So in the last two weeks my speedo jumps all over the place. I was wondering if you guys had any suggestions?

 

You can start by cleaning the shaving's from the VSS .. bmaybe replace it ,,,,While you are there ,, look closely at the wiring to it...

 

ya, i had the same problem, and cleaned my vss for something else... didnt fix the something else, but stopped the jumping.
VSS= vehicle speed sensor. It's on the top of the rear axle, requires one bolt to be removed... i think like 9/16ths, and then you might want to take a flat head screwdriver to pry on it a little. it'll come out as a cylinder shaped thingy, and just wipe it off with a cloth. five minute job...
Hopefully that will fix it, let us know.

 

So I cleaned off the VSS but I still have a jumping speedo so what's the next step

 

check the connections... after that, Im not completely sure.
Check your fuses in the dash panel?
Im out of ideas... maybe the VSS is bad, but i dont have enough "PSD talent" to tell you that for sure (so dont buy one based on my advice...)
Hopefully a guru will come along soon...

 

Did your VSS have large chunks of metal on it? If so, the tone ring in the rear end is probably hosed and now you get to open up the rear end to replace it. The tone ring sends the signal to the VSS.
If all you had on the VSS was small filings of metal, then there are two more things to check. The first is the wiring between the VSS and the dash cluster, easily identified because they are two wires twisted together. If all your wiring harness is tied up tight on the frame and not hanging down anywhere, you are probably fine.
Last would the the PSOM. The PSOM is a small computer chip that sits behind the speedo in your instrument cluster. It receives the signal from the VSS and sends it to the PCM. If you can find another cluster from any 92-97 truck swap them and see if the problem goes away... I bet it does.
Your best bet for a new PSOM is to buy a new cluster from the wrecking yard, Ebay, or car-part.com. Since yours is a stick I'm assuming you have the tach already, if not now is a good time to upgrade (direct drop in swap). By changing the PSOM you will lose the mileage on your rig as the PSOM stores it. Clusters can be had for around $40, when the PSOM went in my old 95 I paid $125 for one on Ebay because it was within 10 miles or so of what my truck had. The thing you need to be sure of when buying a new cluster is to get one from the same year as your truck or you will have problems with the indicator lights. If you don't find a cluster from the same year, you can put the new PSOM into your cluster and it will work. Disassembling the cluster is a cinch, there is a how-to in the articles section on this site. Good luck!

 

I had the same problem with my truck. I replaced the gauge cluster, speed sensor, and even replaced the wiring hanress. I even checked all the grounds and all wiring connections. At the end of this process it came down to the tone ring being damaged and had to be replaced. Once the tone ring was replaced I had a working speedo and cruise. Pull the diff cover and check you tone ring. Worst case you put new oil in your diff and go on down the road.

Thanks

Why Not (Chris)

 

so I got a chance to buy a new vss and check the wiring tonight but I still have a speedo problem so I guess the next step is to open the dif and check the tone ring, I didn't see any big chunks or any little ones for that matter but I think im still going to check the dif. Anybody know what weight oil and how much our trucks need?

 

I wouldn't open the diff if you didn't find big chunks of metal on the VSS. 99% at this point that it's the PSOM.
If you just feel like checking your diff anyways, use 75-140 synthetic.

 

any body know what color the grounds are for the dash and where they are grounded too?

 

I found a ground problem on my truck as the past owner had replaced the engine. Check your engine to body ground. Also check your engine to frame ground and your battery to engine ground. The ground wire for the dash is also the ground for the radio. Not for sure of the color. Hope this helps.

Thanks

Why Not (Chris)

 

thanks I will check them out