Speed sensor

[Norm57]

Hi all I need a speed sensor for my 1996 celebration,are these generic or specific to the 480 mine is the 2ltr manual,also any ideas on best place to get one thanks

[WRDendy]

There are plenty on eBay, not the cheapest items however. Might be worth waiting to see if someone has one in their parts bin!

[Alan 480]

see also thsi trail

http://www.volvo-480-europe.org/forum/v ... lit=sensor

[brinkie]

Hi all I need a speed sensor for my 1996 celebration,are these generic or specific to the 480 mine is the 2ltr manual,also any ideas on best place to get one thanks

Why do you need a speed sensor? Are you sure the one in your car is broken, or is it just the instrument cluster that needs repair?

[glasgowjim]

£100+ pounds they are taking the mickey here

if you really need one I have a 2nd sensor spare for £25 includes uk postage.

[Norm57]

Thanks for replies.i am replacing binacle for correct one for the year, giving false fuel reading. The speedo is erratic and spmetimes stops working, the odometer has now stopped even with speedo working? Jim may take u up on your offer will pm you if i need it.

[brinkie]

Thanks for replies.i am replacing binacle for correct one for the year, giving false fuel reading. The speedo is erratic and spmetimes stops working, the odometer has now stopped even with speedo working? Jim may take u up on your offer will pm you if i need it.

I should really make a topic about how to resurrect an instrument cluster, and what to look for when making replacements.

Erratic behaviour of the speedo = faulty soldering joint.
Odometer stopped = broken gear inside the speedo.

Exchanging the speedo sensor won't rectify these faults.

[Norm57]

Thanks for the advice brinkie, i assume the same cog runs the trip as that has failed hopefully new binacle will solve problems

[brinkie]

If you have some experience in soldering electronics (or know someone who can do it for you), I would try and solder the joints at the back of the green and grey connectors again. Then you won't have to worry about faulty soldering joints. Chances are, however, that the cog of the replacement instrument cluster is broken as well, or will break very soon. But at least you will have a working speedometer and hopefully a correct info centre.

[Alan 480]

If you have some experience in soldering electronics (or know someone who can do it for you), I would try and solder the joints at the back of the green and grey connectors again. Then you won't have to worry about faulty soldering joints. Chances are, however, that the cog of the replacement instrument cluster is broken as well, or will break very soon. But at least you will have a working speedometer and hopefully a correct info centre.

second the opinion on iffy speedo, I'm almost scared to change a bulb in dash-board in case the wiring goes phut!!!

[Norm57]

Jim u have a pm

[Robou]

Electronics suffer in time from corroded and/or broken connections, especially in cars where moist and shocks are a daily occurance. Plastic components get brisk and tend to brake. If you want a speed sensor to become out of order you will need a hammer.
When you want to keep an old car on the road, fear is a bad counselor. You will have to bite the bullet and follow brinkie's advice. Or send him a PM asking him what he can do for you. In his home country he is well known for repairing dashes, to which purpose he has set up testing equipment.

[balto8]

I've been through the erratic speed gauge nightmare. In my opinion try not to touch anything in the back of the instruments board. You'll mess it up.

First change the speedo sensor and move from there. I went the other way around with disastrous results

[Alan 480]

Electronics suffer in time from corroded and/or broken connections,
When you want to keep an old car on the road, fear is a bad counselor. You will have to bite the bullet and follow brinkie's advice. Or send him a PM asking him what he can do for you. In his home country he is well known for repairing dashes, to which purpose he has set up testing equipment.

Can't agree more but also working on the sage advice :-
if it ain't broke , don't fix it !

[brinkie]

I've been through the erratic speed gauge nightmare. In my opinion try not to touch anything in the back of the instruments board. You'll mess it up.

First change the speedo sensor and move from there. I went the other way around with disastrous results

You could also change the car first if it really scares you

Really I have lost count how many instrument boards I have successfully repaired. Only once I got reported back that the speedo still didn't work and once with an info centre that remained blank, but that was both with a car that had not been moved while standing outside for years. The worst thing that happened was that I left one of my spare boards on the floor in a dimly lit room and didn't tell my wife I didn't clear up, so she accidentally stepped on one and it broke in half. But my Weller soldering station is older than my 480 and is being used more often than the car...

But if you manage to get hold of a suitable speed sensor, and want to go through the effort of changing the sensor rather than repairing the instrument cluster, by all means try that first.

[Norm57]

Thanks for replies will take all advice on board,as a matter of interest Brinkie how much does one of your repairs cost including postage I have two or three speedo/info centres in need of attention so may consider getting them all done in one go.

[glasgowjim]

Norm you have a pm

[brinkie]

I am wondering what the policy on this forum is concerning advertising my services; I am happy to do so, but I don't want to interfere with forum members in the UK offering the same service, the postage to The Netherlands is pretty expensive and I am in a country where they don't accept your currency.

[glasgowjim]

Robert you have a pm that answers your question.

You can post up the service you are offering . As for currency well I have posted parts to all parts of the globe at one time or another and I use paypal.sometimes bank transfer but 95% of the time its paypal Not had a problem yet

[brinkie]

OK, here it is: http://www.volvo-480-europe.org/forum/v ... 12&t=35005