Speedo problem
Speedo problem
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Harry Flashman

Original Poster:

21,315 posts

266 months

Tuesday 4th January 2005
quotequote all
Haven't picked up the S2 yet, but from the test drives I know it has a speedo which dies when you accelerate (very odd!). As this is an MoT failure, I would like to get it sorted - an it seems like a wiring problem. Tim tells me that it started happening when he plugged in the reverse lights gearbox plug (it had come loose).

So, to you auto electricians - any way of testing to find out what's going on, and to fix it? Or do I just have to unplug the reverse lights again to get it through MoT in February...?

Help!

Rower

1,381 posts

290 months

Tuesday 4th January 2005
quotequote all
Harry Flashman said:
Haven't picked up the S2 yet, but from the test drives I know it has a speedo which dies when you accelerate (very odd!). As this is an MoT failure,

Help!


How does the examiner know if it is working or not ???

KentishS2

15,169 posts

258 months

Tuesday 4th January 2005
quotequote all
It sounds like a poor earth to your instruments to me, I have a simlar problem with my coolant guage which drops as my speed increases which initially worried me but I know that it isn't representative of the actual working temp now.

I had just re-filled my coolant before I noticed the problem so went off at a tangent thinking that I had an airlock.

It appears that my rev counter pulls current from the temp guage.

Harry Flashman

Original Poster:

21,315 posts

266 months

Tuesday 4th January 2005
quotequote all
Examiner will know because he will accelerate on the rollers to check speedo and it will die (or am I being a numpty about how the MoT rolling road works?)

Hope it is just a poor earth - simple pull the clock out and check all the connections I assume?

(I am mechanically able, but electrically inept, so please excuse the daft questions).

Just got her insured! Picking up tomorrow...

bugsy

1,371 posts

260 months

Tuesday 4th January 2005
quotequote all
Blimey
You are a panicky Annie, since when did the speedo have to work on an MOT.
It seems to me that whenever anybody buys a S, me included, we start making huge lists of all the jobs we want to do.
Chill out, you haven't even got the car yet, enjoy it first, then prioritise the jobs that need doing, in order of things that stop full enjoyment of the car first.
Then fettling second, it's easy to get sucked in by all the work you hear about on his forum but unless you have bottomless pockets, you will have to wait and gradually bring the car up to the standard you want.

I'm not having a go, I'm just pointing out the easy mistake of trying to do everything at once.

oatz

381 posts

274 months

Tuesday 4th January 2005
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Just like to echo what Bugsy says. My speedo hasn't worked since I bought the car. Had no problem with MOT last June though.

I have a huge list of stuff to do and the speedo's on it but there's more important stuff ahead of it.

I find I now calculate MPH from the rev counter (um, even if I'm driving a different car with a working speedo!)

rogthegog

78 posts

274 months

Tuesday 4th January 2005
quotequote all
For what its worth, my speedo started playing up before the electrics died on my S3 recently - it read somewhere between 90 and 110 when rev counter suggested I was doing 70 ish. Fixing the connector block under the steering column (which was burnt out but not obvious before I disonnected it) cured the problem.

Harry Flashman

Original Poster:

21,315 posts

266 months

Wednesday 5th January 2005
quotequote all
I know I sound like I'm worried - it's not the case as such: I know she runs beautifully, and MoT isn't due until April. Thing is, when I get something new, I like to crack on with jobs that need to be done on it asap - especially as I enjoy the tinkering. I intend to spend the weekend doing little jobs and giving her a service, so am gathering info in preparation!

It was exactly the same when I bought my flat - an initial flurry of activity getting lots of things sorted, with a few little niggling things being left as long term projects (equivalents on the S2 will be the dropped door and tired roof).

I will of course be doing a lot of driving and enjoying as well as playing with the electrics...

bugsy

1,371 posts

260 months

Wednesday 5th January 2005
quotequote all
Just watch out for compulsive replacement syndrome, I have resisted replacing all the various sensors until I have had them tested.
There is a diognostic plug on some of the S's and I'm waiting to get it plugged into a computer with the Ford program before wasting money on throttle pots etc etc.
The trouble is, I'm wanting more power allready but resisting this urge and getting it checked out by a professional saves money in the long run and that could be spent on fettling,or a power boost valve.

Harry Flashman

Original Poster:

21,315 posts

266 months

Thursday 6th January 2005
quotequote all
Actually, got to get this fixed. I live in London, so driving through hundreds of speed cameras last night without a speedo was a hair raising experience, leading to me driving like a pensioner. This is not good.