1991 Subaru Legacy Speedo...

FARMBOY0007

MEMBER
1991 SUBARU

I have a 1991 Legacy LS Wagon. 4spd auto, 4wd. Supposedly 121,000 miles. The speedometer has stopped working one cold morning and has failed to start working again.

I checked the speedometer cable, it is in good shape, and well lubircated. When attached to a drill, the speedometer work. Upon further investigstion, the drive that comes from the front of the transmission, that feeds the cable, does not appear to turn at all, no matter the wheel speed. In light of this, I took it to a shop, they tried to sell me on an electrical speed sensor, that is located somewhere on the rear end of the transmission. Hoping for anything, I had them try it. They ended up ordering the sensor twice, neither one would fit or match up.

I called a dealership, some distance away. The dealers mechanic figured it was the driven gear. Gave some vague directions, and said that it wasn't that bad to replace. Doing some further investigation on my own, I can not figure out how to get the old one out to put the new one in. So far it appears to me the only option is to pull the transmission, and take most of it appart.

Is there some other way?

2 Replies

MARKISKING

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Had this problem and I replaced th speedo in the dash. Solved. Was avail cheap from wrecker and easy to fit. I went from a 180k to a 240k and still accurate. Be aware that I had to fit the speed sensor from my old speedo as new one didnt have one but all the screw holes are there so it was straight forward. Any further queries on this let me know as all the symptoms were same as my car.

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Wednesday, October 18th, 2006 AT 7:18 PM

XD5Y3WZ

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9 POSTS

I tend to disagree with the earlier reply you received to this question. Your electric drill proves that the speedometer is working. It sounds to me like the problem, as you had diagnosed, is at the transmission end rather than with the speedometer cable or the speedometer inside the car. If the gear from the transmission isn't turning (you can test by lifting both front wheels if it's front drive only, or lift all 4 wheels if it's AWD, put the car in gear until the wheel(s) are moving) then there's no mechanical action to even try to make the speedometer function. Fix this and your speedometer will probably be fine.

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Friday, February 15th, 2008 AT 10:42 AM