I have a 97 F150 4x4 with a 4.2 engine and a 3speed automatic transmission. I bought the vehicle with 128000miles and while driving it home I noticed that the speed was off? I look in the door and it has 235/75 16 and the tires and the spare are 265/75 16. How do you go about recalibrating the speedometer and where does a 97 get its speed from? I think the top of the rear end as my cruise doesn't work either.

Thanks for any help

 

you can get it recalibrated at a dealer or someone who can link up to the abs to recal the speedometer. as far as your speed pickup it is tough to say, that year ford couldnt decide if they wanted the signal to come from the trans or the hoghead.as far as the cruise not working, check easy things like fuses, make sure you have brakelights, check to see if your horn blows

does your cruise light come on?

 

The speed sensor is on the transmission. The sensor on the rearend is for abs

 

Thank you for the reply. All fuses are good and the cruise light does not come on? thanks for the website.
pdmanalyst

 

what else have you checked. also you can try to jump the deactivation switch on the master cylinder. connect the two pins together with a piece of wire and try to activate your cruise. just be careful!! it might not turn off with the switch jumped

 

[QUOTE=pdmanalyst]I have a 97 F150 4x4 with a 4.2 engine and a 3speed automatic transmission. I bought the vehicle with 128000miles and while driving it home I noticed that the speed was off? I look in the door and it has 235/75 16 and the tires and the spare are 265/75 16. How do you go about recalibrating the speedometer and where does a 97 get its speed from? I think the top of the rear end as my cruise doesn't work either. [QUOTE]

Do Not reconnect the cruise control until you go to Ford and get the new shut off switch that screws into the brake master cylinder. The old switches are defective and have caused many vehicles to catch fire.

This might fix your speedo. http://www.blackrobotics.com/yb_home.htm

 

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Thank you very much for the reply, I will check on the master cylinder switch. I have always been used to the switch being on the brake pedal.

Hey, what would be the best repair-troubleshooting manual for this truck and where would be the best place to purchase.

Have a Blessed day, and thanks again.

 

chiltons manuals are pretty good. you should be able to find them at a napa dealer, or online.

 

So I can take my 97 4x4 to the dealer to have the speedo fixed when I get bigger tires? Also my cruise works but I do not have a light... where should it be? Where can I get a light to replace it?

 

The dealer can adjust the speedo on a 97 but not very much, only 5% +/-, so it depends on how much the speedo is off.

Since your cruise still works you are at the greatest risk for catching fire if the switch has not been replaced. They are cheap, under $30.

If you are talking about the light on the end of the shift lever that shows "off" when lit up I know nothing about it, sorry.

 

THE LATEST CRUISE RECALL INFO ON FORDS SITE:

SAFETY RECALL
05S28 Certain 1994-1996 Model Year Bronco, 1994-2002 F-150 through F-550, 1997-2002 Expedition, 1998-2002 Navigator, 2002 Blackwood,1994-1996 E-150/250/350, 1996-2002 E-450, 2000-2002 Excursion, and 1998 Explorer and Mountaineer vehicles equipped with Speed Control – Speed Control System Modification

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Service Engineering Operations
Ford Customer Service Division

Ford Motor Company
P.O. Box 1904
Dearborn, Michigan 48121

August 3, 2006

TO: All U.S. Ford and Lincoln Mercury Dealers

SUBJECT: Safety Recall 05S28 - Supplement #8
Certain 1994-1996 Model Year Bronco, 1994-2002 F-150 through F-550, 1997-2002 Expedition, 1998-2002 Navigator, 2002 Blackwood,1994-1996 E-150/250/350, 1996-2002 E-450, 2000-2002 Excursion, and 1998 Explorer and Mountaineer vehicles equipped with Speed Control
Speed Control System Modification


REASON FOR SUPPLEMENT #8

The purpose of this supplement is to:

Announce that the affected vehicle population for this recall is being expanded to include additional vehicle lines and model years (under "Affected Vehicles", see "GROUP B: Supplement #8" below).
Revise the service procedure for vehicles exhibiting a leaking Speed Control Deactivation Switch (Labor Operation 05S28E).
Reemphasize the importance of properly drying and greasing the vehicle wiring harness connectors as directed in the Technical Instructions.
Provide claiming instructions for electrical grease.
AFFECTED VEHICLES



GROUP A: Original and Supplement #5 - Vehicle Population

Year
Model

1994-1996
Bronco

1994-2002
F-150

1994-1999
F-250 (Under 8500 GVW

1997-2002
Expedition

1998-2002
Navigator

2002
Blackwood

GROUP B: Supplement #8 - Added Vehicle Population

Year
Model

1994 – 1996
E-150, E-250, and E-350

1996 – 2002
E-450

1994 – 2002
F-250 through F-550 Super Duty Trucks (Over 8500 GVW)

1998
Explorer/Mountaineer

2000 – 2002
Excursion

* Vehicles equipped with diesel engines are not affected.

REASON FOR THIS SAFETY RECALL

The underhood Speed Control Deactivation Switch (SCDS) may overheat, smoke, or burn, which could result in an underhood fire. The potential for a fire exists regardless of whether speed control is being used or the engine is running.

SERVICE ACTION


At no charge to the vehicle owner, dealers are to:

Disconnect Speed Control Deactivation Switch wiring harness connector and check for presence of brake fluid contamination in the electrical connector on all affected vehicles.
If the Speed Control Deactivation Switch electrical connector is not contaminated with brake fluid: Install the Fused Jumper Harness.
If the Speed Control Deactivation Switch electrical connector is contaminated with brake fluid: Using compressed shop air, blow dry the Speed Control Servo electrical connector and the speed control switch harness connector. Apply electrical grease to the servo connector and to the speed control switch adapter jumper harness male pin connector. Install the Brake Repair Kit (Speed Control Deactivation Switch Kit).
Repair Process For All Vehicles Involved in Recall 05S28

OWNER NOTIFICATION MAILING SCHEDULE

Beginning the week of August 7, 2006, owners of vehicles added under Supplement #8 will be notified of their inclusion in this recall and directed to contact their dealer to schedule a service appointment.

 

I just took my 97 to get the speedo recalibrated and they cannot do it on that year of truck you have to change the vss gear which is locar=ted on the reaer of the tranny. This will also cause the cruise to surge when applied. I am going on vacation so I am waiting to do mine until I return (wont be needing the cruise for pulling the trailer). However if your cruise isnt working you could have a fuse gone and I would reccomend that you get the recall done as soon as possible or dissconnect the cruise.

 

Thanks, it was the deactivation switch on the master cylinder. I jumpered it out and then tried and it worked perfect.

I still haven't fixed speedometer.

Thanks again, pdmanalyst

 

Any one that fixes the speedo on their 97 please let me know how you did, where you got the parts and how hard it was to do. I need tires soon but I don't want to get bigger tires if I can't fix the speedo!

 

Yea. 1997-1998 computer can't be reprogrammed to compensate for tire/gear changes. Only thing I know of is TruSpeed made by Superlift. Usually run somewhere around $200. It installs in-line and then you twist the screws on it to change the signal output. Which in turn changes what you see on your cluster. It has a toggle switch on the side too, so you can have two settings, just flip when change tires. For those of you who change for season and such. And the instructions are supposed to be pretty good. Never done it myself.