Speedometer stopped working?

Hi Chris,

Thank you for the donation.

The problem is most likely the Vehicle Speed Sensor and you could go back to your first mechanic to have it checked/replaced.
That would be the most likely cause rather than the transmission itself..

When the speed sensor malfunctions, the trans would shift erratically.

I just put in a manuel transmission and the speedometer does not work. I would like to troubleshoot before getting a speed sensor.

Can I get a diagram? thanks

CEL-Are you popping up with a code P0500?

I did get that code(P0500) a few days ago, But that's because I forgot to plug the sensor in after I was done putting in transmission in.

So here is where I'm at I have the sensor plugged in and there are no codes yet after a few miles. Speedometer is still not functioning along with odometer of course.

I am observing that the odometer cluster is mechanical but speed sensor is NOT equipped with a cable. Is this origonal?

Check the instrument cluster

I guess my question is can there be a mechanical cluster that is cableless.
If there is, the cluster would have to be driven by some kind of servo motor???

I would like to see whats origonal, and then replace or repair the problem.

The speedometer in this car has started working intermittently and the car is not always shifting correcctly, the car shifts up and down when just straight driving. thanks Brian

it may be that the speed sensor is failing ,it only a plastic gear ,that is on the end of the sensor after a while like lots of things it will wear out .it is located on the trans. right above the pass. side axel . if possible remove (this can be difficult) the part for visual inspection ,thus you may need a new one. prior to this you should make sure that it's not a electicle problem -no power to the sensor,or the the fuse that are one this circut are opperational.

Inspect and test the VSS wire back to the computer and the sensor itself.

Can you give me a diagram of the wiring.

Sorry, I don't have it

The lights on the instrument panel are dim and non-existent on the speedometer. How do I change or repair these lights?

Thank you.

TEST A - INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY(S) INOPERATIVE OR ERRATIC 1.Check METER fuse. See Fig. 4 . If fuse is okay, go to step 4). If fuse is blown, go to next step. 2.Turn ignition off. Replace 10A (15A wagon only) METER fuse. Turn ignition on and inspect fuse. If fuse fails again, go to next step. If fuse does not fail, go to step 4). 3.Turn ignition off. Remove instrument cluster. See INSTRUMENT CLUSTER under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Disconnect all (3) instrument cluster electrical connectors. Disconnect low coolant level warning sensor. Remove METER fuse. Measure resistance between bottom terminal (Black/Yellow wire) of METER fuse holder and ground. Resistance should be greater than 10 k/ohms. If resistance is greater than 10 k/ohms, go to next step. If resistance is less than 10 k/ohms, repair Black/Yellow wire(s) for short to ground. See WIRING DIAGRAMS . 4.Turn ignition ON. Measure voltage between ground and top terminal of METER fuse holder. Voltage should be greater than 10 volts. If voltage is greater than 10 volts, go to next step. If voltage is less than 10 volts, repair power feed for METER fuse. See WIRING DIAGRAMS . 5.Turn ignition off. Remove instrument cluster. See INSTRUMENT CLUSTER under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Disconnect all (3) cluster electrical connectors. Turn ignition on. Measure voltage between ground and Black/Yellow wire(s) on each instrument cluster harness connector. Voltage should be greater than 10 volts at each Black/Yellow wire. If voltage is greater than 10 volts, go to next step. If voltage is less than 10 volts, repair Black/Yellow wire(s) in question. See WIRING DIAGRAMS . 6.Turn ignition OFF. Measure resistance between ground and instrument cluster harness connector C1, terminal No. 5 (Black/Green wire). See Fig. 5 . Resistance should be less than 5 ohms. Measure resistance between ground and instrument cluster harness connector C2, terminal No. 7 (Blue wire). See Fig. 6 . Resistance should be less than 5 ohms. Measure resistance between ground and instrument cluster harness connector C3, terminals No. 7 (Black/Green wire) and No. 11 (Black wire). See Fig. 7 . Resistance should be less than 5 ohms. 7.If resistance is less than 5 ohms on all wires, replace instrument cluster printed circuit and gauge contact clips. See PRINTED CIRCUIT under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. If any resistance is more than 5 ohms, repair circuits in question. See WIRING DIAGRAMS . Fig. 5: Identifying Instrument Cluster Harness Connector C1 Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO. Fig. 6: Identifying Instrument Cluster Harness Connector C2 Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO. Fig. 7: Identifying Instrument Cluster Harness Connector C3 Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

To do just the bulbs if that's all it needs follow this procedure. INSTRUMENT PANEL - ANALOG -1997 Ford Escort LX Removal & Installation 1.Remove instrument cluster. See INSTRUMENT CLUSTER . Remove 5 instrument cluster mask screws and remove mask and lens. CAUTION:Handle gauges and components with care. Make no attempt to adjust indicator needles. 2.By pulling straight out, remove temperature gauge, fuel gauge, speedometer and tachometer (if equipped). Depress tang and remove instrument cluster gauge amplifier from rear of cluster. 3.Remove indicator and illumination bulbs from rear of instrument cluster. Remove gauge contact clips from rear of cluster by compress-ing clip ends together and pulling out. Discard clips. Carefully remove printed circuit from rear of instrument cluster. To install, reverse removal procedure using NEW gauge contact clips. CAUTION:When removing gauge contact clips, DO NOT damage instrument cluster printed circuit. 9/21/2008

Of course all you want to do is the bulbs, so do just them, leave the gauges and print circuit alone. Thanks for using 2Carpros.com

Hello, I have a 1997 Ford Escort, and the fuel gauge doesn't work, they told me that I needed to replace exactly the piece that shows your last diagram #G97F28048. As far as I know, the capacitor burned, i just need to know the correct value. I tried to explained myself the best I could, :) I'm not a car-electrician.
Thanks

My speedometer has been acting erratically for about 6 months now. It started by jumping around occasionally at speeds above 40 mph but the speed indicator remained pretty close to accurate. Lately, it has been jumping around at all speeds and is basically worthless. When the problem really started getting bad, the cruise also quit working and I started experiencing minor shifting problems. More than one person told me I needed to replace my speed sensor. That has now been done with no effect on any of my problems. Having learned to judge my speed pretty well by using the Tach, I could live without the speedometer but the cruise is a must. One note about the cruise. When it was working, it would disengage any time I hit the slightest bump in the road and had started to become a major nuisance. Any suggestions on how to fix either of these these issues?

fixing the speedometer should take care and fix the cruise control as it depend on the speed signal to work


best and 1st that should be done is to have it scanned for codes
most common is the speed sensor on the transmission
and since it was replaced have to be checking for codes
as it should indicate to the troubled area
check rear of cluster wire plug and sensor connector plug

i just put 18s on my car how do i adjust the speedometer

Going from what? 14-13? I think you need to change the gear on the speedo cable...

It's not the rim size that matters but the rolling diameter of the tire. You need to compare the original tire with the new tire(tire manufacturers will give you this information). If the difference is significant, you may want to correct for it. You can change the speedo gear but you can also try something like this(ratio adapter) after you determine what ratio you need:

1996 ford escort speedometer is jumping how do i fix it?

I'd check the vehicle speed sensor, lower rear of transaxle. Any applicable trouble codes? Some of the national brand autostores used to check codes for free.

1996 Ford Escort... 150,000 miles
The speedometer wildly moves from left to right while driving. Does not register the correct speed. Is this a quick fix?

Could either be the speedometer cable or the speedometer head itself. Unhook the cable at the transmission and turn by hand. If it moves freely it's probably in the head, if it feels tight or doesn't move freely I'd say it's the cable.

My escort is leaking red fluid on my feet i folowed the line i thnk is leaing it comes from the transmision to the back of the dash i was told it was th speedo line but i never knew that the had fluid in the and the car is manual traning and i cant seem to fine were to check it im looking for conformation so i can fix the problem befor i mess the traning up.

Your speedometer is a cble and gear set up, so the seal at the end is bad, or the inner cable has a burr that ripped the seal, rech up and unscrew it from the cluster, pull the inner cable and check for wear.

my speedometer doesnt work and i no that its my speed sensor because it takes till 5,000 rpms to get out of first gear but when i get it out its fine but still shift weird. i had taken out the top of the speed sensor(plastic part) and now i had the bottom part or the gear still in the trans. i cannot get out the speed sensor. i tried tapping it out and pulling it. the speed sensor is to flush with where it goes in. so its harder to tapp out, its also tightly in. im just worried worried in order to get it out i think i have to take the trans out. is there any suggestions you have for me. thanks

PERHAPS ALLOWING THE ENGINE TO REACH OPERATING TEMPERATURE AND THEN LETTING THE VEHICLE COOL DOWN JUST A LITTLE. THIS WILL PERHAPS ALLOW THE METAL ON THE TRANNY TO EXPAND SOME AND THE SENSOR MAY BE LOOSE ENOUGH TO COME OUT - JUST A THOUGHT.

[quote:4ef2dc8226="jakes2sweet4u"]Transmission problem
1994 Ford Escort 4 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic 101000 miles

my speedometer doesnt work and i no that its my speed sensor because it takes till 5,000 rpms to get out of first gear but when i get it out its fine but still shift weird. i had taken out the top of the speed sensor(plastic part) and now i had the bottom part or the gear still in the trans. i cannot get out the speed sensor. i tried tapping it out and pulling it. the speed sensor is to flush with where it goes in. so its harder to tapp out, its also tightly in. im just worried worried in order to get it out i think i have to take the trans out. is there any suggestions you have for me. thanks[/quote:4ef2dc8226]

I have a 1991 ford escort automatic, and the speedometer is not working at all and as I drive it is not shifting into second gear. does the sppeedometer and transmission go together?? that could be causing this

Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS)
Sensor is transmission mounted, and sends a constant pulse signal to ECA when vehicle is in motion. .. you need this signal for transmission control

1991 Ford Escort 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

what speed sensor does my escort take?
It is a 1.9 liter wagon. does it take the red or white sensor.

just look for a vehicle speed sensor for that vehicle with the info that you indicated

Im sorry the sensor is white

[quote:7e00b2c343="susan mae"]1991 Ford Escort 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

what speed sensor does my escort take?
It is a 1.9 liter wagon. does it take the red or white sensor.[/quote:7e00b2c343]

I would like to thank legitimate007 for the help. thank you