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Hi, i dont know if this is the right place to psot about speedometers, if not i am sorry. Last year i bought an automatic 92 Subaru Legacy 4-2212 2.2L SOHC. I was blind and dumb, and i didnt follow the common tests you have to do before buying a car. Anyway i ended up finding that the speedometer and i think the odometer were not working. I took it to a mechanic, he replaced the speedo cable kit. The odometer works, the speedometer goes till about 35 and then runs to 80 and keep jerking. Tachometer works. Mechanic said that he doesnt know why speedometer acts like that and he told me to bring it back as he thinks the cluster has to be re- built. Because i paid him 240$ and speedometer still doesnt work, i dont want to spend more money and end up with the same result.
Is there soemthing that i have to check or do? do you think the gauge is fine,because odometer and tacho are working? thank you

the speedometer/odometer are mechanically driven by the speedo cable from the transmissions. The cable spins a flat magnetic disc, which is how the speedo advances. It retracts by coiled spring steal wrapped around the shaft. Anyways if crap builds up and inhibits the shaft from spinning, etc it can cause problems. odometer is gear mechanically driven by the speedo cable spinning. tach is electronic.

basically sounds like you need a new speedometer, which can be 'easily' swapped out from one in the junk yard.

BSOD2600 wrote:the speedometer/odometer are mechanically driven by the speedo cable from the transmissions. The cable spins a flat magnetic disc, which is how the speedo advances. It retracts by coiled spring steal wrapped around the shaft. Anyways if crap builds up and inhibits the shaft from spinning, etc it can cause problems. odometer is gear mechanically driven by the speedo cable spinning. tach is electronic.

basically sounds like you need a new speedometer, which can be 'easily' swapped out from one in the junk yard.

Thank you for the reply. Do you think if they rebuild the speedometer gauge, the mileage on the odometer will change ? because if i get another speedo gauge the mileage will be different and i dont want that, it will be another headache to deal with, Thank you.

I forgot to mention that the check engine light is ON.

I don't think they will rebuild the speedo. more likely replace it with a new/used unit. they could in theory swap over the odometer (actually they legally have to, right?). Found my thread where I dissected the speedometer.

CEL is on probably because the VSS sensor is unhappy. Check the codes to double check.

How is that last section of the speedo cable/housing, the part that goes into the transmission looking? Did that get replaced also?

BSOD2600 wrote:I don't think they will rebuild the speedo. more likely replace it with a new/used unit. they could in theory swap over the odometer (actually they legally have to, right?). Found my thread where I dissected the speedometer.

CEL is on probably because the VSS sensor is unhappy. Check the codes to double check.

Thank you again for your help. I really dont know how to check coods. One day i went to Autozon and asked them if they can check codes to know why the CEL is on. The guy said he cant as my car is old. it can be done if my car is 1996 or newer.

kleinkid wrote:How is that last section of the speedo cable/housing, the part that goes into the transmission looking? Did that get replaced also?

As far as i know, they replaced the speedometer cable kit, i dont know if they replaced the part you are talking about.

roudan wrote:

BSOD2600 wrote:I don't think they will rebuild the speedo. more likely replace it with a new/used unit. they could in theory swap over the odometer (actually they legally have to, right?). Found my thread where I dissected the speedometer.

CEL is on probably because the VSS sensor is unhappy. Check the codes to double check.

Thank you again for your help. I really dont know how to check coods. One day i went to Autozon and asked them if they can check codes to know why the CEL is on. The guy said he cant as my car is old. it can be done if my car is 1996 or newer.

read/follow http://legacycentral.org/library/literature/codes.htm

This piece screws into the base of the transmission where the cable attaches. If it is bad, it could cause some of your issues.

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

As mentioned, I highly doubt your mechanic will be able to successfully "rebuild" the speedo. Just get a used cluster from a junkyard and swap it in. Look for a cluster from a 92-94 Legacy...and they are AT/MT specific.

Legacy777 wrote:This piece screws into the base of the transmission where the cable attaches. If it is bad, it could cause some of your issues.

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

As mentioned, I highly doubt your mechanic will be able to successfully "rebuild" the speedo. Just get a used cluster from a junkyard and swap it in. Look for a cluster from a 92-94 Legacy...and they are AT/MT specific.

Thank you guys. Is that piece called speed sensor or is it somethinf else ? I will see if a friend will help me to locate that piece, i know nothing about cars. If i will end up getting anothet cluster , will i have to notify DMV or get any of documents?

I don't know about AZ, but in WA cars over a certain age (I believe 15 years) are exempt from reporting their mileage for registration or any other purposes. My 91 & 96 are exempt. So I don't believe I'd run into problems if I swapped the cluster.

Won't be a problem until you license it again. The emission inspection place has you tell them the mileage (at least in WA). Future buyer (if there is any) would most likely see in the carfax report the different odometer readings over the years.

BSOD2600 wrote:Won't be a problem until you license it again. The emission inspection place has you tell them the mileage (at least in WA). Future buyer (if there is any) would most likely see in the carfax report the different odometer readings over the years.

Yeah, I don't have to get smog checked, forgot about that.

thank you, i will try to check the piece that is screwed into transmission and check VSS. If nothing works i will look for a cluster. I will keep you updated.

The piece that screws into the trans is just a base adapter, not the actual speed sensor.

If you do get a new cluster, you could open it up and roll the odometer to match your current odometer.

Legacy777 wrote:The piece that screws into the trans is just a base adapter, not the actual speed sensor.

If you do get a new cluster, you could open it up and roll the odometer to match your current odometer.

That will be great. Thank you