Odometer Broke

[amersbell]

Do I just need to get a new speedometer if my odometer stopped working on my 81 SC 3.0? Maybe 120 mph instead of 85 mph?

[scottb]

Don't tell me, lemme guess -- you hit the trip reset button while the car was moving (even a little). If you did, then it's likely the little gear inside the speedo is toast. Common problem.

Go to www.odometergears.com and you'll find the part to fix it. I think there's a Pelican tech article on how to do the repair. Or, send the entire unit to North Hollywood Speedometer and they'll be able to fix you right up!

Don't worry...this is likely not a big deal.

[amersbell]

Bought it that way, two weeks ago.

[scottb]

Then the PO did the deed. It's a common mistake...and a relatively easy fix.

[TurboBert]

At the risk of being branded a herectic, I think "hitting the trip reset button while moving will break the odometer" is really a myth. From my limited experience, the usual cause is that the plastic gears get soft with age and just start to crumble.

[greglepore]

I often has nothing to do with the reset - mine had a gear that was completely brittle with age-apparently they're lubed and the lube breaks the plastic down. The website posted is a great resource.

[amersbell]

Thanks Scott.

By the way I've got a friend tat just bought the NOTAR Helicopter. Really nice.

[no substitute]

From the www.odometergears.com site:

"Another myth is your gear breaks when you hit the reset while moving. Your gear broke because VDO put oil on the rubber gear. The heat from the sun, over time, disolved your gear."

But a great site to have access to all the same, thanks for the link.

[Todd Simpson]

My gear didn't break, it simply spun on the shaft. A little crazy glue got it all working again, and still holding after 5 years.

[ubiquity0]

Not sure it thats a total myth. My odo stopped working the instant I reset the trip button while rolling.

[Schrup]

I accidently hit the reset button while moving once & thought I had dodged a bullet. I would be nice to know for sure.

[TurboBert]

Consider someone who breaks through a rotted floor by walking on it. You could say the walker broke it but the better answer is that the floor had rotted.

[xlr8]

Check out this Pelican Technical Article .
I would personally prefer one of the later 160 MPH guages, a speedo shop might be able to rebuild it as such?
NOTARs are cool!

[azasadny]

I sent my dead speedometer/odometer to North Hollywood Speedometer this spring and they sent me my rebuilt uint two weeks and $150 later (included shipping). The rebuilt unit works great!