Speedometer problem

[Michael Yoh <mby@xxxxxxxx>]

Okay gang, its time for your help again.  I have always gotten sound
advise from this group.

The speedometer/odometer in my daughter's 1986 325es is acting up.
Lately, when starting off driving, it doesn't work at all.  Then if you
tap on the instrument cluster, it starts sporadically.  Will come up to
speed, then suddenly drop back to zero.  Seems the more you drive the
more stable it becomes.  Then when you stop awhile it again doesn't read
at first.  It has been getting worse.

I have the Bentley manual, but I can't find anything about the
odometer/speedometer.  Is it all electronic, or is it cable driven?  If
this were my E-Type I would suspect the end of the cable being rounded
off.  I don't want to go through the labor of remving the instrument
cluster, if it could be something very simply.  Any help is appreciated.

ALSO, still have bad odor, gas odor, when driving it that seeps into the
driver's compartemnt.  No leaks that I can find.  One garage said to
make sure odor wasn't coming through trunk seals or tail light seals.
These all seem good and pass a heavy water spray without getting water
in trunk.  The oxygen sensor isn't working.  However, the garage says
that would be the reason for poor gas mileage, but he doesn't see that
this would be causing the fual odor.  I've looked for, and plugged any
voids in the firewall that I could find.  If I raise the hood with the
engine running, I detect a bit of gas odor (more so than exhaust odor),
but not that strong.  Everything looks dry of gas up in the engine
compartment, though.  Again, any good ideas?

Also, where can I find an oxygen sensor for a reasonable price?

Thanks,
Miek Yoh

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