Speedometer Erradiac Behavior - Honda Prelude Forum

zmatt · 07-01-2011, 07:30 AM

Ok guys so this is my problem, my speedometer has been bouncing around and then dying after driving for 20 minutes or so. Its fine if I just go out for a short drive but it seems like the hotter or longer the car is driven the faster it starts to act up. I've already replaced the vehicle speed sensor so that is not the problem. I've read that some people have had loose connections but I don't know where to look other than the connection at the VSS itself.

If anyone has any ideas what might be going on or first hand knowledge it would be greatly appreciated if you could help me out, it sucks not having cruise control.

Nighthawk01 · 07-01-2011, 10:32 PM

Have you done anything recently within the bay area or under the dash?

I had this issue before and it was a lose ground... I've had so many different issues with random grounds being lose it's not even funny -_-

zmatt · 07-04-2011, 06:09 PM

Well after replacing the VSS now the speedo needle is not going all the way to 0 after a while it is staying fairly constant at the wrong speed 10-20-50 mph off.

Do you still think there might be a loose ground and where could i look to find the connections in the bay and under the dash for the speedo specifically.

Thanks

Nighthawk01 · 07-04-2011, 07:19 PM

Did you replace the VSS before or after you started having the issues?

Eludeuall · 07-04-2011, 09:32 PM

Try cleaning your battery terminals really good. You may have a bad connection. A few years ago (I have a 99 Lude) before I got a new battery mine was doing some strange things like this. I noticed a few times after not starting the car for a while. It sits in a garage. I noticed the tach behaving strangely. I hope this may help you. Have the battery tested. Its worth a shot?

zmatt · 07-04-2011, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nighthawk01

Did you replace the VSS before or after you started having the issues?

I had the issues before replacing it, now it is "less broken"

Nighthawk01 · 07-05-2011, 07:53 PM

Has your speedometer ever been pulled apart? sounds like the needle was once pulled apart and not calibrated(?) properly.

How long has this been going on? since you got the car or randomly started one day?

zmatt · 07-05-2011, 08:09 PM

The needle started going nuts on a long drive 1 year ago and will only start going crazy after driving for at least 20 minutes.

Speedo works fine till driving for a while. I'm just lost where to check next.

Honda4Life · 09-05-2011, 05:23 PM

Checked all connections at the back of the cluster? 1 connector may be loose.

Checked all grounds inside the car aand under the hood? Bad grounds can cause all sorts of issues.

I know both of these ideas have been brought up but it was never answered on if they were done.

zmatt · 09-05-2011, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Honda4Life

Checked all connections at the back of the cluster? 1 connector may be loose.

Checked all grounds inside the car aand under the hood? Bad grounds can cause all sorts of issues.

I know both of these ideas have been brought up but it was never answered on if they were done.

Ok i've pulled it and checked the connections, dumb question but where are all of the grounds or how many are there.

Honda4Life · 09-05-2011, 06:21 PM

There are many under the dash, in the engine compartment and even ones in the trunk. They are all over. Start with the battery to chassis ground. Then start looking for and wire bolted to the chassis of the car.

All plugs on the rear of the cluster were tight? Any wired fraid or bare?

zmatt · 09-05-2011, 06:39 PM

Everything seemed tight and I cleaned the connections to be sure

minilogoguy18 · 09-05-2011, 07:07 PM

Check the electrical portion of the ignition switch, right before mine went bad the dash instruments starting acting up. Next time to some trouble shooting before buying parts and get a helms manual.