Speedometer Problems

FastTRX · **Posted:** Sun Jul 01, 2007 12:45 pm

I've been having speedometer problems for the past 2 months, and it seems that they get worse as the weeks go on. It first started out as a minor deal where the needle would fall from around 55 (when I accelerated to 55 or higher) to around 45 and then come back up. It did this every once in a while. I continued driving, thinking maybe it would disappear. It continued on, and at any speed would continously drop 10mph or more and then come back up to the speed you are running. Now it doesn't hardly work at all, and stays at 0 when you accelerate until the point at which you let off the pedal and then it comes up to the speed you are running but then drops again. It is the only guage that is doing this which leads me to believe that the cluster of guages are ok, but something involved with the speedometer is wrong. What is this? Could it possibly be a fuse? Anyone experience this before and is the fix easy or will I have to take it in?

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sun Jul 01, 2007 12:49 pm

Check the sensor on the rear diff.. Sometimes the wires get damaged..

FastTRX · **Posted:** Sun Jul 01, 2007 9:17 pm

Jeepjeepster wrote:

Check the sensor on the rear diff.. Sometimes the wires get damaged..

Goin to check right now....

Could a wire have been twisted/ripped or could something have gotten wet? If this isn't it...it may be going in (and I hate taking it in...). The rear window wiper just went out on me too....

Thanks Blake

ChileanKJ · **Posted:** Sun Jul 01, 2007 10:10 pm

I was having the same issues, i change the rear dif sensor, and nothing happend, then i tried to dissasemble the connector to the rear diff sensor and when i pull the cable, it give up and cut, i splice the cable, solder and put every thing back and now works great, i have put the KJ under 2 feet of water :twisted:

and worked flawlesly!!

claudio

FastTRX · **Posted:** Sun Jul 01, 2007 10:16 pm

Ha....that was the exact problem! The wires must have gotten brittle from water.....hmmm

, but anyways...one was seperated. In my attempt to fix I pulled the other wire out of the connector/sensor...so now they are both out. But anyways...I now know the issue so I can rest easy at night.

Do I have to buy the whole wiring harness or....? I'm guna need the new sensor/wiring....I'm guna have to order tomarrow or sometime this week after work. Thanks again guys!

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sun Jul 01, 2007 10:36 pm

I believe I remember someone saying that they make a 'repair kit' for it. It may come with a new connector with a pig tail(wires) or something.. Im not sure..

That connector comes off the rear diff although I had a time getting mine off. It has a red clip that you slide back, then alittle tab that youve got to push down but mine wasnt coming off. I had to use a screw driver to push the tab down. Thats when I was removing my rear axle to paint it so I had it hanging down fairly far and it was easy to get to.

Glad you figured out what the problem was! I know what you mean by being able to sleep now.. I cant stand it when something is wrong with my jeep..

Now you've got to figure out whats up with that rear wiper! :wink:

FastTRX · **Posted:** Sun Jul 01, 2007 10:42 pm

Jeepjeepster wrote:

I believe I remember someone saying that they make a 'repair kit' for it. It may come with a new connector with a pig tail(wires) or something.. Im not sure..

That connector comes off the rear diff although I had a time getting mine off. It has a red clip that you slide back, then alittle tab that youve got to push down but mine wasnt coming off. I had to use a screw driver to push the tab down. Thats when I was removing my rear axle to paint it so I had it hanging down fairly far and it was easy to get to.

Glad you figured out what the problem was! I know what you mean by being able to sleep now.. I cant stand it when something is wrong with my jeep..

Now you've got to figure out whats up with that rear wiper! :wink:

This site is just too dang good. I felt proud to tell my family I knew what the problem was....but also had to admit I had to thank my L.O.S.T. companions for leading me to the solution!

I am very happy I know what it is because I REALLY didn't want to take the Jeep in. I'll look into the kit to repair...or try and get the connector off too because I tried getting it off and it wouldn't budge. It was getting dark so I gave up....I'll try it tomarrow in clear day light.

I need to take a night this week after work and get the rear plastic cover and insulation off my rear door and check out the motor for the wiper. I'm thinking it's a case of "another one bites the dust". I just clicked 90K....I suppose its time for stuff like this to be happening. But I make sure to take care of my vehicle...and yes, just like you, It bothers me that stuff fails or doesn't work on my Jeep. I must always find the problem.

Thanks for the help Blake.

Gris · **Posted:** Mon Jul 02, 2007 10:31 am

Just an FYI for anyone looking at this in the future...

I had the exact same problem, except after swapping the sensor, reconstructing the plug and soldering new wires backf or about 1 foot, it still didn't work. After a lot of troubleshooting (checking connectors along the wire path all the way to the front, etc...) I was unable to find the problem. I finally figured it out. The same yellow wire connects to a huge plug right by the hood release lever on the drivers kick panel. The wire actually goes under the driver's side carpet. mud, water, dirt has worn away the insulation on the wire right under the break pedal. I fixed it and have had no problems since.

Same wire, just a different location of failure.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Mon Jul 02, 2007 10:58 am

ahh yes, I saw those wires going under there when I had my carpet pulled up on the drivers side.. I had a cb wire running in the wrong place and it let water in.

I always thought it was a stupid idea to run wires through there..

Since his wires had already fallen off, I believe thats must be one of his problems if not the only one..

FastTRX · **Posted:** Mon Jul 02, 2007 11:20 pm

Jeepjeepster wrote:

ahh yes, I saw those wires going under there when I had my carpet pulled up on the drivers side.. I had a cb wire running in the wrong place and it let water in.

I always thought it was a stupid idea to run wires through there..

Since his wires had already fallen off, I believe thats must be one of his problems if not the only one..

Hmm...those wires must not hold up to well to all of the elements. Of course my Jeep is 5 years old, but I would think they would have lasted a bit longer than they have. I'm soldering the wires back up and crossing my fingers.

ChileanKJ · **Posted:** Tue Jul 03, 2007 11:17 am

If you find the part number for the repair kit, let me know, no body can find it here, by number will be easier.

Thanks

Claudio

jdumont · **Posted:** Tue Jul 31, 2007 4:26 pm

I just started having the same issues with my speedo just now. Its odd that I installed fog lights this weekend and ran the new wires through the firewall hole. I wonder if something got knocked while I was in there? Is there any danger of doing harm to anything with the needle jumping around like that.... other than my wallet for a speeding ticket of course?!?!?!?

Josh

jdumont · **Posted:** Tue Jul 31, 2007 5:32 pm

Well just took a look at it and guess what?! One wire was broken right at the back of the connector. That was a fun one to fix... i had to melt away part of the connector with my solder iron and then once i sliced open the insulation the solder didnt want to wet, and of course I couldnt find my flux... It ended up partially wetting good enough so I trust it for a few days. Going to florida fri monday AM so im gonna try not to think about it till then. SPIDERTRAX coming in tomorrow AM so that will help with the pain! Now off to my softball game.... later all.

Rush345 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 01, 2007 1:59 am

I had the same problem with a '95 Dakota 5.2L. the previous owner had the speedo replaced twice by the stealership. It was so speradic and would happen during so many different conditions I never could pin the true problem down. As for replacement wires I've heard of a company called Painless preformance they seem to have wires for every application on or off the road. I don't know how the priceing is but I would try anything , just not to give anymore money to the stealership.

LEAD

FOLLOW

or GET OUT OF THE WAY :shock:

Speedometer Problems

Who is online