'86 300E - Stuck Trip Odometer
 

After fueling up this morning, I reset the trip odometer and it started clicking as well as not advancing. The tenths wheel was about 2/3 of the way from 9 to 0 after pushing the reset knob (not while I was moving). While driving, it advances almost all the way to 0 when, with a "Tink-Tunk", it snaps back to 9 2/3. I tried driving backwards, but the same thing happens, just in reverse (Duh!). I've read where someone advised holding in the knob while driving till it catches, but I'm leary about doing this. Will this harm the mechanism, or temporarily fix the problem?

Can I disassemble the speedo and get at the tripmeter on this year model? (it's cable driven).

Is there a typical failure mode that's easily repaired?

Will I do any additional harm driving it this way, or should I disconnect the speedo cable till I can get it repaired?

Thanks for any help

Gary

you may have to pull forward slowly to get it to engage.. Dont drive the car with it clicking. It will eventually break, taking the odometer with it. Mine finally gave out recently, in my opinion its not worth the harm done to even use the darn thing... Good luck

FWIW, I got it working this afternoon. I tried driving it real slow both forward and reverse but no luck, so I took a chance and held the knob in while I sloooowly moved forward at about 1 mph. I watched the wheel gradually creep up to 9 and 9/10 and then finally, 0 and beyond. It's been working normally for the rest of the day. I still want to take it apart and effect a permanent repair, if possible. Any tips would be appreciated.

Gary

Its rather a expensive part when you break it....

if the odometer is broken in a car you cannot sell it in the state of california (I say this because I went threw the same thing when I bought my 300e, odometer was broken, and she couldn't get the car smogged because of it.)


but if it happens again, just push the plunger in a multituted of times in a row, it will set itself to a place where you can drive.

Well, I fueled up again this morning and when I reset the tripmeter this time, all of the wheels stopped between either 9 & 0 or 0 & 1. Additionally, the tenths wheel started clicking again between 9 and 0. I decided to take the speedo out tonight and I've hit a stumbling block. It appears that the best way to gain access to the tripmeter wheels is by removing the dial face, which is only held on by two screws. The problem is that I can't seem to get the speedo needle off its skinny little shaft. I've pulled as hard as I dare, as both the shaft and the needle appear very fragile. Is there a technique or trick to removing the needle? Is it best worked on from the front? Anyone know of any threads in this (or any other forum) dealing with speedo disassembly and repair (preferably with pictures)?

Also, will I encounter or cause any problems by driving the car with the instrument cluster removed?

Any help will be greatly appreciated

Gary

if you stop inbetween 0-1 it should work fine. mine never 0's out completely, the 1/10 always starts 0-1

Well perhaps it should, but it sure doesn't on mine. Only the tenths wheel is turning. Each time it comes around to 9 it starts clicking and hanging up. The other wheels just sit there, between digits.

So far, I don't see any way to get at the tripmeter wheels without taking off the dial face and needle. I found a VDO speedo repair shop reasonably closeby in North Hollywood (www.nhspeedometer.com ) so I think I'll pay them a visit tomorrow and hope it's not too expensive. I'll post the results.

Gary

Mine has done this 'clicking thing' several times.
I just press the pin a couple of times and everything is fine again..

Freestyler