Speedometer problems

[tadkins]

I have an 1989 Ford Bronco with 5.0L fuel injected engine. I am having speedometer problems. Speedometer quit working. I replaced the Cable, the Speed Sensor and the gear on the end of the sensor. The speedometer worked for about 5 minutes and then quit again. The gear in the transfer case seems to be fine. I don't know where to go from here. Please if you have any ideas please let me know. Thanks

 

[Seabronc]

The speed sensor is for the cruise control. The rest of it is for the speedometer and since it is a mechanical speedometer and the speedo gear looks good, it can only be one of the other three OR the discs that the speedo mesh with inside the transmission. I am temporarily excluding the transmission part since you indicate that it didn't work and then when you replaced the external stuff it worked for a few minutes. Check to make sure the cable is properly meshed with the speedometer. You could bring the entire cable inside the truck and use a cordless drill to spin the transmission end, (without the speed sensor attached and not too fast), to see if the speedometer indicates. If that works then the, the speed sensor may have broken internally. Also check the cable by itself to see if both ends turn when you spin the transmission end.

Good luck,

>-

 

[tadkins]

The speed sensor is for the cruise control. The rest of it is for the speedometer and since it is a mechanical speedometer and the speedo gear looks good, it can only be one of the other three OR the discs that the speedo mesh with inside the transmission. I am temporarily excluding the transmission part since you indicate that it didn't work and then when you replaced the external stuff it worked for a few minutes. Check to make sure the cable is properly meshed with the speedometer. You could bring the entire cable inside the truck and use a cordless drill to spin the transmission end, (without the speed sensor attached and not too fast), to see if the speedometer indicates. If that works then the, the speed sensor may have broken internally. Also check the cable by itself to see if both ends turn when you spin the transmission end.
Good luck,

>-

Thank You for your help. I took the cable off of the speed sensor and rotated just the cable and the speedometer with a cordless and the speedomoter seemed to work fine and then I put the speedometer sensor on the end of the cable and then rotated it with the cordless and the speedometer worked fine and then I place the unit in the transfer case and it works for a few minutes and then stops working. I thought maybe the gears were not interlocking so I jacked up the rearend and turned the driveshaft as I placed the sensor,gear assy in and it seems to be making contact with the gear inside of the transfer case. If you know anymore tricks please let me know. I cant figure it out if it were electrical I would take it somewhere but there are only a few pieces to work with, so I thought I could figure it out. Thanks

 

[Seabronc]

If you know that the speedo gear on the end of the speed sensor is good, you only have one more component and that is the gear that the speedo meshes with. I'll look in my service manual to see how much fun you are in for if you have to take it apart.

Good luck,

>-

 

[Seabronc]

Looks like if you have a NP208 it is not too difficult. On a Borg Warner it may be a little more work.

Good luck,

>-

 

[jsomedaysoon]

i had this same thing happen to me, i havent had time to look into it more yet but i'm thinking that when i took it apart i half way broke the little clip that holds it in the transfer case. its been a while since i did it so i'm having a hard time remembering how it went exactly but it sort of looked like a paper clip that sliped around the cable and kept it from backing out. So i'm assuming that mine just isent making good contact in the transfer case and backs itself out occasionally because it will work intermitenly. not sure if thats whats going on with yours but might be worth lookin at.

 

[tadkins]

If you know that the speedo gear on the end of the speed sensor is good, you only have one more component and that is the gear that the speedo meshes with. I'll look in my service manual to see how much fun you are in for if you have to take it apart.
Good luck,

>-

Thanks Seabronc, I have just about come to the same conclusion, I was told that I could take the back plate off of the case and the gear was just in side of that housing, but I havent had the time to see. I think that it is a new process, but here the ford dealership only one real parts person that can take a tag off of a part and tell me what kine of transfer case it is and he is on vacation for the next week. Anyway Thanks for all of your help and I will let you know what comes of it. Thanks tadkins.

 

[tadkins]

i had this same thing happen to me, i havent had time to look into it more yet but i'm thinking that when i took it apart i half way broke the little clip that holds it in the transfer case. its been a while since i did it so i'm having a hard time remembering how it went exactly but it sort of looked like a paper clip that sliped around the cable and kept it from backing out. So i'm assuming that mine just isent making good contact in the transfer case and backs itself out occasionally because it will work intermitenly. not sure if thats whats going on with yours but might be worth lookin at.

Thanks for your reply.. I replaced everything but the gear in the transfer case and I think that maybe the problem. Thanks.