2005 Chevy Tahoe Speedometer

Tiny
FIP
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 CHEVROLET TAHOE
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 67,000 MILES
Speedometer has been working intermittently for the last week. Seems with increase in temperature (with a long ride) stops working or stops working correctly. Also a couple times, have noticed smell of electrical or plastic burn probably associated. I have heard from one source that in similar situation dealer replaced instrument cluster as solution. Any other ideas before I replace cluster?

No check engine light. Everything else works. It sounds like Chevy (GM) covers this repair on 03-04 up to 70k miles, but not yet 05. I've asked GM for goodwill, but unlikely. Of course, I'm also nearing the 70k mile mark, so this will likely fall on me to fix.
Thursday, February 7th, 2008 AT 4:09 PM

25 Replies

Tiny
MASTERTECHTIM
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,750 POSTS
SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE RIGHT ON THE MONEY, IF NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND SHIFTS OK, THIS ELIMINATES WIRING OR SPEED SENSOR, MUST BE THE CLUSTER.
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Friday, February 8th, 2008 AT 4:32 PM
Tiny
CUTMANJASON
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 94,000 MILES
Electrical problem
2003 Chevy Tahoe V8 Two Wheel Drive Automatic 94000 miles

From time to time, my speedometer works fine. Lately, though, it may not show any speed at all, or it will get stuck on a speed and not drop below that speed, even stopped. Right now, the truck is sitting in the driveway not moving, but the speedometer shows that it is moveing about 75 mph. What could cause this? Is this something I can fix, or do I need to go to a mechanic? Is this an expensive fix?
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Saturday, December 31st, 2016 AT 2:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BUDDYCRAIGG
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,262 POSTS
Does the mileage on the odometer or trip meter change at the rate that you would expect it to.

Like if you are on the highway, going with traffic, does it take about a minute for the miles to go up by one?
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Saturday, December 31st, 2016 AT 2:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CUTMANJASON
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
The odometer appears to be working properly. Based on the gas that I am using, I am traveling the expected number of recorded miles.
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Saturday, December 31st, 2016 AT 2:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BUDDYCRAIGG
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,262 POSTS
Then you've got a bad speedo head.

The signal from the speed sensor drives both the odometer and the speedo.
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Saturday, December 31st, 2016 AT 2:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
NOAHT
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 183,000 MILES
2003 Chevy Tahoe V8 Two Wheel Drive Automatic 183000 miles

My speedometer is not working it is stuck on 70 miles per hour and wont go down whats wrong a fuse or something else.
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Saturday, December 31st, 2016 AT 2:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ONEMOO
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1995 CHEVROLET TAHOE
  • 5.7L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 225,326 MILES
Swapped the dashboard out of my vehicle and now transmission and speedometer are not working. Can someone please help?
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Saturday, December 31st, 2016 AT 2:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Have it scanned for codes may need to be programmed to your truck.
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Saturday, December 31st, 2016 AT 2:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JEAN
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE
Electrical problem
2002 Chevy Tahoe 85000 miles

Noticed the speedometer sticking at first, then jumping way beyond actual speed vehicle is going. When we shut engine off the speedometer often sticks at 20-30-50, does not go back to 0. Now the speedometer has gone beyond the 120mph and jumps back and forth.

What can be causing this and how can we fix it--hopefully without having to take truck into the shop.

Thanks
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Saturday, December 31st, 2016 AT 2:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Inspect and test the vehicle speed sensor-
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Saturday, December 31st, 2016 AT 2:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
20THCENTBOY
  • MEMBER
  • 19 POSTS
  • 2005 CHEVROLET TAHOE
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 90,000 MILES
Last month my speedometer stopped working correctly. When I was parked after running it for 15 minutes the guage would not got up with speed. Last week I was driving and the speedometer pegged out fully and only comes down to around 60 in park. Should it be replaced or can I recalibrate it by taking the guage unit out? I have replaced a guage unit on an escort and neon when they stopped working but those had many problems.
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Saturday, December 31st, 2016 AT 2:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
20THCENTBOY
  • MEMBER
  • 19 POSTS
Can the sensor be "do it myself" replace or should it be done by a mechanic?
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Saturday, December 31st, 2016 AT 2:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Sould be done by a professional/ Tech bring here in
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Saturday, December 31st, 2016 AT 2:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JNEL989
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 CHEVROLET TAHOE
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 205,000 MILES
Computer problem
1998 Chevy Tahoe V8 Four Wheel Drive Automatic 205000 miles

When I turn my key on my gear indicator light comes on. But when I start it the indicator does not come back on and my tach does not work. If I start driving the check gauges light comes on and the transmission acts like its in overdrive and the speedo does not work. Then the indicator will come on and the check gauges light goes out and the speedo will start working sort of, not very accurate but works. The only thing is once in awhile I will start it and everything works fine. So what could possibly be wrong and what can I check to see and start eliminating things?
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Saturday, December 31st, 2016 AT 2:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Clean any ground wire that yo can find. This includes battery to engine, engine to dash, frame, anyo o them and see if that helps.
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Saturday, December 31st, 2016 AT 2:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DONTHEOLDFART55
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 105,650 MILES
Electrical problem
2004 Chevy Tahoe V8 Two Wheel Drive Automatic 105650 miles

My speedometer isn't working properly, that is to say when it is very hot outside or after I have been driving for an hour or so, the speedometer stops working normally. By this I mean it either sticks on my current speed and doesn't move no matter what speed I am doing, or it will stick temporarily, then starts to work again so that when I come to a compete stop the speedometer will read anywhere from 10 to 40 mph. When it does this, the only way I can get it back to zero is to repeatedly crank the engine and then turn it off, until the speedometer returns to zero. Early in the mornings when everything is cold it works fine. The remaining gauges(tachometer, battery, coolant, and oil) all work normally no matter what the condition. My question is this. Is my instrument cluster bad or could it be the sensor for the speedometer?
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Saturday, December 31st, 2016 AT 2:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
Cluster failure is very common and it was replaced for free if under 90k miles at the GM dealer
you can call your local GM dealer and ask them to check if your covered
use a scanner tool select data and go to speed
drive truck scanner should show the speed if cluster and scanner showing two different speed cluster at fault
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Saturday, December 31st, 2016 AT 2:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SKATINGBRIT3
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1988 CHEVROLET TAHOE
I drive a 88' s10 tahoe (2.8L Ext Cab), 112,000. Just recently I took her on a long trip (Knoxville TN to Harrisburg PA). I always change my oil and do basic tuneups before I leave (changes plugs, filters, etc if nessacary). Over the past couple of months occasionly the speedo would freak out and would start bouncing between 70 and 80 when I was really doing like 55 or 60 (and it would only do it in 5th gear). However as I was on my way home, It stopped working all together. The Check Engine light came on and the odometer and trip meter stopped working. Even with a few whacks and shakes nothing happened. I still have my others gauges just no speed or miles. I know it is mechanical (I removed it once to fix an electrical problem) and considering the pictures in my manual dont make much sense and dont resemble anything in my truck, I was wondering if you could break down how it works, and where my problem is (and how much it may be to replace).

Thanks, Dan
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Saturday, December 31st, 2016 AT 2:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
XLR8R
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Any ideas on this as I just ran into the same thing today with my S10
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Saturday, December 31st, 2016 AT 2:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ERNIE LANGLEY
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 123,000 MILES
Electrical problem
2004 Chevy Tahoe V8 Two Wheel Drive Automatic 123000 miles

Speedomer doesn't work
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Saturday, December 31st, 2016 AT 2:54 PM (Merged)

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