1992 5.0 Speedometer PROBLEM!!!!

[needboost]

I have a 1992 5.0 5 speed LX Coupe this past 2 weeks I replaced the Heater Core so I had the dash all out and I also replaced the gauge faces in the factory cluster. Now before for I had it all apart my speedometer needle was a little jumpy at slow speeds, but now its seem to be even worse. I see on Latemodel Restoration there seems to be two likely causes my Voltage Regulator for the Instrument Cluster, or the speedometer cable. The regulator they say can cause jumpy needles but only my speedometer is acting up, on the other hand they say if the speedometer cable is gone or not properly lubricated it can cause the needle to jump also. Here's my thinking now it's likely the speedometer cable but they have 2 one for a car with a speed sensor and one for a car with out one, how do I know witch one I need?

[Ponyryd]

Ya, bad cable....you can try pulling it out and feeding some lube through it, or get a new one. Never done one in a '92 but I don't think the '92 has a speed sensor, just a gear-driven cable.

[Armen]

Yup sounds like the cable. I've replaced two. FYI - cruise control and non-cruise are different part numbers.

[Slope]

Your car should have a VSS, so you require the speed sensor-style cable.

You can try removing and lubing the cable, but if it's already on it's way out...

The voltage regulator in the later Fox clusters has nothing to do with the speedo FYI.

[Slope]

cruise control and non-cruise are different part numbers.

Non-factory cruise equipped Fuelie Foxes still have a VSS.

[needboost]

Ok then my car has or should I say had factory Cruise Control I took out the cable it wasn't hooked up anyway, so I should order the cable for a speed sensor should I order the speed sensor to or dose it matter now that I've taken out the cruise... The plastic gear on the end is the wrong one right now but I have the right one haven't got that far yet.

[Armen]

Your car should have a VSS, so you require the speed sensor-style cable.

You can try removing and lubing the cable, but if it's already on it's way out...

The voltage regulator in the later Fox clusters has nothing to do with the speedo FYI.


Non-factory cruise equipped Fuelie Foxes still have a VSS.

Oh so you're saying a fuel injected Fox has the speed sensor regardless if it has factory cruise or not..?

[Frankie]

My 89 LX with power nothing and no cruise has a vss.
I lubed the cable last winter and it made little to no difference in the needle bounce.

[Ponyryd]

So Slope, is the VSS the two-wire sensor that mounts the cable? Likely just sending an on/off signal to the ECM?

[needboost]

The speed sensor looks like this.

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr283/needboosts_bucket/lrs-9731b_7057_zpsd43a8546.jpg (http://s492.photobucket.com/user/needboosts_bucket/media/lrs-9731b_7057_zpsd43a8546.jpg.html)

And here is the speed sensor plug.

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr283/needboosts_bucket/pe-1074_7057_zps801580f6.jpg (http://s492.photobucket.com/user/needboosts_bucket/media/pe-1074_7057_zps801580f6.jpg.html)

[ZR]

Nice option, especially for the drivetrain swap crowd.

[Slope]

Oh so you're saying a fuel injected Fox has the speed sensor regardless if it has factory cruise or not..?

On all Mass Air equipped cars, which the O.P.'s car is.


So Slope, is the VSS the two-wire sensor that mounts the cable? Likely just sending an on/off signal to the ECM?

It returns pulses to the ECM when it is set in motion. The A9 series computers use the signal/no signal to factor into several of the Strategies.

[Armen]

On all Mass Air equipped cars, which the O.P.'s car is.

Ah... Got it. Thx.

[Tailites]

on another note...

if you upgrade some T5s...they use the electronic speedo...no cable

[Tailites]

http://www.speedhut.com/gauge/GR338-GPS-01/1/GPS-Speedometer-Gauge-120mph?gclid=CLr8v7-xrMACFaY-MgodVxQARA

screw the cable

any GPS can give you speed...eg...any hand held device...cell phone etc

[Tailites]

It returns pulses to the ECM when it is set in motion. The A9 series computers use the signal/no signal to factor into several of the Strategies.

& still functions fine when disabled...

[Slope]

& still functions fine when disabled...

Just because you are ignorant as to why the ECM requires the VSS signal does not mean that you can champion poor information.

It seems to me that "still functions fine" to you is that it starts and stays running...

By the way, how are your Cold Starts?

[Mustang4]

My 91 with cruise control has a VSS that was replaced when a new speedometer cable was put in.

[Tailites]

Just because you are ignorant as to why the ECM requires the VSS signal does not mean that you can champion poor information.

It seems to me that "still functions fine" to you is that it starts and stays running...

By the way, how are your Cold Starts?

hey smartee pants...Google it...lots running no VSS...& yes the PCM requires it...

mines fine tho...always wuz...:highfive:

[toofast306]

As posted above, check the driven gear that slides into the trans. I checked mine and found 3 teeth that are separating from the body. No cable lube will fix that.
And yeah, you can run without the VSS. Not recommended, but my only experience was a barely perceptible lower idle when coasting, both with the A9L and a SCT piggy-back chip.

[needboost]

Ok here's an update, I ordered a new speedometer cable from LMR installed in today the gear on the end was fine. I used the graphite oil that came with the new cable to lubricate it but when I went for my test drive the needle still jumps around any IDEA'S???????

[ZR]

I'd be temped to remove the cable, wipe clean, apply white lithium grease, install and retest.