gear and the speed sensor to see whether a critter or rock did any damage.
Shoot, either the speed sensor or a speed correction box (since the correction gear is no longer available) both run around $200. Sensor will be much easier to install!!
If correction gear is in good shape may ask someone close with a 93-97 model if I can swap out the sensor for a quick test. Will do that before spending $200 on a sensor I might not need!
Dave - thx buddy for the pic on FB of the speed sensor. It at least confirmed what happened to you and my situation is very similar.
Well,
I found the culprit. The key shaft on the speed sensor that mates with the speedo gear shaft from the transfer case sheared off! The speedo gear and shaft that mates to this key shaft on the sensor turns just fine.
Call to Cruiserdan and confirmed that the sensor can indeed sieze. I reinspected the speedo gear for wear, nicks, groves, etc. and it's just fine. Got lucky there I guess as I'd have had to go back to stock gearing leaving the speedometer itself off because of the larger tires. Black box correction runs $200.
Dan did say the key shaft on the sensor can be replaced, but where it sheared off, there's nothing for me to grab onto and no pick, big or small could pry the piece left in the sensor out of there. It had to have siezed and sheared the shaft off. The small black piece fell out of the housing the key shaft goes into on the t-case side. Will be finding out when I order the sensor which way the thing goes back in!
Big thanks to both Boyd and Dave for volunteering their speed sensors for a swap test. No need to do that now.
