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I have determined that the gear internal to the manual transmission is the problem.
Car is a 1998 cse with 217,000 on the odometer (plus another 1200 since the speedo died).
I pulled the speed sensor and checked it manually with a voltmeter, when I turned the gear it created a small, non-zero voltage. (as an aside, I had access to a non-working speed sensor to compare, it produced no voltage in this type of test.)
Second, I replaced the speed sensor, attached the voltmeter to the output from the speed sensor, jacked the car up, started the engine, and put it into 5th gear (yes, wheels spinning...). No voltage coming from speed sensor, ergo transmission is the cause.
Indy said swap out the speedo instrument cluster(I am lucky to have a parts car) but if there is no voltage coming into the speedo, won't make any difference...can anyone find a flaw in this logic?
Ok, now for the kicker: I read on previous posts that the ECU needs speed input, otherwise "goes a little crazy" so my question is, will the dead speedo eventually strand me? (I am experiencing the stalling problem when I come to a stop, have learned to goose the engine after I take it out of gear then brake to a stop). I think the engine is running a bit rich, although I can no longer calculate mpg since odometer stopped. I consistently averaged around 26-27 mpg over the life of the car, sometimes getting over 500 miles from a full tank driving highway miles. (not bad for a 15 year old, heavy Swedish Steel-laden car!). My routine driving is a mix of rural and highway miles, not much city driving, usually filling up around 425-450 miles on a tank. BTW performance is still pretty good, full turbo, no hesitation.
I fear this may be the end of the line for the car (my parts car does have a working, rebuilt auto transmission, but I am not up to the task of swapping them). Also seeing rust in front quarter panels around wheel well trim, and other assorted (mostly minor) problems...seems a shame to scrap the car over a speedo issue! I am willing to do what I can to keep the car going, except to sink thousands into it for a speedo issue (so what were they thinking when they used a nylon-plastic for crying out loud!-part inside the tranny?)
Thanks to all previous posters who warned me about the torx 30 bolt holding in the speed sensor. I used three drive extensions connected to my impact tool to reach down to the bolt from the engine compartment (just in front of the false bulkhead, between the oil fill tube and the battery tray-use a light or two to identify the wire coming from the speed sensor and follow it down). I tried to access said bolt from below the car, but there was no way to get leverage, thus the need for three extensions: impact tool has 1/2 inch drive + 6" extension + 3/8" adapter + 6" extension + 1/4" adapter + 6" extension + 1/4" socket + torx 30 bit. Two taps onto impact tool and it came free easily. (hardest part was actually disconnecting connector from speed sensor-used the right sized flat screwdriver to pry open the red locking tab on the connector...had to reach behind the oil fill tube to get one hand on the darn thing then pry with the screwdriver.
BTW yes I checked all fuses, yes all other gauges work (except odometer as stated).
Recent work includes replaced thermostat.
Thanks in advance!
posted by 66.189.36...
, Thu, 23 Jan 2014 06:52:11
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