1995 Pontiac Grand Prix Speedometer Floats

Avatar
MIKEYJAWI
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Hi. I have a 1995 Pontiac Grand Prix, 141,000 miles with a 3.1L engine. For quite a while now, the speedometer floats. When accelerating on an on-ramp, the speedometer sometimes hangs around 40, even though I continue to accelerate, then all of a sudden will read true speed. When a computer is hooked up, the computer reads what the speedometer reads, even though the speed of the car is increasing. The speedometer also floats within 5 mph of actual speed. If I set the cruise control, the car "surges" back and forth in speed rapidly. I replaced the electronic speed sensor on the side of the transmission, but it didn't make any difference. We also tried another cruise control unit. What else could be doing this?

Thank you
Feb 22, 2007 at 4:09 AM
Advertisement
Avatar
CHEVY22
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 1,375 POSTS
if the signal through the ecm is correct i would suspect either the cluster itself or the trip computer being faulty , i have found several times a bad ground to the cluster , either way the signal to the ecm is good , its after the ecm es where the problem is

let us know
jim
Feb 22, 2007 at 5:17 AM

Suggested Repair

If the speed signal into the ECM is correct, inspect the instrument cluster ground and suspect a faulty instrument cluster or trip computer, since the fault is likely after the ECM.

Conversation Summary

The owner of a 1995 Pontiac Grand Prix reports a floating speedometer that lags and then jumps to the true speed, a scan tool that matches the incorrect reading, and cruise control that surges. The vehicle speed sensor and cruise control unit were already replaced without success. The expert says that if the ECM speed signal is good, the problem is after the ECM and recommends checking for a bad cluster ground or a faulty instrument cluster or trip computer.

Add a reply
Join 2CarPros for free, one of the most advanced car repair communities on the internet. From first-time drivers to seasoned mechanics, everyone is welcome to reply, share details, and get better answers. You can add a temporary image or video first; uploads are limited to 20 MB.

Frequently Asked Problems for This Vehicle