Car: 1989 Trans Am - Non GTA

Just filled up with gas this afternoon. I always reset the trip odometer when done. After pulling out onto the road the trip odometer when up to 9 tenths of a mile but wouldn't roll over. I also noticed that the odometer was not moving either. I tried resetting the trip odometer but now it won't budge. Car has almost 94,000 miles.

Questions:

1. Does the trip odometer control the odometer?
2. Is there a cable for the odometer?
3. How do I start troubleshooing this?
4. Do I need to pull the dash?

Thanks.

Mike

 

I'm not sure if this is different on your newer car, ie electric speedo, but I *think* it's still cable operated. If so, then my advice will work for ya;

The speedo cable comes out of the tranny and into the dash. That controls the speedo, which controls the odometer and trip odemter.
If your speedo works still, then you're golden, it's just the odometer. There's a tech article I think on how to fix this, it's a common problem on these cars, little J-clips. Do a search on "j-clips" or "odometer fix" and you'll find the thread with pictures.
If the speedo is dead too, then you either need a new speedo cable, or....
But yes, you'll need to pull your dash either way. It's not too bad, just heed this advice: loosen the 15mm headed nuts under your steering column, and let it drop as far as possible. This'll let you pull out the gauge cluster with the least amount of possibility of breaking it. It's a tight fit.

 

Yes, I'm sure it has an electric speedo. I guess there is a pulse sending unit that feeds it via the cable. I appreciate the info on the steering column. My repair manual says nothing about this. I can't believe that there are no repair parts for this. If this is as big an issue as what I've read here, then someone ought to make some bucks by selling a repair kit. Instead, we're left to jimmy our stuff and/or seach out a repalcement speedo for parts. Perhaps I should mount an aftermarket speedo with digital odometer/trip.

 

oh ok, then my advice is out the window. If you need to pull the cluster, then yea, lower the steering wheel. It must be an electronic part. Maybe a kind mod could move this to the electronics board. I imagine it's still part of the cluster that's damaged though, one of the sources here could probably sell you another speedo head, but i'd want to be sure that was the problem first.