Speedo broken, VSP2 busted

Post by **Legacy777** » Sun Jun 01, 2003 2:32 am

Well speedo just died on me today. Was doin about 40-50 mph and it just died.

I didn't get a CEL for a while, however after a little while It did come on, and I do get a blinking power light, 16 on startup.

I reset the ECU & TCU, and the CEL & power light didn't come on.

I still get a reading from the vehicle speed sensor 1 in the tranny. Since our VSP 2 is in the combination meter, it's either that, or it's the cable/gear in the tranny.

I'm hoping it's just the cable. I still have to take apart the damn dash though...grrr.

I'm pretty sure it's not the sensor since the CEL and power light don't come right away, and it takes the ECU/TCU a little bit to say "hey, we're getting a signal from vsp1, where's vsp2."

I hope like hell it's not the gear......that would really suck.

Anyone have any similar experience?

gt tankie · Post by **gt tankie** » Sun Jun 01, 2003 6:48 am

Had this prob and I didn't take the dash apart to fix it.
For me my cable had popped off the back of the speedo.
If you havent got sausage fingers you can get on your back in the drivers foot well and reaching up under the dash using the braiel technique the cable can be clipped back on.
Sorted!
I found after mucking about with my intercooler I had inadvertantly pulled the cable where it passes thru the firewall-easy to do.

douglas vincent · Post by **douglas vincent** » Sun Jun 01, 2003 3:39 pm

The speedo cable is two part on purpose, with the weak ling being the easy one to replace. It is about a foot long and comes out of the top of the tranny and clips into the remainder of the cable that heads into the firewall. To check and/or replace this lower cable simply unscrew the cable from the tranny and pull out. Now if this part is obviously broken, a section of cable will fall out.

Replacement is a little trickier that removal. Make sure you have removed the little gasket on the end of the cable (look at the new cable for what I am talking about) as it may get stuck and left behind in the tranny. Align the rectangular end of the cable, insert and screw in. This may take some time and cussing. Then clip the free end to the other cable. Presto!

Good Luck, hope it just the cable (Mine cost $35 or so)

Post by **Legacy777** » Sun Jun 01, 2003 7:47 pm

Thanks guys! I appreciate the info.

I'll have to tackle this when I get back in town next weekend.

ciper · Post by **ciper** » Sun Jun 01, 2003 7:53 pm

The speedo cable in the latest version is NOT like that.

A small clip holds the cable in the tranny, be careful because a spring is inside. The cable will not split in two parts, if you have the third? revision you will see a plastic cylinder near the firewall entry, dont try to take it apart.

The newest cable has different lubrication, a heat sheild incuded and you do have to take the dash apart to install it. No special tools are needed though.

Post by **Legacy777** » Sun Jun 01, 2003 8:00 pm

My car was manufactured in 7/89.

How do I know what version cable I have......I can look in the parts book when I get home, but that won't be until friday.

douglas vincent · Post by **douglas vincent** » Mon Jun 02, 2003 1:01 am

dollar to donut, you have what i described. my 1990 wagon was also made in 1989.

Post by **Legacy777** » Mon Jun 02, 2003 4:50 am

Thanks Doug,

Hopefully that's the problem. It'll be a relatively easy and cheap fix.

Post by **Legacy777** » Sat Jun 07, 2003 4:07 am

well I took the bottom metal piece that bolts into the tranny for the speedo cable. That's what's busted. I pulled the whole cable out. It's fine.

Hopefully one of the dealers in town has it in stock.

part # is 737411752 That is the newest part, there was an older one, but it was superceded by this one. it lists for $11.45

So hopefully this will fix everything, and it'll be all good.

I'll let everyone know when I get it fixed, and I'll try to take some pics, as I was a little confused with the whole two part thing. So it may help someone else in the future.

Post by **Legacy777** » Sat Jun 07, 2003 6:13 pm

Found the part at a dealer in town.

Got it in, and everything works. I greased up the cable too. The hardest part was getting things lined up. Plus I had to remove more junk out of the hole. There is a plastic piece, rubber piece and washer looking thing that sort of comes off the metal piece. The new one wasn't going in right, so I finally figured out there was more stuff in there.

I found it easier to put the base on the cable and then put it into the transmission.

Here's a pic of the little bugger.

The lady at the parts counter said this piece and the door lock cylinder are probably the two most common problems on the early legacies, as far as parts go.

http://www.main.experiencetherave.com:8 ... lebase.jpg

ciper · Post by **ciper** » Mon Jun 09, 2003 7:16 pm

Thats the part that is replaced by the electronic speed sender in later cars.

douglas vincent: One of my legacy is 10/89, one is 11/89 while the other is made in 90.

I replaced the cable on the 11/89 model. Both the old one and the replacement are similar. Old part was solid all the way to the speedo. The other is two parts but you cant seperate them.

LegacySport4L · Post by **LegacySport4L** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 2:17 am

my speedo died a couple days ago as well. Turns out the same part failed on me in my 92 Legacy SS. I pulled it out of the tranny and the piece that looks like a flathead screwdriver bit had snapped off the shaft.

I guess they seize up in the bushing and the gear in the tranny breaks them off. I imagine once in a while the gear goes instead of that piece...luckily it seems I have the easier fix.

Post by **Legacy777** » Sun Jul 25, 2004 8:55 pm

the dealer I got the part at said this part is one of the most common failed parts on the first gen legacies.

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Speedo broken, VSP2 busted

Speedo broken, VSP2 busted