Cavalier speedometer
- Thread starter beck
- Start date
- Status
I would check connections @ the VSS. (Vehicle speed sensor)
It could be a bad connection there, or the sensor might be failing/loose.
On a MT car, it should be easy to find and check out.
It could be a bad connection there, or the sensor might be failing/loose.
On a MT car, it should be easy to find and check out.
Not sure if that goes through a fuse or not, but a "broken or cracked' fuse (NOT a blown fuse) has that exact symptom.
Does the odometer still work (i.e., still turn) when the speedo goes out?
How many miles? Has it ever sat out in the hot summer sun for long periods of time without any use?
Could be:
-VSS sensor
-VSS sensor connector
-bad/cracked speedo cable
-cold solder joint on the PCB in the gauge cluster.
Any or all of these can cause the speedo to behave erratic.
How many miles? Has it ever sat out in the hot summer sun for long periods of time without any use?
Could be:
-VSS sensor
-VSS sensor connector
-bad/cracked speedo cable
-cold solder joint on the PCB in the gauge cluster.
Any or all of these can cause the speedo to behave erratic.
Probably something in the cluster. These are definitely electronic. I would bang the dash next time it happens.
I'm betting on loose solder that's cracked, first off.
A neato trick would be to plug in a scan tool and see if it sees speed. If he has cruise control, see if it drops out.
I'm betting on loose solder that's cracked, first off.
A neato trick would be to plug in a scan tool and see if it sees speed. If he has cruise control, see if it drops out.
Do the cavaliers suffer from the stepper motor problems like the trucks did?
I have also heard of cracked solder joints in GM panels.
I have also heard of cracked solder joints in GM panels.
I am used to seeing this when the gauge cluster needs to be rebuilt.
Look online for a local speedometer shop, and take your cluster there. You will probably pay $150-$200 for an analog display.
That in mind, checking all connections to sensors should be the first step.
Look online for a local speedometer shop, and take your cluster there. You will probably pay $150-$200 for an analog display.
That in mind, checking all connections to sensors should be the first step.
Originally Posted By: eljefino
Probably something in the cluster. These are definitely electronic. I would bang the dash next time it happens.
I'm betting on loose solder that's cracked, first off.
A neato trick would be to plug in a scan tool and see if it sees speed. If he has cruise control, see if it drops out.
This.
Probably something in the cluster. These are definitely electronic. I would bang the dash next time it happens.
I'm betting on loose solder that's cracked, first off.
A neato trick would be to plug in a scan tool and see if it sees speed. If he has cruise control, see if it drops out.
This.
No, the odometer doesn't work when the speedo goes out.
Never sat out in hot summer sun for long periods of time without use.
140K miles
He's tried banging on dash- made no difference.
We'll check the sensor connection.
Are these clusters hard to get out?
Never sat out in hot summer sun for long periods of time without use.
140K miles
He's tried banging on dash- made no difference.
We'll check the sensor connection.
Are these clusters hard to get out?
Originally Posted By: beck
No, the odometer doesn't work when the speedo goes out.
Never sat out in hot summer sun for long periods of time without use.
140K miles
He's tried banging on dash- made no difference.
We'll check the sensor connection.
Are these clusters hard to get out?
Given the age of the car, I am fairly certain that you will have some plastic stuff crack when you try to remove it.
VSS might give you an OBDII error code, but not all cars are built that way.
No, the odometer doesn't work when the speedo goes out.
Never sat out in hot summer sun for long periods of time without use.
140K miles
He's tried banging on dash- made no difference.
We'll check the sensor connection.
Are these clusters hard to get out?
Given the age of the car, I am fairly certain that you will have some plastic stuff crack when you try to remove it.
VSS might give you an OBDII error code, but not all cars are built that way.
Originally Posted By: beck
Are these clusters hard to get out?
I didn't do it personally but there's been some Cavs in the family and I know the dashboard as a whole is a huge pain. Not sure if it's any better when you're only worried about the cluster.
BTW - in the 98 model, the gauge cluster is part of the security system. If you swap out a different cluster, the ECM won't recognize it and the car won't start. There is a "learning" procedure that we did on a 98 once. I don't remember if that resolves a mismatched cluster, but I think it would.
In case you end up considering such a swap, first look up some articles online about the security learn process. Unfortunately I remember the articles being inconsistent, and I don't seem to have the link anymore for whichever one it was that worked.
Are these clusters hard to get out?
I didn't do it personally but there's been some Cavs in the family and I know the dashboard as a whole is a huge pain. Not sure if it's any better when you're only worried about the cluster.
BTW - in the 98 model, the gauge cluster is part of the security system. If you swap out a different cluster, the ECM won't recognize it and the car won't start. There is a "learning" procedure that we did on a 98 once. I don't remember if that resolves a mismatched cluster, but I think it would.
In case you end up considering such a swap, first look up some articles online about the security learn process. Unfortunately I remember the articles being inconsistent, and I don't seem to have the link anymore for whichever one it was that worked.
- Status
