Odometer Problem

[johnny1217]

Me again!
97 Ford explorer 6cyl.
Bought the car last week and fixed a few problems(private sale)
Yesterday I resest the tripometer and since then the that and the odometer stop working.Not going up adding miles.
I took it apart to see if maybe the cable came off but think it goes up by current.Its not digital display just plastic numbers.
I checked the fuses and all seems ok.
Is there a relay for the odometer?
I know it was working before that and how many miles i added to the truck.

[johnny1217]

where would the speed sensor be located on a 6cyl?
maybe thats the problem although the speedometer is working fine.

[FORD PARTS GUY]

Most are on the rear axel housing

[gcozmo]

The one on my '96 used to do that sometimes. If you push the button in again and let it snap back out it should start working. I know it sounds crazy but it used to work on mine. For some reason when you push the reset in it will throw the gears out of alignment and it takes a little pursuading and patience to get it back.

[87 XLT]

Originally Posted by johnny1217

where would the speed sensor be located on a 6cyl?
maybe thats the problem although the speedometer is working fine.

On a 97 the VSS for the speedometer & odometer is on the drivers side of
the trans. The other end of the circuit is interior fuse 25.

If the VSS was shot or the fuse was blown the speedometer would'nt work either.

FWIW the VSS in the rear diff is for the ABS nonsense only.

[johnny1217]

hmmm i looked pretty good today and couldnt find it.
Ill look again in the morning.Is it possible thats the prob?
Can't see it being much else.Other then a bad cluster.
The speedometer is working fine so not the fuse.
Thanks for the info.

[87 XLT]

The VSS is on the drivers side of the transmission tail shaft.

But, as gcosmo said, it looks like the gauge itself is the problem.

[johnny1217]

Thanks alot everyone.
since it's most prob the cluster I'm gonna take it out again later in hopes of finding something.Maybe that plastic circuit board.
I did notice last time a few bulbs blown and 2 missing.I wonder if those complete a circuit somehow.......doubt it but ill take a look.Maybe post pictures for some help.

[ErnieX]

Don't know if you've solved this yet but had the same problem on my 96. The speedo and odo are electronically driven by motors and gears within the speedo module of the cluster. I pulled the cluster, popped out the speedo module and you could see within the clear cover on the back that the helical gear that drives the cog gear (or vice versa) for the odo had broken in half, slipped down the shaft and no longer contacted the cog gear. Got a used cluster on Ebay for $25 (w/shipping) and swaped the speedo module and all is fine now. I saw where someone online makes and sells the replacement gears for about $35 but though the used cluster was a better solution. Also allowed me to fix my broken temp gauge.

Hope this helps.

EE

[johnny1217]

Thanks for the info.
I took it all apart again and everything seemed fine to me.
All the gears seem to be ok.
I didnt take the clear plastic area off though so I may do it again and remove that area in hopes of finding something.
Unless somehow it is the sensor?

[texan2004]

I'd take it al the way apart (remove the plastic cover and reove the three instrument modules) to get a good lood and the little worm gear on the motor that drives the odometer. You might not be able to see the problem without removing everything. It's easy to do. The speedo needle pulls off with a little persuasion from a flat blade screw driver. See link below:

http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/52...eter-woes.html

[johnf350diesel]

id do the button thing again, mine was weird like that on my '94

[texan2004]

That button trick used to work on mine but eventually stopped working. I suspect the worm gear was beginning to fail when it first acted up.