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Speedometer stops working

Tiny
GREENGENIES
  • MEMBER
  • 1994 HONDA ACCORD
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 155,000 MILES
We just returned from a 400 mile one way road trip. Going down no problems. We used the cruise control which had not really been used for several years. Day three into trip, the speedometer went haywire and stopped working as well as the trip-odometer. About five minutes after this the D4 light on the transmission began to blink. We checked the transmission fluid and it is between the max.-Min. Lines. We also replaced the fuse for the speed control/auto-transmission with a spare fuse even though it did not look burnt out. Day four all working well, but then D4 light began to blink and no speedometer. Day five and six car working fine. The return trip home we did not use cruise control and everything was fine until we exit route 95 (15 miles from home) when the D4 light again blinks and the speedometer goes haywire again. We also experienced a slight hesitation to accelerate after coming to a 4-way stop only three blocks from home. Any thoughts as to what might be happening to cause this?
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Monday, September 1st, 2008 AT 9:26 AM

39 Replies

Tiny
LEGITIMATE007
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,121 POSTS
Is there a check engine light on?
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 12:47 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Get the speed sensor replaced and all shoud be well.
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 12:47 PM
Tiny
FHKING17
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1994 HONDA ACCORD
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
  • 60,000 MILES
I was trying to fix the speedometer. The old VSS would work every once in a while perfectly fine after running the car for a while. I replaced the old VSS with a brand new one but the speedometer needle does not work all the other gauges work fine its just the speedometer needle. What could be wrong?
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 12:53 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
VSS replaced -start checking for an open or shorted wire within its circuit and the speedometer head assembly.
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 12:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
FHKING17
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
How do I do that I checked the wires connecting to the VSS they are fine nothing looks bad with them. Is there any fuses or something that could be wrong?
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 12:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ALLY HYDE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1994 HONDA ACCORD
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 140,000 MILES
Hi, the speedomeyer on the above car has gone all the way around and is resting on the bottom side of the 0. When the car is stopped the hand goes straight down. When I acelerate the hand tries to work but is stopped by the peg at 0. What caused this and what can I do? This is the only thing not working please help

thanks
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 12:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Hi Ally,

If you had jump started the vehicle or caused a power surge to the meter cluster, the needle can overshoot and it would be resting at the bottom. This would cause it to run away from the correct position of its magnetic field thus the needle do not know where to go or what to do.

You need to remove the meter cluster face and turn the needle backwards till it is resting on the stopper at 0 and it should be in working condition again.
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 12:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
THAYERSTERAKER
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
Had the same problem with mine but with the RPM gauge. Definitely have to take the cluster apart. It is relatively simple, but there are a lot of little screws and the rest is held on by clips. Make sure you get all the screws before you start yanking on it to get the clips to let go.

The Haynes Auto Repair manual, available at most auto stores for $20 details this job good.
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 12:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Hi thayersteraker,

Thanks for the input.

To avoid dismantling the meter cluster, another way is to jerk/filck the meter cluster to get the needle backwards.
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 12:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BRYANSTAR
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1994 HONDA ACCORD
1994 Honda Accord 4 cyl 180k miles

I took my 94 Honda EX for a clutch replacement. The next day, I picked it up and my speedometer and odometer did not work. The mechanic says he did not touch it and the cable is still connected properly. He said he would check it out. He then told me that maybe it is a speed sensor. Does this sound right? I know that whatever he did was the cause of my speedometer and odometer not working.
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 12:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Hi bryanstar,

When replacing the clutch, the speed sensor has to be disconnected and if the wire connector was not reinstalled, the speedometer would not work.

There is no cable for the speedometer and what he said about the cable being intact is not correct, it uses an electrical circuit.

The speed sensor can fail anytime as it is an electronic component so it could be coincidence that it failed after work was done near it. However if it is faulty, ensure that it is not due to physical damage ( broken during removal and installation of the trans ) which would be the responsibility of the shop.
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 12:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
EASYCARS
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1994 HONDA ACCORD
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 97,500 MILES
Speedometer sometimes does not work.

I changed the speed sensor, still no luck.

Thank You
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 12:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BLUELIGHTNIN6
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,542 POSTS
If VSS was already replaced and still have intermittent failure of speedo than check wiring at back of instrument cluster. If wiring looks OK then cluster gauge itself maybe failing
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 12:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TRAILERS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1994 HONDA ACCORD
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 225,225 MILES
Speedometer does not work and d4 light flashes but transmisson shifts fine
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 12:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
F4I_GUY
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,302 POSTS
D4 light is flashing because you have a transmission related code. Scan the computer for the stored code. You may find that you need a VSS (vehicle speed sensor)
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 12:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TEEPEE43
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • HONDA ACCORD
1994, Honda Accord, automatic, 135000, started my car and the green light around the D (for drive) on the dash began flashing. Shortly after that the check engine light came on and stayed on and the speedometer did not work. I am 300 miles from home and need to know if it is safe to drive home.
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 12:56 PM (Merged)
Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
With the D flashing, the overdrive will not work. Sounds like it may have lost the Vehicle Speed Sensor. If the trans shifts normally, you should be able to get it home. When you do, have the PCM scanned for the code/codes and get back to me
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 12:56 PM (Merged)
Tiny
INTELLIGENT315
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • HONDA ACCORD
My honda's a 1994 Accord 124,000 miles. I bought the car in January, two weeks after I got it I noticed that when I turned my headlights on, there was a delay in the internal lamp to my dash. At night sometimes I can't see my speed/odometer/ gauges until halfway into the trip, even though my headlights are on. Then I noticed that my radio started shorting out. It turns on but the speakers go in and out. This weekend my speedometer stopped working, and my odometer stopped clocking.
Is it possible that they're all related or do I have a lot of work to do? :Cry:
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 12:56 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LOSONE
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,616 POSTS
It could also be a ground problem. Remove and clean all the under hood grunds from the battery to the frame, from the battery to the engine and from the engine to the vehicle.

If that doesn't work it is an odd problem but isolate the radio from the instrument cluster. I would remove the cluster and use a fresh pencil eraser clean all the contacts on the back of the cluster.

Let me know
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 12:56 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SSTELLY22
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • HONDA ACCORD
I have a 94 honda accord ex automatic 4 cylinder with 89000 miles and the speedometer does not work I replaced the vss sensor and it still does the same thing which is rides at 40 mph and occasionally works. Odometer does not work either. What else could be wrong?
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 12:56 PM (Merged)

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