'97 analog speedometer quit
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Montana
'97 analog speedometer quit
My beater '97 f150 regular cab, short box 4x4 with the 4.6 and m5od speedometer quit working a while back. The odometer and trip meter too. I replaced the vehicle speed sensor and no dice. The old one was physically broken, however. This was several months ago. Pretty sure I got out all the pieces before installing it. Every now and again the speedometer will move, but not to anywhere near the speed I'm going and not for long. Ideas? Thanks.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Montana
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
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don't you have a cable screwed into the back of the speedo ? If NOTHING works, I think I would check the drive cable / input to the speedo.
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...ive+gear,16095
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...ive+gear,16095
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
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I thought 1997 there was a cable input, then two sets of gears inside to drive speedo and odometer ................... the LATER trucks have digital inputs................ I may be off a few years... by 1997 there may be an electrical input that drives a MOTOR that turns the gears... I believe that is right.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,983
Likes: 917
From: Montana
I thought 1997 there was a cable input, then two sets of gears inside to drive speedo and odometer ................... the LATER trucks have digital inputs................ I may be off a few years... by 1997 there may be an electrical input that drives a MOTOR that turns the gears... I believe that is right.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Montana
I replaced the drive gear on the speedometer yesterday. The driven gear was different than the one in the kit I received (same part number from the video above) but the old one looks ok so I reused it. No dice. Thinking maybe the wires from the vss to the speedometer got damaged. I'll have to get under the truck and check them out later.
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Input for 97 odometer/trip meter is mechanical. Often a tiny gear in the instrument cluster goes bad. But speedometer is electrical I believe. One of the wires connected to the cruise control servo carries electrical speed signal (whether cruise control is in place or not) and I believe the same signal is fed to the instrument cluster.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Montana
Input for 97 odometer/trip meter is mechanical. Often a tiny gear in the instrument cluster goes bad. But speedometer is electrical I believe. One of the wires connected to the cruise control servo carries electrical speed signal (whether cruise control is in place or not) and I believe the same signal is fed to the instrument cluster.
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2023
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I can confirm that they do have the speedometer cable. Ford did away that a long time ago when they went to more electronics. Your local Ford parts dealer can tell if you call them.
4th Gear
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