for my 1985 300D -i know, i know - common problem. it finally happened to me!

- speedo reads just fine still
- *odometer stopped after resetting tripmeter*
- if I reset it, tripmeter will advance to .1 and stop there

I see a couple great tutorials:
How to repair your odometer for pocket change
and
How to Repair Your Broken Odometer

Does my mode of failure point to one cause specifically? If possible Id like to fix it in a single sitting :-)

thanks all - long time no post - hope all are doing well

best,
dd

__________________
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'85 300D, 'Lance',250k, ... winter beater (100k on franken-Frybrid 3 Valve Kit)
'82 300D, 'Tex', 228k body / 170k engine ... summer car
'83 300TD Cali Wagon 210k, wife's car

Just fixed mine a couple of weekends ago. I used the dieselgiant tutorial, and didn't apply green locktite to any of the fixtures for fear I'd fuse something not meant to be fused.

It took maybe an hour tops to fix mine, but I had fixed other VDO gauges before.

__________________
Java Developer/Linux SysAdmin

Current:
*1984 300D ~200K,1989 MR2 250K, 2012 Ford Fusion 4.5K (fiance's car to replace the uber-unsafe cavalier)
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Past: 1998 Chevy Cavalier ,2005 Saab 9-3 2.0T, 1996 Mazda Protege, 1974 Porsche 914 2.0, 1997 Land Rover Discovery 4.0L/5Speed, 1995 Jeep Wrangler

the DG guy covers both failure modes --- it's either the brass gear, the plastic/nylon worm gears, or the pot metal gear next to the numbers. On mine, it was the pot metal gear. In the past on my Porsche, it was the brass gear (except it was pot metal in 74) that needed fixing.

__________________
Java Developer/Linux SysAdmin

Current:
*1984 300D ~200K,1989 MR2 250K, 2012 Ford Fusion 4.5K (fiance's car to replace the uber-unsafe cavalier)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Past: 1998 Chevy Cavalier ,2005 Saab 9-3 2.0T, 1996 Mazda Protege, 1974 Porsche 914 2.0, 1997 Land Rover Discovery 4.0L/5Speed, 1995 Jeep Wrangler

thank you for the replies!

are there any parts to 'pre-order' if i want to ensure i get it done in an afternoon?

it doesn't look like it, but i figured id ask.

seems like a good time to pre-emptively change my indicator bulbs and paint the gauge needles :-)

__________________
-------------------------------
'85 300D, 'Lance',250k, ... winter beater (100k on franken-Frybrid 3 Valve Kit)
'82 300D, 'Tex', 228k body / 170k engine ... summer car
'83 300TD Cali Wagon 210k, wife's car

There might be if the worm gears are messed up, but the weak link certainly seems to be that circular gear thing next to the numbers. And when you take the pin out, you'll see the polished area where it spun on the pin.

__________________
Java Developer/Linux SysAdmin

Current:
*1984 300D ~200K,1989 MR2 250K, 2012 Ford Fusion 4.5K (fiance's car to replace the uber-unsafe cavalier)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Past: 1998 Chevy Cavalier ,2005 Saab 9-3 2.0T, 1996 Mazda Protege, 1974 Porsche 914 2.0, 1997 Land Rover Discovery 4.0L/5Speed, 1995 Jeep Wrangler

cool, i think i have enough info to dive in - i'm pretty sure i have a 'spinning' situation.

__________________
-------------------------------
'85 300D, 'Lance',250k, ... winter beater (100k on franken-Frybrid 3 Valve Kit)
'82 300D, 'Tex', 228k body / 170k engine ... summer car
'83 300TD Cali Wagon 210k, wife's car

I like to use Palo Alto speedometer, they will fix and return via mail, they are an authorized VDO shop and have latest upgraded parts.

You are probably looking at $160 to have them do it.

The fix is very simple, just a matter in taking the gauge apart and fixing the slipping Pot Metal gear.

Charlie

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

Dan, good to see you back online.

I have taken a few of the 123 spedo`s apart. I have a sacrificial one I learned on.

I removed the needle and face plate, made it easier for me.
First lift the needle over the resting Pin. there should be a white mark on the edge of the face where the needle will line up on. when replacing the needle line it back up on this position. Used 2 Spoons with tape on the back side so not to marr the face. push down on both Spoons and the needle will pop off.

Remove the 2 small screws on the plate.

To pop off the brass bushing, I either used 2 screw drivers or a pair of Dykes and rocked it back to pop off the Bushing.



I tried to use the Scotch Tape DG shows, but had trouble getting the shaft in and the number all together and they dropped out etc... then had to figure out how to get them back on the shaft and lined up.

Once the bushing is off, pull on the brass gear and remove ea numbered wheel as you slowly pull out the shaft and place them in order on a towel.

DG shows using a screw Driver to roughen up the shaft, I used a pair of 6" Vice grips to put some ridges in the shaft for the Pot metal gear to bite into. that shaft is some pretty hard metal.


Place the PM gear first and then ea numbered wheel. these must be lined up with the grey Cogs. not really difficult. make sure the numbers are lined up in the window (face Plate) for your mileage. then push on the brass bushing, leave some room for it to rotate freely as DG mentions. I at first got mine too tight and had to back it off some.

After you get everything secured and notice the mileage is off, you really don`t want to pull the shaft out and mess up the PM gear now it is biting into the ridges on the shaft..

I found that filing off the sides of the shaft (the bulge where they mashed it, see first picture) that the Grey Cogs ride on and removing it and the Cogs, I could line up each number as I slid the shaft back into position.
To hold the shaft on now the bulges are now gone, I cut a piece of insulation from a small diameter wire and pushed in on and made a tight fit. the shaft doesn`t spin and has held it for the past couple years or more w/o a problem.

Hope this helps.

Charlie

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

My odometer sticks as well. It'll get to .9 miles on the trip odo then stop (the trip odo only moves at all when it's cooler outside, and even then only until the car is warmed up). Resetting it when it gets to .9 helps, but as mentioned, once the car's warmed up it won't go at all.

__________________
1983 240D, 272K+ miles (odo broke)

Classic case of the Shaft slipping inside the Pot Metal Gear.

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

Good Job!

__________________
Java Developer/Linux SysAdmin

Current:
*1984 300D ~200K,1989 MR2 250K, 2012 Ford Fusion 4.5K (fiance's car to replace the uber-unsafe cavalier)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Past: 1998 Chevy Cavalier ,2005 Saab 9-3 2.0T, 1996 Mazda Protege, 1974 Porsche 914 2.0, 1997 Land Rover Discovery 4.0L/5Speed, 1995 Jeep Wrangler