odometer stopped working

[porsche newbie]

What kind of a problem is it to find out why my odometer quit working. Speedometer still works fine but no odometer

[zedsn]

Most likely either the gear in the speedo for the odometer has slid down or it is stripped. It is only a plastic gear.

[flash968]

yup - happens all the time. pretty easy to change, and not an expensive part. i just did it in a 968 speedo. $25 and about an hour.

[mytrplseven]

If your car is an early one (pre 85 1/2) the gear has usually slipped down the shaft. It can be super-glued back in position. If it's a later unit, the gear has probably crumbled from age. They usually break when the odo reset button is pushed while the car is moving. It should only be pushed while the car is stopped. If it's a later car, you can buy a gear and try to replace it but it's a delicate process and it's pretty easy to screw up the speedo needle. There's a couple of places in California that are advertised in Panorama, one in Palo Alto ( I used them).

[MPitt]

I repaired the gear in my 86. I ordered the part from Odometergears.com. The hardest part I think was getting the cluster out because I didn't have the right size socket to take the steering wheel off. They also have this PDF guide that I used as a reference, but it's not too hard if you have the odo in front of you.

[Gawernator]

My odometer/trip meter is starting to go bad... although recently it has seemed to be working. I want to replace the gear but I'm scared of breaking the gauge cluster

[uvachief]

I've replaced the gear in my 86 multiple times. Still has a ghost in the machine. The odometer works but the trip will get hung up on reset a lot of times. Checked the numbers several times and it all looks fine. Last time, we threw a 968 odometer on it. Been working better ever since. Doesn't perfectly match the view window but only a hair off. Try dc Automotive - 140,000 square feet of Porsche Parts and put a bid of $50 or $75 on one of the instrument cluster gauges like a speedo. You will get the entire cluster.

[romad]

Great! your car will never loss value again.

[flt505]

Hi Folks - I have just replaced 'that wheel' that causes this problem. Part obtained quickly via Pelican Parts. There is a techno thread on this replacement under 'parts/guages/odo wheels'. Just ensure that you count the inner number of cogs that fits your mph/kph speedo. The larger outer cog number is always 20 ie: a 20/23 type unit suits an S2 kph.

Dave
944S2 Cape Town - South Africa

[89-944NA]

Originally Posted by mytrplseven

They usually break when the odo reset button is pushed while the car is moving. It should only be pushed while the car is stopped.

This is an oft repeated wive's tale, while it does seem to happen often it is usually because the gear is ready to break anyway. With a good gear you can reset the odometer while the car is in motion....I do it all the time and have for years.

The problem is that the plastic material that is used for the odometer gear with age becomes extremely soft and it will crumble...when it gets to that stage, it will break whether the car is in motion or not.

The correct gear for odo repair is available right here from Pelican Parts, and it is really a simple and pretty straight forward process...though care is required when removing the speedometer needle...DO NOT attempt to pry it up or you can break the shaft the needle is attached to. Grasp the round base of the needle and gently pull straight up, it is firmly attached but it will come off.

Sending it to North Hollywood Speedo or Palo Alto Speedo is an alternative, but it's going to cost in the neighborhood of $150 to get it repaired, plus the down time for round-trip shipping and repair.

[DADS944]

My odometer also quit working and I think I'll go the route of getting it fixed. I've heard of a place in Orange County, CA that repairs these. Can anyone recommend a shop?

I plan on selling my 1989 - 944 in very very good shape with relatively low miles (~ 112,000 ) and want to get the odo fixed first.

Thanks,
Scott

[89-944NA]

Originally Posted by DADS944

My odometer also quit working and I think I'll go the route of getting it fixed. I've heard of a place in Orange County, CA that repairs these. Can anyone recommend a shop?

I plan on selling my 1989 - 944 in very very good shape with relatively low miles (~ 112,000 ) and want to get the odo fixed first.

Thanks,
Scott

North Hollywood Speedo...going to cost about $150.00 to repair, not counting shipping.

[DADS944]

Hi 89-944NA,

Thanks for the tip!

I did find out about Gails Speedometer in Costa Mesa though.

They did all the work for $186.55

187 E 16th St
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
(949) 646-9120

Mike is the owner and is great to deal with - honest as the day is long.

My wife picked my car up and drove it home while I was at work. She asked "Honey are you sure you want to sell this car?" With a new to my family - family car and my motorcycle, I really don't drive the 944 that much and have decided to let it go and let someone else enjoy it. Will be putting it up for sale in Autotrader maybe next week or so and will also post here as well.

Thanks again for the tip 89-944NA even though I did not go with them (it is the thought that counts, right).

Best regards,
Scott