RE: alfa-digest V9 #611

["Kevin Redden" <kredden@xxxxxxxxx>]

Well the speedo has been working again for the last 4 days so I figured
that made it more than a fluke and I hope I'm not jinxing it by saying
this!

I decided to have one last go at the contacts under the hood connecting
the sending unit to the cable that eventually ends up under the dash.  I
used a small screwdriver to push down the tab on each of the six
terminals in the two mated connectors, slid each one out of the
connector, and brushed the cr*p out of it with a brass wire brush.  I
guess the contact cleaner just didn't cut it.  If it happens again I may
just cut off the connector and crimp on some new connectors...

Just wanted to follow up in case any of the others speedo issues
reported are the same thing.

Now I just have to figure out why my alternator gauge has started saying
the battery is not being charged after getting caught in a rain storm
today...sigh

Kevin
86 Spider


> Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2003 19:08:36 -0400
> From: "Kevin Redden" <kredden@domain.elided>
> Subject: More spider speedo woes
> 
> So I posted a few weeks ago that turning the speedo sending 
> unit around and plugging the cable into the other side solved 
> my intermittently working speedo problems as well as the 
> jitters when it did work.  After a couple weeks of it working 
> 100% of the time I finally decided that, hey, this really 
> fixed it!  Well, that did it, ever since then it is back to 
> the intermittent working, when I hit bumps in the road it 
> will usually flick up to speed and then more often then not 
> die again although sometimes it will work for 5-10 minutes 
> before heading south again.  Here's what I've tried so far, 
> does anyone have any more suggestions?
>  
> * Pulled the cable out of the sheath, looks well greased and 
> in good shape
> * Pulled the speedo unit out of the instrument cluster and 
> went at a couple of suspicious looking solder connections
> * Cleaned all of the associated connector contacts with 
> contact cleaner (except those buried under the dash), cleaned 
> all the grounds connected under the dash while I was in there.
> * Flipped the sending unit around and put the cable in the 
> other side (fixed everything for about two weeks)
>  
> Is there anyway to test the sending unit to verify it is 
> working correctly?  I'd rather not try ordering a new one 
> just to see since they are about $140...
>  
> If I look at the records the PO gave me it looks like the 
> speedo has had problems in the past and the two documented 
> "fixes" were both "tightened connection of cable to sending 
> unit".  It doesn't appear that the sheath is too long for the 
> cable, has anyone had that problem?  I guess that would keep 
> the cable from going all the way in but my futzing with it 
> seems to indicate that it does stick in far enough.
>  
> Kevin
> 86 Spider
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