Speedometer help! early 944 problems
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
From: York, PA
Speedometer help! early 944 problems
Well it was like 7 degrees here in Maryland yesterday, I had a date with a girl I just met a few days ago, so rather than pick her up in the dodge K car, I picked her up in the Artic silver P car! While leaving my driveway to pick her up (after leaving the car running to warm up for about 3-4 mins) I immiediatly noticed my Speedometer and milage coutner BOTH were not working (about 2 1/2 years ago I had the speedo cable replaced, but the MPH's still worked)
Why all of the sudden could this of happened? and is the fix a new cable most likely? I dont really do any of the work on this car ive owned for 6 years (so yeah its an expensive car) and its sooooo damn cold here I cant hang outside and work on it for 1-2 hours... Im just trying to see what kind of minor problem I have on my hands at this point in time, as all of you know, we NEED our speedo's in the porsche cars due to the fact they just "cruise" at 85-90... so i need to avoid ANY speeding, even though I know the "whereabouts" i should be in MPH wise.
Thanks in advance, and the porkchop thanks you too!
x 944 x
custom artic silver 83 944 ifc/fiberworks monster
Why all of the sudden could this of happened? and is the fix a new cable most likely? I dont really do any of the work on this car ive owned for 6 years (so yeah its an expensive car) and its sooooo damn cold here I cant hang outside and work on it for 1-2 hours... Im just trying to see what kind of minor problem I have on my hands at this point in time, as all of you know, we NEED our speedo's in the porsche cars due to the fact they just "cruise" at 85-90... so i need to avoid ANY speeding, even though I know the "whereabouts" i should be in MPH wise.
Thanks in advance, and the porkchop thanks you too!
x 944 x
custom artic silver 83 944 ifc/fiberworks monster
Nordschleife Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 9,981
Likes: 8
From: San Diego, CA
The only reason the speedometer is not working is from a broken speedometer cable. There are three reasons that the odometer wouldnt work. That is a broken speedometer, a broken odometer gear and the chance that the odometer gear has slipped on the odometer shaft and is no longer in contact with the worm gear.
Based on your description, its probably a broken cable. Changing the cable is not tough to do though is a little annoying trying to reconnect the wire at the back of the speedo gauge. You may first want to remove the front left wheel and make sure cable is still connected through the hub with a circlip. Its possible it was not connected properly and fell off (though unlikley if this has been working for 2.5 years).
Edit - If it is indeed a broken cable, you will need part# 142-957-801C to replace it. Changing it is fairly straight foward, all thats really required is removal of the front left wheel, prying off the dust cab (large screwdriver) and a hex key to loosen a c-clamp at the hub so the old cable can be pulled out. You will need to remove the speedometer gauge which is fairly simple. You can choose to leave the steering wheel on, but removal will make it much easier. You can remove the steering wheel with a 24mm socket and atleast a 3-5 inch extension i believe. Reach undernearth the dash and push foward the gas/temperature gauge. The gause will pop out essentially, disconnect the wire harness and set the gauge aside. This will allow you more room to reconnect the speedometer cable to the back of the gauge. Its fairly simple, this should give you an idea as to what needs to be done. Make sure when reinstalling, there are no kinks or bends in the cable, it should have long sweeping turns. I doubt it would take more than an hours time from start to cleanup.
Based on your description, its probably a broken cable. Changing the cable is not tough to do though is a little annoying trying to reconnect the wire at the back of the speedo gauge. You may first want to remove the front left wheel and make sure cable is still connected through the hub with a circlip. Its possible it was not connected properly and fell off (though unlikley if this has been working for 2.5 years).
Edit - If it is indeed a broken cable, you will need part# 142-957-801C to replace it. Changing it is fairly straight foward, all thats really required is removal of the front left wheel, prying off the dust cab (large screwdriver) and a hex key to loosen a c-clamp at the hub so the old cable can be pulled out. You will need to remove the speedometer gauge which is fairly simple. You can choose to leave the steering wheel on, but removal will make it much easier. You can remove the steering wheel with a 24mm socket and atleast a 3-5 inch extension i believe. Reach undernearth the dash and push foward the gas/temperature gauge. The gause will pop out essentially, disconnect the wire harness and set the gauge aside. This will allow you more room to reconnect the speedometer cable to the back of the gauge. Its fairly simple, this should give you an idea as to what needs to be done. Make sure when reinstalling, there are no kinks or bends in the cable, it should have long sweeping turns. I doubt it would take more than an hours time from start to cleanup.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,480
Likes: 4
From: Richmond Virginia
Techno Duck missed one other possibility.
The speedometer drive cable goes through the driver side spindle, through the wheel bearing dust cap (which has a square hole), and is held in place by an e-clip. If the e-clip comes off, the drive end of the cable will slip out of the dust cap, and the speedometer/odometer will stop working.
The speedometer drive cable goes through the driver side spindle, through the wheel bearing dust cap (which has a square hole), and is held in place by an e-clip. If the e-clip comes off, the drive end of the cable will slip out of the dust cap, and the speedometer/odometer will stop working.
Nordschleife Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 9,981
Likes: 8
From: San Diego, CA
Charlotte, i covered that also!
"You may first want to remove the front left wheel and make sure cable is still connected through the hub with a circlip"
Maybe my wording was a bit off though
"You may first want to remove the front left wheel and make sure cable is still connected through the hub with a circlip"
Maybe my wording was a bit off though
