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Speedometer & odometer died.

Old Sep 18, 2010 | 11:43 AM
  #1  
jshort0034's Avatar
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From: Elizabethtown, KY
Car: 1991 Z28 Conv.
Engine: 5.0 V8
Speedometer & odometer died.

1991 Z28 305 Auto

For two years now I've been looking for information on how to fix my problem. As I was driving my Camaro I noticed my speedometer and odometer were not working. I have replaced the VSS and I'm sorry to say that this didn't fix my problem. I'm dreading taking my dash apart to look for obvious problems. I'm looking for some useful information to go on before I start getting serious about fixing it. I haven't driven the car for 2 years now because of this and I'm really starting to miss it. Also, buying a used cluster is not an option. My car has extremely low miles and I don't want to give that up and I havent found a way to swap clusters without swapping odometers too. Any stories, or better yet, an answer would be very much appreciated. Thanks. Jennie.
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Old Sep 20, 2010 | 11:50 AM
  #2  
crazymonkey16's Avatar
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From: Wellsboro, PA
Car: 1990 Camaro RS
Engine: L05 TBI
Transmission: T-56
Re: Speedometer & odometer died.

I had to fix this when I bought my 90 RS. The guy who sold it to me had several aftermarket gauges, and none of them worked either! Not gonna lie, it can be an all-day project - but then, I had to solder almost every wire back to its original place. The wires he hadn't moved had mostly broken off as well, which is what I'd bet your problem is. I'd recommend pulling your cluster out and checking the wires before spending any more money.
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Old Sep 26, 2010 | 07:25 AM
  #3  
DartByU's Avatar
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From: Silverhill,Al
Car: 92 Camaro RS
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: T-5
Re: Speedometer & odometer died.

Yeah pull the cluster, check and clean the contacts where it plugs in, I had the same problem but this didn't fix it, but I just bought a used cluster for $50 that had about the same miles on it and put that in a few years ago, now it's going out too, I'm going to send off the original to have it repaired, there are several company's that do this.
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Old Oct 16, 2010 | 07:06 PM
  #4  
Z28Goddess's Avatar
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From: Las Vegas
Car: 1980 Z28 Camaro
Engine: 350 v-8
Re: Speedometer & odometer died.

I recently replaced the automatic 700r transmission on my 1991 Camaro RS. I have a problem with the speedometor not working. I pulled the instrument gauge cluster and quickly found out that it's electronic, so I cleaned it up and replaced the bulbs. Getting to the point, the gears on the speedo are not stripped. The main gear on the tranny has a retaining clip on her. I pulled it out and moved the plastic red gear up a little bit and slid the clip in and buttoned up everything. Wow, it worked for a half a mile. Back to the drawing board. Did I overlook somthing? Is ther a slot on the shaft { on the tranny itself} for this clip to stay in place with the red speedo gear or is a new clip in the picture. Oh, when the speedo worked, it was pefectly fine for that mile.
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Old May 24, 2011 | 11:59 PM
  #5  
camarosource's Avatar
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From: Vancouver BC
Car: Custom 1992 Camaro Z28 25th Anniver
Engine: 5.7L V8 350 L98 TPI
Re: Speedometer & odometer died.

Originally Posted by Z28Goddess
I recently replaced the automatic 700r transmission on my 1991 Camaro RS. I have a problem with the speedometor not working. I pulled the instrument gauge cluster and quickly found out that it's electronic, so I cleaned it up and replaced the bulbs. Getting to the point, the gears on the speedo are not stripped. The main gear on the tranny has a retaining clip on her. I pulled it out and moved the plastic red gear up a little bit and slid the clip in and buttoned up everything. Wow, it worked for a half a mile. Back to the drawing board. Did I overlook somthing? Is ther a slot on the shaft { on the tranny itself} for this clip to stay in place with the red speedo gear or is a new clip in the picture. Oh, when the speedo worked, it was pefectly fine for that mile.
Did you figure this out? I have a similar problem. My speedo works but the trip meter stopped 2 years ago. The discovered my odometer stopped working last year. Took to a speedometer specialist and they said there is nothing wrong with the cluster side (gears and motor(s) work perfectly fine with direct power connected). They said if it were the speed sensor then the speedo would also stop working.

They suspected the circuit board in the instrument panel may be malfunctioning but he said it was only a GUESS as they are stumped...
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Old Oct 18, 2011 | 03:42 PM
  #6  
geoff jaymes's Avatar
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From: Michigan
Car: 1987 Pontiac Trans Am
Engine: LB9 305 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Limited Slip, possibly 2.73
Re: Speedometer & odometer died.

I have an 87 TA with a 305 and 700r4 tranny. I had my Transmission changed out a few months back, with another tranny from a 88. Transmission works just fine, shifts great. But since the swap, my speedo and odometer stopped working. Every other guage works perfectly, and the speedo and odometer never had a problem until the tranny swap. I have looked at the couple cables that hook into the tranny, and they all "seem" to be connected just fine. Anyone have any ideas?
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Old Oct 28, 2011 | 07:34 AM
  #7  
geoff jaymes's Avatar
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From: Michigan
Car: 1987 Pontiac Trans Am
Engine: LB9 305 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Limited Slip, possibly 2.73
Re: Speedometer & odometer died.

I ran through trouble codes yesterday and only found one. Code number 24. Vehicle speed sensor. I will be changing it out today. Hopefully this helps. If I'm real lucky, (which I doubt) it might help just a little with fuel economy. I hear yes and no, so, we'll see.
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Old Oct 31, 2011 | 09:52 AM
  #8  
sea32514's Avatar
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Car: 92 Camaro Z28 Heritage Edition
Engine: 350 5.7 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Speedometer & odometer died.

Jaymes, did the VSS fix the problem? I have a 92 doing the same thing.
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Old Nov 3, 2011 | 01:02 PM
  #9  
Colemaro's Avatar
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Re: Speedometer & odometer died.

mine has been doing this forever. I cant find anything wrong with it, only 131,000 on it and the electronics are a pain in the butt. It's fun to drive when it works, but I am setting it up in the back yard today for target practice. It might not fix it but it will be fun destroying this piece of lousy electrical engineering.
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