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Speedometer issue

Tiny
MICHAEL EASLER
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE
  • 3.8L
  • V6
  • TURBO
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 80,000 MILES
My speedometer no longer works. But the rpm, and all the other meters work? Also, the overhead display speedometer also works. How to I find out what is wrong with it?
Tuesday, September 19th, 2017 AT 4:41 PM

17 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,443 POSTS
If the odometer is still working the likely cause is that the stepper motor that drives the speedometer failed. GM had a bad run of them from about 2003-2006. Some fail completely others will start reading wrong, like the tachometer might say 5000 rpm at idle.
There are tons of videos on how to replace them and you can buy kits that have the motors and instructions online.
Or you can have one of a hundred places rebuild the instrument panel and replace all the motors.
Google "GM stepper motor failure".

Www. Bobsspeedometer. Com
www. Gmgaugerepair. Com
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Tuesday, September 19th, 2017 AT 5:13 PM
Tiny
2CP-ARCHIVES
  • MEMBER
  • 4,540 POSTS
  • 2002 BUICK PARK AVENUE
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 54,000 MILES
2002 Buick Park Avenue mileage: 54,000. Car runs great. Speedometer does not always work. When it does not work and I am climbing a hill the "check Engine" light comes on. As soon as the speedometer starts to move again, the light goes off. Sometimes the light will stay on for 30 minutes, but when the speedometer moves, it goes out. Immediately car runs great. If I am going with traffic say 55 - 60 the speedometer reads 25 or so (sorta got to be careful about getting out at that speed Eh?) I get a code 24 from flashes on dashboard when asking computer about "check engine" deal. Problem is: the guys at the GM dealer say that there is no VSS on that year and model. And besides when I do find it, if I do have one on the car. Is it behind the speedometer or on transmission somewhere? Thanks for any help.
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Tuesday, July 21st, 2020 AT 1:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
2CP-ARCHIVES
  • MEMBER
  • 4,540 POSTS
This is caused by the vss going out which is location in the diagram below.

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.

Cheers, Ken
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Tuesday, July 21st, 2020 AT 1:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DCKELLEY
  • MEMBER
  • 125 POSTS
  • 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE
  • 3.8L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 190,000 MILES
Suddenly my speedometer is not working. I recently had my serpentine belt replaced and I'm wondering if they accidentally did something to the seed sensor? Where is it on the car listed above with a 3800 engine? If I can reach it I'll check it out. Or what else could it be?
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Tuesday, July 21st, 2020 AT 1:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good evening,

Does the odometer work? If it does, it is not the speed sensor. If it does not, then good chance it is the speed sensor.

It is on top of the right side axle shaft where it goes into the transmission. It is close to where they were at replacing the belt.

Roy
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Tuesday, July 21st, 2020 AT 1:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DCKELLEY
  • MEMBER
  • 125 POSTS
Hey Roy, the odometer and everything else works fine.
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Tuesday, July 21st, 2020 AT 1:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Okay, then the issue is inside the cluster, not the speed sensor.

You will need to remove the cluster and send it out for repairs. There are places you can send it that will repair it in one day. You need to remove it, box it up and send it out.

Should take you less than thirty minutes to remove it.

Roy

REMOVE OR DISCONNECT
1. Left and right IP end caps.
2. Left IP accessory trim plate.
3. IP cluster trim plate.
4. Lower steering column.
5. Cluster fasteners.
6. Instrument cluster.
7. Connector from cluster.
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Tuesday, July 21st, 2020 AT 1:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DCKELLEY
  • MEMBER
  • 125 POSTS
Any idea on cost to repair a cluster? I'm disabled and on a very fixed income. Will other things start to go out on the cluster? Can I get one from the junkyard? This car was gifted to me because I haven't much money. I'm afraid it's going to become a money pit.
Plus, i'm a pretty slow driver. I can live without the speedometer. Thanks, Don
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Tuesday, July 21st, 2020 AT 1:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LAZ5514
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1997 BUICK PARK AVENUE
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 113,000 MILES
I recently had my 97 Park Ave repaired as it would stop running and when restarted it ran ok but the speedometer had quit working. I took it to the repair garage and they replaced the vehicle speed sensor on the right side of the transmission. Since then the vehicle runs fine but the Speedometer and cruise control do not work and the garage says that the computer is not showing any trouble codes and they also checked all of the fuses. What do you think the problem could be?
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Tuesday, July 21st, 2020 AT 1:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Hi laz5514,

Thank you for the donation.

The vehicle speed sensor (VSS) sends it signal to the PCM, cruise control and speedometer and since you have the vehicle running well after replacement of the VSS, the PCM is getting the signa but the cruise control and speedometer are not getting the signals.

If the problem is with the Instrument Panel Cluster ( IPC) the cruise control should work as the speed sensor is providing the signal.

The most likely cause would be a broken wire connection between the VSS and cruise control and speedometer.

Here are the testing procedures for the cruise control which might help in solving both problems.


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/192750_CruiseControl97ParkAvenue01_1.jpg




https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/192750_CruiseControl97ParkAvenue02_1.jpg



https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/192750_CruiseControl97ParkAvenue03_1.jpg

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Tuesday, July 21st, 2020 AT 1:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
It runs about $100.00 to $150.00.

Yes, you can get one from a junkyard but the mileage will not be the same and cannot be set to the mileage you have now.

Yes, you can drive it this way. There may be future issues but nobody knows when.

Roy
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Tuesday, July 21st, 2020 AT 1:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DCKELLEY
  • MEMBER
  • 125 POSTS
I dunno Roy, I tapped on the dash and it's working. I wonder if it was stuck? I'm crossing my fingers. Thanks
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Tuesday, July 21st, 2020 AT 1:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Nope. It is internal in the cluster.

Roy
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Tuesday, July 21st, 2020 AT 1:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
XOCAVEMANOX
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1994 BUICK PARK AVENUE
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 62,000 MILES
My speedometer wont work. I changed the speed sensor and it still doesn't work what else could be wrong?
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Tuesday, July 21st, 2020 AT 1:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ERNEST CLARK
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,730 POSTS
You should never replace parts without doing a thorough diagnosis. This hardly ever works, and in the end, you'll have spent more money than you would've had you taken your car to a mechanic.

Sorry, I don't want to be mean with a lecture, but I get similar questions often.

When you have an issue such as yours, the first place to start is with the fuse. And just because the fuse appears to be fine doesn't meen that it is. You'll have to check the fuse with a DVOM.

If the fuse checks out, then you want to check the wiring/connectors all the way to the speedo for looseness, corrosion or breaks.

Finally, check the speedo itself. Maybe that has gone bad.
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Tuesday, July 21st, 2020 AT 1:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
GELSIO REIS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1990 BUICK PARK AVENUE
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 104,000 MILES
When I turn the igniton on the speedometer needle moves up a little bit. With the car moving. Once in a while the speedometer works( most of the time it does not work). How do I find out if the problem is the speed sensor(does it have one?) Or the instrument cluster?
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Tuesday, July 21st, 2020 AT 1:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BLUELIGHTNIN6
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,542 POSTS
Yes it does use a vehicle speed sensor (VSS), usually when the VSS fails you will also have transmission shifting issues and the odometer will also be inoperative.
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Tuesday, July 21st, 2020 AT 1:54 PM (Merged)

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