If your speedometer isn't working, you have a problem with one of the followings:
⚠️ If It's Broken, Don't Fix It - Get Paid Cash for Your Vehicle ⚠️
- Damaged speed sensor
- Malfunctioning speed sensor wiring
- Failing instrument cluster
- Problematic ECU
Monitoring your vehicle’s speed is one of the most critical basic information you must have while driving your car. Without this information, you won't be able to understand whether you're following the speed recommendations or not.
It's common to deal with situations where your vehicle speedometer needs to represent the current, accurate speed. In other words, you might hit the gas pedal and realize that the speedometer is not reflecting the acceleration. In that case, you'll deal with a problem related to the speedometer’s internal components.
With more advanced technologies, these speedometers are getting more sophisticated, and with more components, it becomes much easier for the speedometer to fail because of any small internal failure.
This article walks you through the four most common reasons your speedometer isn't working. It also highlights some recommendations for fixing the problem so you maintain a good understanding of your current vehicle speed and prevent dealing with safety situations.
How does the speedometer work?
Before we dive into the details about the main reasons your speedometer isn't working, let's step back and get an idea about how the speedometer work in the first place. Once you know how the speedometer works, you'll know what could go wrong and what could cause the problem in your vehicle.
In the world of speedometers, there are two common types that you'll come across, and each type has its process of reporting the mileage on your vehicle’s dashboard.
1. Cable driver speedometer
The cable driver speedometer is the very common type you will see in most older vehicles. In this speedometer type, a fixed cable is connected to a gear, and both receive output from the transmission shaft.
A magnet is connected to a speed cup at the end of the speedometer cable. The Speed cup rotates as the driver continuously drives the vehicle, and it should point to the current vehicle speed through a gauged needle.
2. Electronic speedometer
In more modern vehicles, cars rely on an electronic speedometer instead of the cable-driven speedometer. These speedometers are more sophisticated and rely on specific sensors and tools to communicate between the current vehicle speed and the vehicle computer.
The speed sensor is responsible for detecting pulses from the gear as an output of the vehicle transmission. These pulses represent the vehicle speed because they correlate to the current speed as they increase when the driver accelerates and decrease when the driver decelerates.
Once the speed sensor receives the pulses, it sends them to the vehicle control module, and the vehicle computer translates them into readings on the vehicle’s instrument cluster.
4 Reasons your speedometer isn’t working
As you might notice, there are a lot of internal components within your speedometer that help function this component. As a result, many problems could go with any of these components. In other words, potential damages in your speedometer are high, and understanding what could go wrong helps you resolve the problem and narrow down the list of retention culprits.
Automotive experts put together a list of the most common causes of speedometers not working. Remember that some of these common causes might be different if you're driving an older vehicle that does not have these components.
1. Damaged speed sensor
The first and most common cause of a speedometer not working is when you have a problem with the speed sensor. As we indicated earlier, the speed sensor is the first component interacting with the vehicle and receiving the pulse signals from the car, indicating the current vehicle speed.
If this sensor is not working properly, the communication between the different components through the speedometer system will not work and will be disconnected. In other words, your vehicle’s internal computer will not receive any signal and will not understand what speed your vehicle is driving at.
As a result, you'll see that your speedometer isn't working, and it's not reflecting the current speed you're trying to achieve.
How to fix the problem?
If you confirm that the problem is the speed sensor, then obviously, the only solution for you is to inspect this sensor and fix it. Sometimes the mechanic might be able to fix the problem without needing to install a new sensor, but in most scenarios, you'll end up needing to install a brand-new speed sensor to have your speedometer work again.
How much does it cost?
The cost of replacing a speed sensor differs significantly depending on your vehicle type and the location where you get the job done. Typically, it should cost you somewhere between $280 and $325.
Remember that this price range might differ depending on where you get the job done. For example, if you get it replaced by yourself, assuming you have the right skills, you won't worry about labor costs. However, if you get the job done at a bigger dealership, the labor costs can be a big component.
2. Malfunctioning speed sensor wiring
In some scenarios, a small minor component might be causing the problem in your speedometer. For example, if the sensor wiring is malfunctioning, the sensor will not work properly, which is why your speedometer won't reflect your current speed.
How to fix the problem?
The speedometer relies on the electric system, and much wiring is connected to the different components within the speedometer. Therefore, your mechanic needs to identify which wiring is causing the issue before performing any repairs.
Once the mechanic confirms which wire is causing the issue, the next step is to inspect and fix the wire if it's loose or disconnected. However, there are many situations where you have to replace the wires, especially if there are burnt or have some damage.
How much does it cost?
Unfortunately, it can be tricky to get an idea about how much will constitute place the speed sensor wiring because there are many connections, and the problem can be very broad.
Your mechanic can give you a clearer idea about how much exactly is needed depending on how much effort will be required to fix the problem in your vehicle wiring.
3. Failing instrument cluster
If you're a mechanic who confirmed that the speed sensor and its wiring are all in good condition, the next step is to inspect these instrument clusters.
The instrument cluster is a more sophisticated component that performs a specific job in your speedometer connection. When this instrument cluster fails, it can easily disconnect the translation of information that the vehicle received from the speed sensor. As a result, you won't see any reflection on the speedometer whenever you change your speed.
How to fix the problem?
As we mentioned, your mechanic must confirm the faulty culprit before replacing any components. For example, if the mechanic confirms that the issue has to do with the instrument cluster, the next step is to fix or replace it.
Replacing the instrument cluster is a challenging job that you can do on your own because it requires a certain level of mechanical skill sets. It is always recommended that you leave it to professionals, especially since you're dealing with a sensitive component like this.
How much does it cost?
Typically, replacing the instrument cluster should cost between $200.00 and $400. This depends heavily on your vehicle’s brand and model.
4. Problematic ECU
Finally, suppose none of the previously mentioned reasons were the cause of your speedometer problem. In that case, it could be related to a more sophisticated issue that has to do with the ECU.
Unfortunately, problems with the ECU can result in many other issues impacting your vehicle’s drivability. In that case, you only want to notice a problem with the speedometer, but you'll also see some other issues in more sensitive components like your engine or the transmission.
How to fix the problem?
If you're a mechanic who confirmed that your main issue is the ECU, this solution would be to either fix it or replace it. This is another example of a component you cannot replace on your own, and you must consult your mechanic to get it fixed or replaced.
How much does it cost?
Although the ECU sounds like a complicated component, it shouldn't be very expensive to repair. In other words, most mechanics mentioned that it should cost somewhere around $300 a year.
However, in more luxurious and complicated cars, it might cost you around $750 to replace this component.
That's why before you move forward with any repairs, it is critical that you evaluate the vehicle’s overall situation. It is recommended that you calculate a total repair cost for every problem in your vehicle, including any potential regular maintenance that you have to perform, like oil changes or tire rotations.
Once you calculate the total repair cost, the next step is to compare it to your vehicle value, and once you have this information, you'll get an idea about whether it's worth fixing your vehicle or selling it instead.
Remember that selling a vehicle with major problems can be tricky, so we highly encourage you to consult Cash Cars Buyer, who's willing to buy your car regardless of size or condition. Or what it takes you is to give us a call at 866-924-4608!
Can you continue driving your vehicle without a working speedometer?
A broken or damaged speedometer will not prevent you from driving your car. It doesn't have to do anything with your vehicle’s drivability. However, it will impact your safety and might lead you to unpleasant situations.
For example, you need to know your driving speed to follow the road’s recommendations. Therefore, there is a high chance that you might get into legal problems where a police officer stops you and gives you a ticket because you're not following the speed limit.
Since adjusting the speed limit to follow the road speeds is to protect your safety, driving without knowing what speed you are at is very dangerous and might easily lead to major car accidents.
Therefore, even if you can drive your car without a working speedometer, that's not a good idea, and automotive experts always recommend not to do so. Therefore, check with your mechanic and have the problem resolved as soon as possible.
Reasons your speedometer isn’t working: Final thoughts
The speedometer is one of the most critical systems in your vehicle that you must maintain all the time. When the speedometer doesn't work properly, it will not reflect the actual vehicle speed; therefore, you won't know whether you're driving within the required speed.
This article provided you with the four most common reasons your speedometer isn't working. It also highlighted some recommendations on repair options. As you might notice, some of the repair options are more complicated than others, and before you move forward with their repairs, it's important that you evaluate the situation carefully.
If you figure out that your vehicle requires a lot of repair money, it might make the most sense to sell this vehicle and buy a better one that doesn't have any problem.
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