Electronics Need help wiring something up? Thinking of adding an electrical component to your car? Need help troubleshooting that wiring glitch?

Speedometer help!

Old Aug 13, 2008 | 05:50 PM
  #1  
IncredibleBulk's Avatar
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From: Chicago
Car: '87 GTA WS6 package.
Engine: 5.7 350 w/ small cam, roller rocker
Transmission: T-5 out of an '85 Trans Am
Axle/Gears: Stock
Speedometer help!

Okay, the '87 GTA 350 started as an auto from the factory. Along the way, it was given a 5 speed trans out of an '85 T/A. For some reason, the speedometer does not work. The car runs, shifts and idles like a dream, but the speedometer does not register that the car is moving. All other guages work fine, just the speedo is not working. Anybody have any insight as to how I could fix this?
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Old Aug 14, 2008 | 09:52 PM
  #2  
tdtapp's Avatar
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From: Warrensburg, MO
Car: 1987 Trans Am GTA -Black
Engine: 5.7 (350), L98 V8 TPI
Transmission: 700-R4
Axle/Gears: ?
Re: Speedometer help!

I had a similar problem, but with the auto trans. How is your vass connected? It should have a yellow and purple wire from the VSS on the trans to the yellow buffer box under the dash passenger side.
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Old Aug 14, 2008 | 10:10 PM
  #3  
tdtapp's Avatar
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From: Warrensburg, MO
Car: 1987 Trans Am GTA -Black
Engine: 5.7 (350), L98 V8 TPI
Transmission: 700-R4
Axle/Gears: ?
Re: Speedometer help!

I don't remember the color wire that connects to #15 on connector 2 that the instrument cluster connects too, but it's for the input of the speedometer from the yellow buffer box. On connector 1 the "G" plug is for the ground side of the speedometer from the buffer box also.
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Old Aug 15, 2008 | 07:05 AM
  #4  
JamesC's Avatar
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From: Lawrence, KS
Car: Met. Silver 85 IROC/Sold
Engine: 350 HO Deluxe (350ci/330hp)
Transmission: T-5 (Non-WC)
Axle/Gears: Limited Slip 3.23's
Re: Speedometer help!

Originally Posted by IncredibleBulk
Okay, the '87 GTA 350 started as an auto from the factory. Along the way, it was given a 5 speed trans out of an '85 T/A. For some reason, the speedometer does not work. The car runs, shifts and idles like a dream, but the speedometer does not register that the car is moving. All other guages work fine, just the speedo is not working. Anybody have any insight as to how I could fix this?
I'm a Camaro kinda guy, so take the following with a grain of salt: Your 87 would have originally had an electronic speedo, the 85 a mechanical. You need to snake under the car and see what's what. To make the speedo work, you need a VSS in the tail shaft of the trans.

JamesC
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Old Aug 15, 2008 | 09:45 AM
  #5  
IncredibleBulk's Avatar
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 25
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From: Chicago
Car: '87 GTA WS6 package.
Engine: 5.7 350 w/ small cam, roller rocker
Transmission: T-5 out of an '85 Trans Am
Axle/Gears: Stock
Re: Speedometer help!

It's not a digital dash.. Car is a factory L98, heavily modded and trans swapped, but I can't figure out why it's not registering. I really would rather not take it to a shop, but I'm out of ideas!
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Old Aug 15, 2008 | 09:49 AM
  #6  
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From: md
Car: 1986 Iroc-Z
Re: Speedometer help!

----------
Originally Posted by IncredibleBulk
It's not a digital dash.. Car is a factory L98, heavily modded and trans swapped, but I can't figure out why it's not registering. I really would rather not take it to a shop, but I'm out of ideas!
was your speedo cable driven?

Last edited by Legal Disaster; Aug 15, 2008 at 10:35 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
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Old Aug 15, 2008 | 09:51 AM
  #7  
JamesC's Avatar
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From: Lawrence, KS
Car: Met. Silver 85 IROC/Sold
Engine: 350 HO Deluxe (350ci/330hp)
Transmission: T-5 (Non-WC)
Axle/Gears: Limited Slip 3.23's
Re: Speedometer help!

Originally Posted by IncredibleBulk
It's not a digital dash.
Digital and electric are different bears. Your speedo is electric.

JamesC
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