speedo fault... just the 'mileomiter'

[timrosser]

Hi My Volvo has started denying its age- no movement at all in the little barrel numbers that count the miles or the 'trip' one which you can re-set. Is this a case of replacing the full speedo- anyone want to sell me one?

[DrewSavage]

There's what looks like a very good deal to me on eBay...

Forum won't let me post links but if you search for 'BRAND NEW GENUINE VOLVO SPEEDO HEAD FOR 480 MODELS' you should find it.

Whether you *need* a new speedo or not, I'm nowhere near good enough mechanically to know.

[Captain Slow]

I believe that the 'barrel' numbers are rotated by some cogs and I do recall that they can wear/fail. You could take the speedo/mileometer clock apart to change them, I did read of someone doing this but forget whether it was in this forum, from a 480, or just another volvo.

[glasgowjim]

Capt you were the first time and not only that but the replacement cogs are also sold via this site.

[timrosser]

Thanks guys, tragically accrington speedo has gone but Ive emailed them to see if they have more. I'm a bit worried about this cog transplant! The cogs are in the market place somewhere?

[pgmm]

If the speedo indicates (more or less) correct speed and the info centre shows mpg and avg speed, the most likely problem is the small plastic gear that transfers the stepper motor's motion to the milage counters.
Remove the instrument cluster from the car, open it and take the speedo unit out. You will need to take it apart and take the printed circuit board with the stepper motor (brown) off. Then inspect the blue gear. You may find broken teeth. If not, the stepper motor itself may have died.



The picture shows an 1986 speedo with a single pcb; later versions have a small pcb on each side of the speedo.

Dutch forum member Jeroen Frijling (V480TI) has reproduction gears.

[timrosser]

Thanks pgm that's way beyond brilliant & helpful!

Tim