Intermittent Speedometer, Speedo Problem
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Joined: Apr 2008
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From: 9th Plane of Hell
Well
I broke down and pulled the whole dash this afternoon... Not as bad as I feared - but still not a job for someone over 6 feet...
Anyway, I thoroughly cleaned the contacts on all 4 plugs with a zero residue cleaner - then applied a electric facilitator spray to both plug and socket.
After re-assembly, everything was GREAT - for about 5 minutes.
To give credit, I was able to use cruise most of the way back home (15 minute drive). I haven't been able to do that in months. Bumps (expansion joints on the overpasses) have an effect.
This is so frustrating. Obviously, servicing the plugs on the back of the cluster made an impact - it just didn't fix the problem.
Sleeper
I broke down and pulled the whole dash this afternoon... Not as bad as I feared - but still not a job for someone over 6 feet...
Anyway, I thoroughly cleaned the contacts on all 4 plugs with a zero residue cleaner - then applied a electric facilitator spray to both plug and socket.
After re-assembly, everything was GREAT - for about 5 minutes.
To give credit, I was able to use cruise most of the way back home (15 minute drive). I haven't been able to do that in months. Bumps (expansion joints on the overpasses) have an effect.
This is so frustrating. Obviously, servicing the plugs on the back of the cluster made an impact - it just didn't fix the problem.
Sleeper
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 78
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From: 9th Plane of Hell
Follow Up:
This has NOT been a good idea. After several months of maintaining a status quo, things are worse than ever after pulling the dash. The speedo/odo are wildly off, the A/C is intermittent (mostly not working), and the engine temp frequently goes blank. These are new issues that only appeared after pulling the instrument cluster.
I'm starting to think seriously about replacing the wiring harness.
I don't know what else to do.
I'm convinced this is wiring and not the cluster - but, other than things that aren't broke, I have no proof whatsoever.
Sleeper
This has NOT been a good idea. After several months of maintaining a status quo, things are worse than ever after pulling the dash. The speedo/odo are wildly off, the A/C is intermittent (mostly not working), and the engine temp frequently goes blank. These are new issues that only appeared after pulling the instrument cluster.
I'm starting to think seriously about replacing the wiring harness.
I don't know what else to do.
I'm convinced this is wiring and not the cluster - but, other than things that aren't broke, I have no proof whatsoever.
Sleeper
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 78
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From: 9th Plane of Hell
More Follow up:
I noticed what could be an oddity... and please understand, my ability to test this is... ummmm... limited.
It seems that my speedo reads correctly at speeds over 130MPH. I have had the car at these speeds three times in the past week - and all three times the speedo went from wacky to "on". This is assuming that 130MPH occurs at or near 7,000RPM and 140MPH occurs at or near 7,500RPM. And memory says this this is more or less correct.
My only response so far is "WTF?"
Sorry, I can't think of anything better. The more I pay attention to this problem, the less sense ANY of it makes...
Sleeper
I noticed what could be an oddity... and please understand, my ability to test this is... ummmm... limited.
It seems that my speedo reads correctly at speeds over 130MPH. I have had the car at these speeds three times in the past week - and all three times the speedo went from wacky to "on". This is assuming that 130MPH occurs at or near 7,000RPM and 140MPH occurs at or near 7,500RPM. And memory says this this is more or less correct.
My only response so far is "WTF?"
Sorry, I can't think of anything better. The more I pay attention to this problem, the less sense ANY of it makes...
Sleeper
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 932
Likes: 1
Hey, I had something like this happen to my '96 'tegra!!!
Caused me to miss my best friend's wedding. I was beyond angry!
Here's what I had:
1. Wouldn't start right, as if battery was bad.
Made me rebuild the starter.
2. Temp gauge dancing in tune w/RPM.
Makes me replace Temp sending unit, fan switch.
3. A/C would flip out and quit working. I turn on headlights, it works again.
Makes me replace the alternator and underhood fuse box (they have
voltage regulators).
All this over about 4-5 months, and starting the car was getting more and more difficult.
I realised that the instrument cluster's lights weren't on at the same brightness, that gave an idea to look for a bad ground. I was right!
A big this ground wire from tranny to frame had a loose 10mm bolt. I took off the bolt, it was blue underneath as if it was welded or under high temp! It was arcing ( like when the spark jumps).
Replaced the bolt, all was perfect till I sold the car.
Easy fix, happy camper, lots of diagnostics.
Mark K.
Caused me to miss my best friend's wedding. I was beyond angry!
Here's what I had:
1. Wouldn't start right, as if battery was bad.
Made me rebuild the starter.
2. Temp gauge dancing in tune w/RPM.
Makes me replace Temp sending unit, fan switch.
3. A/C would flip out and quit working. I turn on headlights, it works again.
Makes me replace the alternator and underhood fuse box (they have
voltage regulators).
All this over about 4-5 months, and starting the car was getting more and more difficult.
I realised that the instrument cluster's lights weren't on at the same brightness, that gave an idea to look for a bad ground. I was right!
A big this ground wire from tranny to frame had a loose 10mm bolt. I took off the bolt, it was blue underneath as if it was welded or under high temp! It was arcing ( like when the spark jumps).
Replaced the bolt, all was perfect till I sold the car.
Easy fix, happy camper, lots of diagnostics.
Mark K.
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Sleeper,
I am getting the wierd speedo problem you describe. Was running great for 51k miles. This morning I was getting on the freeway to go to school, and I noticed that cruise was stabbing the throttle at random and my speedo was flashing between 60ish and 40ish (I was doing a little over 60). I have an '01 AP1. Now my speedo seems not to want to read any speed over about 45; the speedo works normally until I get on the freeway or simlarly fast road, at which point it starts reading a much lower speed than I am atually going. Usually it reads 15-25mph lower than the actual speed.
Last night, my car threw 4 CELs: random misfires and misfires on cyls 1,2,3. I was sitting in the starbucks parking lot just idling the car and talking to a friend when this happened - there was zero throttle input and no load except the alternator. I went to the dealer and got the CELs cleared and they have not returned, but my idle is noticeably choppier than it was before the speedo problem came to pass(and my speedo is being very conservative).
I replaced the motor with a new honda bottom end assm and a rebuilt (machined etc) head 500mi ago and am still breaking the motor in (not revving past 4ish). The compression is currently 1-204 2-196 3-202 and 4-198. The valve clearences are within spec, though I may check them again.
I have no idea what is wrong. Any ideas?
-LRW
I am getting the wierd speedo problem you describe. Was running great for 51k miles. This morning I was getting on the freeway to go to school, and I noticed that cruise was stabbing the throttle at random and my speedo was flashing between 60ish and 40ish (I was doing a little over 60). I have an '01 AP1. Now my speedo seems not to want to read any speed over about 45; the speedo works normally until I get on the freeway or simlarly fast road, at which point it starts reading a much lower speed than I am atually going. Usually it reads 15-25mph lower than the actual speed.
Last night, my car threw 4 CELs: random misfires and misfires on cyls 1,2,3. I was sitting in the starbucks parking lot just idling the car and talking to a friend when this happened - there was zero throttle input and no load except the alternator. I went to the dealer and got the CELs cleared and they have not returned, but my idle is noticeably choppier than it was before the speedo problem came to pass(and my speedo is being very conservative).
I replaced the motor with a new honda bottom end assm and a rebuilt (machined etc) head 500mi ago and am still breaking the motor in (not revving past 4ish). The compression is currently 1-204 2-196 3-202 and 4-198. The valve clearences are within spec, though I may check them again.
I have no idea what is wrong. Any ideas?
-LRW