Trip Odometer Fix/Pics

[JamesC]

The trip odometer is one of the most common engineering disasters on thirdgen cars (symptoms of failure are listed below); however, the fix is both simple and inexpensive--my cost $.09 at the local hardware store.

To access the speedo, remove the black bezel. Once that's removed, look in the rectangles that house the e-brake light, check engine light, etc., and you'll note a, I believe, 10 mm nut on each side of the cluster housing. Move the seat back all the way. Drop the lower dash panel for access to the speedo cable and its clip (this clip holds the cable to the speedo head). A long-shanked, flat-bladded screw driver is perfect to trip the clip. A flash light/trouble light is indispensible. Once the cable is free, so is the cluster. Lowering the steering wheel, and/or dropping the steering column a fraction will help in the removal but is not necessary. To protect from scratches use a bit of masking tape on the steering column.

Note the speedo cable clip.

JamesC

[JamesC]

Removal of the speedo head is straightforward. Three screws. I'm pointing to two and the third is above my right finger.

JamesC

[JamesC]

With the speedo removed, you'll probably find the infamous "J" clips that were designed to keep the odometer in place.

JamesC

[JamesC]

Note the odometer 'axel.' There's an example of another J clip, two axels up.

JamesC

[JamesC]

The fix is simple: Without taking the speedo head apart, turn it around to the backside and "wire up." I cut 5 inches of wire, made a noose at both ends (I bent the wire to form a "U", placed one jaw of a needle nose at the bottom of the "U" and used pliers to twist the wire around the needle jaw to form the nooses). I placed the nooses over the axels, then twisted the slack in the center of the 5 inches to tighten the whole business. Push in on the reset while you're doing this so that the axel will be seated--just makes things easier. The wire, of course, replaces the J clips and seats the axel so that it is stationary. By the way, I tried 22-guage wire first, but it was too heavy and difficult to work with. I also attempted cauter keys, but I couldn't get the axel to seat to my satisfaction. I ended up using a very flexible piece of solid core, $.09 a foot. The fix is not as neat looking as I would have prefered, but the odometer functions like new, and frankly I don't think I'll ever have further problems with it.

JamesC

[JamesC]

My like new 145.

JamesC

[JamesC]

FYI, if you attempt the fix, you might consider white-faced overlays and/or higher intensity xenon bulbs. The sockets are twist out.

JamesC

[JamesC]

The bulbs pull out of their sockets. Here's an old link that might be useful:

http://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/show...hreadid=107995 (Color and Cluster)

JamesC

[DuronClocker]

I want a 145 speedo. I pegged the speedo on my car the other day (120mph) and am guessing I was going about 123 by the time I was about done. If I were to get one..would I be able to somehow use my current odometer because I want to keep the mileage reading accurate.

[JamesC]

You can swap mileage rolls. There's a brown clip, just below my index finger, that holds the mileage roll in place. If you remove/loosen the two screws that keep the speedo face in place, push in the reset button, and let the face hang free, you can pull that clip and work the roll out between the face and the housing. I wouldn't advise removing the speedo needle. I accomplished this swap when I went from an 85 to 110.

JamesC

[five7kid]

I'll make this a sticky (and copy to FAQ forum). I ask that people not respond other than specifics about the trip odometer fix.

One question I have: Does reset still work "normally"? Not sure how it could, unless you're leaving some slack in there.

Another "fix" I recall hearing about is to make "J" hooks out of a paperclip, drill (small) holes in the plastic where the originals broke off, and Superglue the J's in the holes.

[JamesC]

Since the axel is seated as it was with the J clips in place, the reset works fine.

JamesC

[five7kid]

But the axle has to move away from the drive gear in order for the trip OD to reset. If you wire it too tight, it won't be able to reset.

Wonder how long a rubber band would last?

[JamesC]

The axel is supposed to be stationary (as it would necessarily have to be with the original J clips in place--the trip odometer fails because those clips break and allow the axel to float). When pushed, the reset buttom not only disengages the drive gear, I assume, but also clears the mileage, then engages the drive gear again when released. It's the reset mechanism that moves, not the axel. At any rate, everything works smoothly and as it should. Maybe that's as clear as mud.

JamesC

[five7kid]

Okay, it's been a few years since I had mine apart and played with it. As I remembered it, the J's existed so the axle could move during reset. But, you may be right (or mine is different...).

[Nate86]

Sorry if this question has already been answered, but what exactly is this supposed to fix? My trip odometer seems to be running fine even after 155,000 miles.

[JamesC]

I'm surprised to learn that a car with that many miles still has a functioning trip. I'd guess that the majority of cars with mechanical speedos have failed trip odometers: The inherent weakness of the J clips make them highly susceptable to breakage. For example, I first had an 85 speedo, whose trip was already broken. I replaced with a free 110 (the trip worked and though I used it infrequently and gently when I did use it, it still went south). Finally, the trip in the 145 I just purchased was gone. IROCZDAVE reguarly sells speedos, and most all are advertised with repaired trips.

Anyway, my general opinion, I guess, is that unless you never use the trip, eventually it will fail.

JamesC

[Nate86]

Wow, I had no idea.

I haven't ever reset the trip odometer since I bought the car. I only use it to keep track of gas milage and oil changes.

[JamesC]

One more pic to demonstrate what occurs when one or both J clips break. Note the misalignment on the left, which is where the break is (Double that problem when both clips give up the ghost). The method I suggest simply reseats that lower axel into its proper position.

JamesC

[Red Devil]

The question may become this: Is this a problem on just Camaros? I have had a ton of chicken based cars and never had the problem. I've seen it on quite a few Camaros however. Is the unit the same between the cars, and if not would the chicken unit fit if it is more durable? (Or maybe I've been very lucky.)

[JamesC]

I have no idea if Camaro and Firebird speedo guts are identical or not--I'd find differences difficuilt to believe, but this is GM we're discussing. Interesting question. Anyone?

JamesC

[wwnf]

I drilled two holes from the bottom and inserted screws to hold the shaft in place. Works good and should last a long time.

[five7kid]

I finally got to mine a couple of weeks ago. I had never seen one that wasn't broken, so I didn't understand the function of the "J's". Seeing they used the same thing on the main odometer axle (although a lot beefier) finally got the concept through to me.

The "J's" allow the odometer assembly to be slid into the slot and snapped into position. In other words, ease of assembly. Once I got that in my head, I finally figured out how to snug it up per the instructions above to get it to work.

Nice to have it working again.

[porkyzilla]

any better pics dont see in the pics what j clips...my trip odemoter resets but goes upto like 56miles or something and quits turning.....is this the problem on my 145 sped

[JamesC]

Check the fourth pic above. Almost straight up from the screwdriver tip, on the third axel (the one in line with my index finger), you'll see a "J" clip fixing the axel in place. The one you see there is much beefer than the ones on the lower axel that typically break. If your trip won't resent, partially resets, jumps, tics or pops, it's because the axel isn't seated, meaning one or both of the lower J clips is broken or substantially weakened, eventually leading to a break.

JamesC

[skullmaster427s]

hey jamesc let me ask ya something i'm not very good with eletrical part but i see u know some about speedo i got a 87 ta tpi for parts and most of the stuff will be going into my 84 el camino the elky has a t5 from my last 3rd gen (84 camaro) until i dont get the tpi in the eky is any way i can rum the speedo? the ta has a auto tranny and its eletronic speed sensor how do i wire it to the speedo ? is it possible? what whould i need? and how to do ?

thanx
Carlos

[JamesC]

Sorry, I can't help with your question, Carlos. You might try posting your question on the electronics board.

JamesC

[Xophertony]

Originally posted by DuronClocker
I want a 145 speedo. I pegged the speedo on my car the other day (120mph) and am guessing I was going about 123 by the time I was about done. If I were to get one..would I be able to somehow use my current odometer because I want to keep the mileage reading accurate.

actually, i know from experience, if you pull the guage cluster and undo the little computer attatched the speedo and swap that on to your current speedo it will then be a 140MPH speedo. you will of course also need to swap the faceplate/guage face. i broke my spiffy 145MPH speedo and tested this theory. mine works great.

[PaceCarChris]