Jim Grant's Tech Tips
'95 Ford Contour, No Speed-O-Meter
Q:
I drive a 95 Ford Contour SE. My speedometer stopped
working one day and hasnt moved since. I was wondering if you could
tell me what the possible problems would be and if I could fix it myself.
A:
Starting from the late 80s and moving into the 00s vehicle
computers have become very dependent on vehicle speed information. So
dependent that vehicle speed information will go to the engine computer
before the information is sent to the speedometer. With this in mind if
the vehicle speed signal is lost, the engine computer would quickly complain
and turn a check engine light on. How can you be sure what component really
needs service? Have a repair facility plug their computer scan tool in
and check the vehicle speed sensor signal to the computer. If the signal
is present then its possible that the speedometer has failed. Can
you repair it yourself? Yes, but the next thing you need to know is if
the speed signal is getting to the speedometer. If the speed signal is
being sent and received by the speedometer then the speedometer needs
to be replaced. Its just not as simple as it use to be.
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