Intermittent speedo/odometer

[Cleckheatonlock]

As per the title

Works for ten minutes and then the needle hits the bottom, followed five minutes later by odometer going blank

On a prolonged run it will then come back (maybe half an hour or so) and then carry on working fine

Mk 1 Focus 1.6LX by the way

[anonymous-user]

Pretty sure the Focus had an issue with bad connections on the instrument read outs.....

Ford TSB search would probably help.

[helsey]

These are the usual sympthons of a faulty 'vehicle speed sensor'. It's on the gearbox and a bit of a pig to remove. Thankfully I haven't had to change mine. The other causes are the 'cylinder head temperature sensor' cable coming into contact with the spark plug HT cabels. Thats the cable in the middle of the rocker cover.

[TankRS]

Dave_ST220 said:

Pretty sure the Focus had an issue with bad connections on the instrument read outs.....

Ford TSB search would probably help.

helsey said:

These are the usual sympthons of a faulty 'vehicle speed sensor'. It's on the gearbox and a bit of a pig to remove. Thankfully I haven't had to change mine. The other causes are the 'cylinder head temperature sensor' cable coming into contact with the spark plug HT cabels. Thats the cable in the middle of the rocker cover.

both right here, mine was the speed sensor, changed it myself but is far easier to do with the use of a ramp/pit. hardest part was getting the split pin out without it snapping otherwise not too bad a fix.

if it is the clocks, usualy identifed by the fuel guage dropping as well as speedo, ford were offering a £100 fix of a new set of clocks. price included labour but think it was only at Ford dealers and not sure if they still do it.

get it fixed sooner rather than later as i left mine a while after it started, similar to your problem, drops off, comes back on a few mins later, untill mine failed completely and wouldnt record any speed at all.

[Cleckheatonlock]

TankRS said:

both right here, mine was the speed sensor, changed it myself but is far easier to do with the use of a ramp/pit. hardest part was getting the split pin out without it snapping otherwise not too bad a fix.

if it is the clocks, usualy identifed by the fuel guage dropping as well as speedo, ford were offering a £100 fix of a new set of clocks. price included labour but think it was only at Ford dealers and not sure if they still do it.

get it fixed sooner rather than later as i left mine a while after it started, similar to your problem, drops off, comes back on a few mins later, untill mine failed completely and wouldnt record any speed at all.

Cheers Guys

Not the clocks as fuel, revs and temp all read fine and constant so might have to look into the speed sensor

[TankRS]

Cleckheatonlock said:

Cheers Guys

Not the clocks as fuel, revs and temp all read fine and constant so might have to look into the speed sensor

happy to help. if you dont do it yourself make sure you get a quote off the garage, think the sensor cost me £30-40. should take less than an hour to change so anyone giving more than an hours labour is taking you for a ride. imo

[Cleckheatonlock]

TankRS said:

happy to help. if you dont do it yourself make sure you get a quote off the garage, think the sensor cost me £30-40. should take less than an hour to change so anyone giving more than an hours labour is taking you for a ride. imo

Would think that we can sort it between me and the best mate. We built 3 rally cars

[TankRS]

Cleckheatonlock said:

Would think that we can sort it between me and the best mate. We built 3 rally cars

in that case, this should be a piece of cake!!

[52focus]

Got this problem too, looks like a trip to the breakers for a replacement instrument panlel.....

[mnkiboy]

Sounds more like the vehicle speed sensor, as mentioned above.