Ok, everything works perfectly. The temp gauge, the speedo, the voltage meter, the gas needle, everything......except the odometer. I have gone through two gauge clusters and both have had the same problem.

It can't be two gauge clusters. I have an 86 chicken with the four gauges and the odometer does have the seven digits instead of the six. Is there a sensor that plugs into the tranny or something?

 

Anyone?

 

I don't have an answer but I have been watching this thread. I have a '91 TA and the odometer started to give me problems last winter. I am in north Florida, so it is not really cold, but just about every morning for a month or 2 last winter I would drive off and the odometer would not move. Then about 5-10 miles from home, it would start moving. It stopped doing this so I never found out what caused it (or what cured it!). Mine is a 5 speed with about 140,000 on it. I hope someone has an idea or two for you.

 

Nobody ever does have a goddamned reply for it anyway.

 

Ok i'll try....none of my Firebirds ever gave me that problem, but it has happened on my S10 between three different gauge clusters. All three times I had to press down and tighten those clips that contact the printed circuit on the gauge's binding posts, backside of the cluster housing.

 

It's got to be something in the guage.
It runs off the speedo, if the speedo works whatever connects the two is broke, or needs tightened.

 

That makes some sense "eightTfourTA". Mine has worked fine since last year and, in between, I disassembled the entire guage cluster to clean it and replace some burnt out bulbs. I may have inadvertently fixed it without knowing. Thanks.

 

Maybe I'll just use tinfoil.

 

If it wasn't that we needed it to know when to make oil changes I probably would leave it.

 

It could be 2 bad clusters,........ It COULD be !

Some 86 Birds got a cable speedo - but it sounds like yours is electric. There's only so much to the speedo system. The Sensor on the Tranny, the wiring running into the car, the VSS Buffer, the wires from the Buffer to the Cluster, then the Cluster.

Since you already replaced the cluster once - replace the VSS Buffer next. If that doesn't fix the problem I'd replace the Tranny sensor next ( Tranny sensors cost more ! ). While your in there you can check the tranny speedo gears while making the sensor swap to be sure the gears are OK. If replacing those things doesn't fix it than your problem is in the wiring and you will need to work with a VoltMeter to trace the bad circuit. ( Any custom accessories installed lately ? )

 

No, no custom accessories installed. What is the VSS Buffer?

Also remember, the problem is the odometer, not the speedo.

 

It's GOTTA' be the cluster itself.

From the 86 Firebird Shop manual:


There's only 1 input from the VSS to the cluster and the cluster uses that signal for the speedo & the Odometer. If the speedo works and the odometer don't,.................

Hope this helps !

Edit: The VSS buffer accepts the signal from the speedo unit in the tranny and converts the signal so that it can be used by the Speedo, Cruise Control and ECM.

 

It would if I didn't find it extremely difficult to believe that both gauge clusters would be bad considering both worked perfectly fine.

Maybe you can help me with this one just to ease my mind. I was under the car two days ago changing out the positive lead from the starter to the batter and found this:



I saw this hanging down. Looks melted. Where does this go? I never noticed it before until now.

 

It almost looks like the type of flange-plug that would be on either the knock sensor or the fan sensor. Did you see what color the wire is leading into it? I couldn't tell from the pic.

 

Looks orange....could be red but looks orange. Hey, after twenty-two years of grime??????!!!!!!!!!

 

I've gotta take a Firebird Speedo apart soon to set the correct mileage on it. I'm not sure when I will be doing the work - but will post any additional info I can once I crack the speedo open.

 

Yeah, I think that's your knock sensor plug. Look in your pic, just beyond your thumb there. You'll see the knock sensor in the block.

 

If it is then I'm probably gonna have to replace that too. The plug looks roasted.

 

Anyways, I just want to know if there are any of the other gauges acting up?

 

No, just the odometer. Every other gauge is working perfectly fine.

 

Mine started doing the same thing last year. It had been working great until I filled up the tank and reset my trip meter. A couple of kms later on my way home I noticed my trip meter hadn't moved. Another km or so and hey, the odometer isn't working either! I took apart the cluster and found nothing wrong or out of the ordinary. It has been working on and off ever since. *shrug* It's definitely in the cluster.

 

Jips

I had the same problem.
I dissassembled the complete odometer, replaced the little engine that drives the odometer, first it worked, later it failed again.
The speedometer always works, its just the odometer that fails.

I put in another print, you know, that piece of electronics behind the speedometer, and the problem was solved.

for anyone who is helped with it...

grtz, D

 

How's your odometer dude? Sorry but I can't figure it out.

 

Same as before, not working period.

 

Ok, an update. Tried the cardboard and tinfoil and nothing. Still not working.

Everything else is flawless. Actually works better now after I replaced some bulbs. Odometer however, S.O.S.

 

There's a small motor that turns the gears on my odometer. Anyone know where to get a new one.

And how do you get the needle off the gauges?

 

Looks like I'll be taking mine apart again. Its been working fine for about a year but I reset the trip odometer yesterday and both the odometers stopped working. If I find a fix I'll post it but I probably won't get to work on the car until after Christmas.

 

I just found 2 in the bone yard, with 144,000 and 156,000, both off 91-92 120 mph. I think I'll take both and see if they work cuz at that mileage it may not be for long. I'm still leaning toward the little motor.Later.

 

It looks like I have the same speedometer problem that you
have. I had my garage check the speedo sensor and gear
and found nothing. I went to the junk yard and installed a
1991 speedometer into my 1992 and it didn't work. I checked the
curcuit board for loose components and all where set well. Have
you found a fix yet?

 

It looks like I have the same speedometer problem that you
have. I had my garage check the speedo sensor and gear
and found nothing. I went to the junk yard and installed a
1991 speedometer into my 1992 and it didn't work. I checked the
curcuit board for loose components and all where set well. Have
you found a fix yet? Parts man said the curcuit board may have
a problem have you changed the board for looseness?

 

I know this topics been down for a while, but I figured I'd leave my input anyway.

When I bought my trans am the trip meter and odometer weren't working. I ended up taking the dash apart, which can be done without removing the center console (I have an 87 gta). After getting past maybe 20 bolts and getting the guage cluster off, I removed the actual unit. First, check the board to see if there's any shorts or burnt capacitors/diodes/resistors. The small motor could be the problem as well. My car ended up having a bad gear. It was right next to the small motor that turns both the gears of the odometer and trip meter was brittle and missing two teeth (the plastic gets extremely brittle).

I bought another gauge cluster as well, and it ended up having the same issue, so make sure if you do take it apart, to check for that.

 

Your right checked the gear, it was brittle with broken gears, went to junk yard and pulled 2 more both with broken gears, does anyone know who stocks these gears?

 

Well I guess I have the same problem. My odometer quit 3 weeks ago!
Try this website!

http://www.speedometergears.com/contact
Or this one..
http://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/a...jbautoshop.com
I have requested info from both!

 

I heard from speedometergears they said mine had an electric motor?

 

I wasn't able to find any anywhere besides getting a "new" cluster from a junkyard. The worst part is the gear is actually pushed in, and not screwed in. I spent about an hour with a chisel and hammer and was able to get mine out, but I don't suggest it at all. The best luck I had was being able to hit up all the junkyards in the area, and ended up buying two extra gauges. Just try to check as many junkyards as you can, I was able to buy two at my local junkyards, and I might go buy another one just in case. I doubt you have the same car, but if you did, I'd totally go check the junkyards for you.

So from what I understand, there are two kinds, electric, and mechanical. Mine is electric. If needed, I could post a few pics, and I would like to apologize in adavance about the quality, its my phone's fault. If you don't know which, take it apart and you will know instantly.

I suggest taking your dash apart to see which you have, to be honest. It's kind of a pain, and make sure you separate and organize the bolts, because there's 3 different sizes (at least mine was). I suggest paper to label where they go as well. Oh, and you may not actually need to take the center console out to be able to take the dash out. Just start on the left side of the dashpad and take that off, then remove the plastic pieces at the bottom and around the steering wheel. When you get to removing the plastic to the right of your steering wheel, there is one bolt that's under the glove box area, make sure you take the 3 bolts out to remove the foot well cover area, because it WILL break, trust me on that one.

What I ended up doing was disconnecting the actual unit from my little computer board in there, and then swapping it out with the extra one I bought. I definitely suggest cleaning off the rotating gears with a QTIP, and I ended up just winding the miles of the one odometer to match what my car had. If you do wind it to your mileage, be sure not to break the plastic teeth by moving them too hard. I could post a how-to of what I did tomorrow if its needed, I am away from my car for the day, so just let me know.

I would also like to just cover my post by saying that changing the mileage on your car is not only illegal, but rude to do to the next owner. I only moved the mileage on the "new" one was because it was only at 96XXX and my motor has a little over 184XXX on it.

Sorry for the super long post, just trying to be thorough.

 

I haven't heard from jbautoshop.com yet. they are very close to where I live. The odometer is mechanical, otherwise you wouldn't be able to rewind back to "0" by twisting it. Did you look at the pics posted above with the worm gear? Is yours like that? there's another thread under speedometers that shows some very good pics.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/elec...ml#post4638793 Check the pics here.

 

My odometer looks like the pictures in the thread you linked, but not the one that is the "mechanical fix" in the bottom. I was able to fix mine, and it seems like everyone that had a broken gear was able to replace their gauges from what I have seen.

 

Mine broke about a year ago and I finally fixed it. (Speedo worked, odo and trip odo did not.) I have a '91 and it has the electric kind. I bought a whole guage from a member but, like "IMSKIPPINGBEATS", I wanted to keep my mileage right. The guy I bought it from (Drew) provided a technique to adjust the miles without having to wind the replacement odo to the setting you wanted.

My problem was broken gear teeth on the gear attached to the motor shaft that turns the odo. I just pulled the motor off the replacement guage and swapped it with mine (gear and all). Works fine now and I have the circuit board and speedo guage sitting in my garage for future use if neded.

Easy fix after you get the guage out!

 

Thanks! There's a place in Florida that rebuilds them with a warranty for $139 and a place in Houston (close to me) for $145. Haven't decided what I'm going to do yet...it's been 98 here for the last few weeks. I have fresh oil in her and I think I'll wait for a little cooler weather! Ha!

 

I understand why you don't suggest the chisel and the hammer only after trying it and failing miserably. Is there any way to get the thing off without risking total destruction? Luckily I tried it on my junkyard odometer first, but I am going to buy a new gear for mine as long as I can figure out how to safely replace the gear without much trouble. Any suggestions?

 

Oh Oh, I put this on wrong message, this for working tach, but odometer quits or is non-op...
My first post,,,, Ref the odometer, I have a 91 RS, 305 TBI ( I bought it new) has 82K miles with exception of the odometer issue. Hope this will help=started with the Tach issue, I did follow the posts about the resistor array- be sure to also replace the leaky electrolytic capacitors. The 90-92 models have the magnetic sensor (pulse counter-Freq to Voltage) to drive the stepper motor inside the cluster which in turn drives the number wheels. My odometer will read/count great ABOVE 55 MPH, will continue until I slow down. It sometimes will also "lock-up" and not advance, until dash is tapped. It also will reverse back 9 tenths (for real ! ) then start again in forward counting . I am an Electronics Tech. by profession, I am trying to locate a replacement stepper motor...there are two motors in the cluster the other one drives the Speedo. I don't think the counter mechanism is the problem, no broken gears, no binding,etc. Good luck, I will post any updates..

 

Okay, so My question probably has an easy answer. 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?

 

Can you send a link where you got the motor and print from, I have same problem, I have already replace the gear but made no difference

 

His last activity on the board was 2021. May want to send a e-mail. Click on their user name for drop down menu