I have a 2005 F-250 CC PS Lariat, and the speedometer started to malfunction back in November. I was on a major highway (Interstate 70) doing about 70 mph and car traffic was coming up. I applied my brakes till I was in a complete stop and surprisingly the gauge did not read 0 instead 35 mph (approx.) Once the traffic got less congested, I accelerated back to cruising speed, but the gauge read well over 100 mph!!! I decided to pull off the highway and restart my truck. I didn't expect to work, but it did the quick fix. Last week ( December 27), it happened again. I then took it to dealership. The mechanic said the Hec module needed to be recalculated so that is what they did. When I got it back the same day, I was working fine...until last night (Jan. 3). Now when the truck is at a complete stop it reads 55 mph!!! Does anyone know what is wrong? Has anyone experienced similar problems?

Thanks,

FordGuy0131

 

Welcome to the club. My 05 has been doing the same thing for months. Supposedly the whole cluster needs to be replaced. Ford just can't seem to get it done. I wish it was legal to punch service managers. Currently mine is going over 100 mph, in my driveway!

 

I wish it was legal to punch service managers. Currently mine is going over 100 mph, in my driveway.

Not to make light of your situation but thats funny! LOL.

 

Sounds like a sticky guage movement.

I haven't pulled apart a modern electronic type movement. The old style speedometers had a spinning "wing" that rotated around I guess a round magnet that was attached to the shaft of the needle indicating speed. The spinning wing was magnetically coupled to the needle shaft. Sometimes the shaft would get gummed up and the needle wouldn't move properly. Maybe something similar is happening to your speedo?

Wild guess is that the modern speedometers use a regular meter movement similar to the old analog meters you use to measure electrical currents etc. If this is true I would guess the meter needle is sitting on a shaft between two bearings with some "clock" springs to return the needle to zero. The bearings may be dirty and just need a cleaning. I would try something like electrical cleaner or alcohol. You probably do not want to oil the bearings since they are probably dry jewell bearings. Just a wild guess.

Hopefully you are under warranty since I think the shop procedure is remove and replace the instruement cluster which I bet is expensive. If you are unlucky you might look into the cluster and see if you can open the speedo and clean it a bit. Don't do this unless you understand how to clean small mechanical devices.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson

 

I called Ford: since 2005 is still under warranty if bought from Ford then they will replace the Hec Module and the instrument cluster if needed. I agree about punshing the service manager. He asked me on the phone, "Was it raining outside when you were driving?" (Does rain really play a major factor in damaging the speedometer?)

 

I also have experienced the "sticking" speedo on my 05. The weather may actually play a part in the malfunction because the only time it happened to me was under extreme cold conditions, ie -20F and when the temp warmed, every time I came to a stop it would get a little closer to 0 mph. Please keep us posted on what is being done to correct this cause it's a PITA although it made a cool picture to see the speedo buried straight down!

Goose_Hunter

 

Yes, I belive the temperature initiates the malfunction as mine began screwing up at about 0 F. Once mine screwed up once, there is no rhyme or reason to where it goes next. One time it may stay at 25 mph no matter the speed, next it might be only 10 mph off. However, it is rarly ever right. It is very dangereous, especially when you are in a strange town at night and are not real familiar with the streets or speed limits. My vehicle has only 10000 miles and the speedo has been screwed up since about 6000 miles.

I have given ford every opportunity to fix it. I have been told it has been backordered for the last month and a half. I have visited the dealer for three scheduled replacement appointments only to be told "I am sorry, it is still on backorder. We will call you when it comes in." Every follow up contact has been initiated by me. Not once has the dealer tried to keep me updated.

Now, I tell the dealer that I will be moving 5 hours away and explain that I do not want to drive back just for this issue. I tell him he better figure out a way to ship it to my new location and have them install it. After an hour and a half, I finally find out that they shipped the part back to Ford before contacting me. Now I am so mad, I could drive the 5 hours just to kick his "keyster."

So I call the dealer where I live now (who is also been involved in the whole fiasco above) and he says "now who are you?" I nearly came unglued. But I stayed calm and explained the situation to him AGAIN. I told him he needs to order me a new cluster as my speedometer is malfunctioning constantly. Do you know what he said? He said "well, what is it doing?" I just f@#$ing told you it malfunctioning!!!!!! How do think a speedometer malfunctions?? THE SPEED IT IS SHOWING IS NOT CORRECT you idiot.

Sorry for the rant, but I could make somebody bleed over this issue. If it was the only issue that has gone unfixed, I might be more understanding.

 

Probably not important here, but I need to correct a small mistake in my previous post.

On old spedos, the cable from the tranny is connected to the round magnet which spins. The wing sits over the magnet and is coupled magnetically and then drives the needle.

The cold weather strengthens my belief that the movement is a typical analog electrical meter type, like D' Arsonval etc. When cold the components making up the meter can contract enough to cause the needle bearings to bind or stick. Ditto if there is any oil on the bearings. I could be wrong since I never took apart a modern speedo, but it sounds like the correct scenario.

A possible fix for someone not under warranty might be to adjust the tension which holds the needle in placve. Most movements have a small tension adjustment to loosen or tighten how the needle swings.

Just an idea.

Jim Henderson

 

I dropped off my truck yesterday (01/09/06), and the service manager told me they are going to replace the Hec module. I got a call later that day informing me there is a national back order for the hec module which will take at the very least 2 weeks for it to arrive. So I got my truck today and I am driving it with a broken speedometer.

 

Find a judge who has a Ford pickup and wait till it gets real cold!