'96 speedometer problem

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Sep 24, 2011 | 11:11 AM

Rumrumm

Thread Starter

5th Wheeling

Joined: Jan 2002

Posts: 26

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From: Central Arkansas

'96 speedometer problem

I have a '96 XLT 2WD, 6-cyl standard. Had a mechanic install a different set of rear-end gears to improve mileage. As soon as I drive it away, the speedometer is goofy. Bounces around between 5-10 MPH, then suddenly zooms up to 45 or so, then back down to 5-10, regardless of gear or speed. Of course, the mechanic says it isn't his fault.

While he was swapping gears, is there anything internal in the housing he could have screwed up? How can I diagnose this?

Sep 24, 2011 | 11:24 AM

jplinville

Posting Guru

Joined: Oct 2009

Posts: 1,431

Likes: 1

From: Ohio

I'm sure someone will chime in, but i thought that it was electronic. if it is, it's possible the wire has a bit of a short in it.

Again, i could be wrong...

Sep 24, 2011 | 11:57 AM

Lazy K

Post Fiend

Joined: Jan 2005

Posts: 8,402

Likes: 10

Yes, the speedo is electronic. It gets its signal from a sensor on top of the rear differential housing. The sensor, in turn, is excited by a tone ring inside the diff. It is possible the guy damaged the tone ring.
You are lucky that you have a manual trans as an auto would be going nuts.