Dancing speedo

[johnnyride]

Hi all,

I have a dancing speedo in my 92 with only 85K on it. Mechanic says it's in the cluster. I suppose this means I need a new cluster. Or a speedo? Can anyone comment on this issue. The car has low miles so if I have to go the cluster route, I don't want to add miles to my car with a cluster. There are a lot of them on eBay with 175K miles on them. Thanks, john

[Blacky]

Are there any other strange symptoms? I was thinking it could be the speed sensor. There are usually other signs of a problem when the sensor goes though. Do your cooling fans run all the time?

[johnnyride]

Originally Posted by Blacky

Are there any other strange symptoms? I was thinking it could be the speed sensor. There are usually other signs of a problem when the sensor goes though. Do your cooling fans run all the time?

I'll have to check, but not that I have noticed. Only other strange thing is the sensor that screams when I let the tank get too close to empty. Then I just open the gas cap and it stops.

[johnnyride]

Originally Posted by johnnyride

I'll have to check, but not that I have noticed. Only other strange thing is the sensor that screams when I let the tank get too close to empty. Then I just open the gas cap and it stops.

Fan is not running all the time.

[ChristophCobb]

I have a semi similar issue. My rev counter seems way too low, sometimes when the car is idling it's nearly at zero, just one notch above it. And when I am giving it gas it just doesn't sound like what it's telling me. Idk if this is just how the car is or is this an issue. Also it seems either my speedometer is about somewhere around 5 to 10mph slower than the car, or everyone miraculously started driving slower when I bought it Going to use a GPS when I'm driving and see what that says in relation to what my Speedo is telling me.

[trophy956]

92 cars use a sensor on the diff that is gear driven and can get worn and show jumps in speedo .its less expensive and a easy change than buying a comb meter

[SVX_MY_BABY]

To reply to your hijack.

Originally Posted by ChristophCobb

I have a semi similar issue. My rev counter seems way too low, sometimes when the car is idling it's nearly at zero, just one notch above it. And when I am giving it gas it just doesn't sound like what it's telling me. Idk if this is just how the car is or is this an issue.

It's an issue. The Tachometer is quite accurate on the SVX.

Originally Posted by ChristophCobb

Also it seems either my speedometer is about somewhere around 5 to 10mph slower than the car, or everyone miraculously started driving slower when I bought it Going to use a GPS when I'm driving and see what that says in relation to what my Speedo is telling me.

The speedometer is usually about 3% slow, depending on tires.

[huck369]

Check your ground to the instrument cluster

[johnnyride]

Originally Posted by trophy956

92 cars use a sensor on the diff that is gear driven and can get worn and show jumps in speedo .its less expensive and a easy change than buying a comb meter

Thanks! I appreciate the advice!

[johnnyride]

Originally Posted by huck369

Check your ground to the instrument cluster

Any advice on how to do that?

[huck369]

Originally Posted by johnnyride

Any advice on how to do that?

Maybe clean all your grounds, take special notice of the ones that go to the firewall

[johnnyride]

Originally Posted by trophy956

92 cars use a sensor on the diff that is gear driven and can get worn and show jumps in speedo .its less expensive and a easy change than buying a comb meter

I went by my local Subie dealer and got lucky. One of the service managers has had two SVXs and knew the issue and one of his techs is an SVX certified mechanic. As long as they can get the part, I'm all set.

Thanks

john

[bwb3]

Symptom was bouncing speedometer needle after 35 mph, down to 0 after 45 mph. Replaced speed sensor today and all is well. Seemed that the best access is on the passengers side (right for USA), after removing the air intake tubing. Everything is tight no matter how you do it on this car. It was a gamble that worked.