speedometer needs to be "thumped"

[Kurt B]

It's not reading. Just sits at zero until I "thump" it, or flick the plastic cover. Then it reads the speed. Once it falls back down to zero, it again sits there until I hit a bump..as though it is stuck there.
If anyone knows something about this aside from taking the speedo apart, let me know (wd40??)
84 cab
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[This message has been edited by Kurt B (edited 09-19-2001).]

[Bill Douglas]

Hi Kurt.

Look from the trunk and find the wires going into it. Give them a wiggle or reseat them if you can. Also follow the earth wire to a cluster thats on the top left or right of the trunk and undo and clean all that. I do think it's just a poor connection at the back of the speedo though.

Bill '79SC

[la86targa]

I've got that same problem. I've relegated myself to judging my speed by rpms. It is annoying though. I heard somewhere that there might be a cog loose inside the unit.

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Tai

[don911]

The speedo on my 87 sits on zero until I hit about 20mph. It works fine from about 20 on up. No clue on the answer to this one.

Don
87 coupe

[mike f]

I've got the same problem in my 86- nothing until about 20, then ok. A very light tap on the speedo corrects it. Unlikely to be wire related I'd think.

[Kurt B]

I'll dismantle mine this evening and examine it. It's not much trouble, the faces can be easily removed as I had them off for the white face conversion.

[mike f]

Hey Kurt,
What was the outcome? Also, just a thought-my tach at times gets mild condensation on the inner glass. Could the speedometer needle be binding up, or something?
Mike

[Kurt B]

I had mine fixed on a whim. There's a VDO shop down the street from my work on Westwood called Euro Speedometer (little hole in the wall place), and they fixed it for 138.50$ cash or check.
After taking it apart I immediately realized it was one of those things that just ought to be left to a professional.

Note: there's nothing "obviously" loose or broken in there that I could see. To get at the innards requires taking more and more apart, and the way it's wired, you'll have to unsolder wires, note where they went, fix it, then solder it all back etc. No fun.


[This message has been edited by Kurt B (edited 09-26-2001).]

[la86targa]

Kurt,
Is that Westwood in LA?
If so, do you have a phone number for the place?

Thanks,
Tai

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Tai

[Kurt B]

They're closed tomorrow he said.
Here's the number. It's on Westwood around 1 block north of pico on the eastern side of the street
(310) 470-6112
Look up Euro Speedometer on yahoo for the address.

[brucefrye]

Had the same problem on my '87 Carrera. Turned out to be the pickup/sensor in the transaxle. The big clue was the cruise control would cutout when the speedo "died"