on the way to school this morning, i noticed that everytime i hit a bump my speedometer would stop working, i then would bang the dash and it would come back to life. Well on the way home it completely gave up the ghost, and will not come back. All conncetions are tight in the back. Any tips on whats going on here? a simple/DIY fix(i hope and pray?) thanks
Ryan

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83 300SD.......sold
96 integra SE....sold
99 a4 quattro....sold
2001 IS300.......sold
2002 330i.........current.
2004 highlander limited....current.

update: i took speedo out of car, took it apart, realized that there was no way i knew how to fix this thing, or even know what could be the problem(without your help), and put it back together. Took the car out to see if luck was with me, it worked for 30 seconds, died out, i tapped the dash again, and it picked back up for the ride back. What is with this thing? i'm beginnning to REALLY dislike VDO guages.....
Ryan

__________________
83 300SD.......sold
96 integra SE....sold
99 a4 quattro....sold
2001 IS300.......sold
2002 330i.........current.
2004 highlander limited....current.

Is it ONLY the speedometer that is going bad or it is the entire instrument panel, lights, etc.

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'76 240D-Sold
'78 240D-Sold
'85 300 SD, 165K-Sold
'88 300 TE, 165K-Sold
'64 Porsche 356C Cabriolet- under restoration
'86 560SL 124K Miles-Sold
'94 320E Wagon, 74K Miles-128K Miles JUNKED
'06 E350 Wagon, 84K Miles
07 SL550, 14K Miles

nope, it's just the speedo, everything else works(as well as VDO systems do that is...) so no such luck in it being a simple fuse...
R

__________________
83 300SD.......sold
96 integra SE....sold
99 a4 quattro....sold
2001 IS300.......sold
2002 330i.........current.
2004 highlander limited....current.

A search of Speedometer should lead you to a discussion of a loose metal gear that is attached to the mechanical speedo cable. Cure seems to be knurling the shaft of the speedo drive cable with plier teeth and press fitting the gear back into positioncausing the gear to turn with the cable rather than slipping as the cable rotates. If you can't find the info on this site it may be on the mbz.org site of Stu Ritter. If I remember it is fairly easy to do if you are careful and patient. It is tricky because you have to open up the back of the speedo and you have to secure the odometer and trip odometer number wheels with tape when you remove and return the gear/cable. Check it out and good luck.

BillyBob's reply seems to make a great deal of sense. If you aren't very good with your hands, I'd suggest you get an estimate from a speedometer repair shop and have them include some p.m. on your odometer while they are at it. It should cost about $80 or so.

__________________
'76 240D-Sold
'78 240D-Sold
'85 300 SD, 165K-Sold
'88 300 TE, 165K-Sold
'64 Porsche 356C Cabriolet- under restoration
'86 560SL 124K Miles-Sold
'94 320E Wagon, 74K Miles-128K Miles JUNKED
'06 E350 Wagon, 84K Miles
07 SL550, 14K Miles

I think the speedo from 300SD is electrical, no speedo cable. If so, the above fix may not apply.

David

david, you are correct, the speedo is electronic. any more tips guys? your my last hope for a cheap fix here!!!
thanks
Ryan

__________________
83 300SD.......sold
96 integra SE....sold
99 a4 quattro....sold
2001 IS300.......sold
2002 330i.........current.
2004 highlander limited....current.

Give me more information and see if I can come up with a reason:

1. Which part of the dash you bang on to try to fix it? On top of the dash board? on the plastic lense?

2. When you say "speedometer not working", is the needle staying at zero mile/hour, or the mileage reading not incrementing, or both?

3. If it is the needle that is not working, is the trip meter also not working at the same time?

4. Does it happen to you that the needle goes back to zero mile/hour while the car is in motion going forward?

David

the exact description of what goes on is the following. I will be driving down the road, i will hit a bump, and my speedo will just drop to zero. If i either A. hit another bump, or B. bang on the top of my dash, sometimes my speedo will come back and sometimes it will not. It hasn't completely stopped working yet, as i can always seem to get it to come back on with enough banging on the top of the dash. My odometer/trip meter have been broke since i bought the car due to that little plastic gear that shears off. All other gauges work(as well as VDO gauges do i guess...) thanks very much
Ryan

__________________
83 300SD.......sold
96 integra SE....sold
99 a4 quattro....sold
2001 IS300.......sold
2002 330i.........current.
2004 highlander limited....current.

Ryna,

It sounds like your instrument cluster has a loose connector or cold solder joints. Remove the cluster, clean all connectors and take the speedo out of the cluster and resolder all joints.

Since your gears are gone, one way to fix them is to get a used cluster from a junk yard or ebay, about $30 to $40.

David

your sppedo is electronic,so save yourself alotta trouble and take it out and get a pro to fix it. there is a shop in ft. lauderdale that will fix and tune it up for $145. 1 day turn around. let me know if you want the address

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72 250 CE-5spd-gone
79 280 CE
82 300TD
83 300 CD
83 380 SEC