Speedometer does not work

Tiny
BECCAANDME
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 CHEVROLET LUMINA
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 160,000 MILES
I recently installed a cd player in my car that I received for Christmas. After installing my CD player I was driving and realized my speedometer was no longer working. I went back and checked all the wiring to assure that everything was connected and nothing got bumped. After jiggling some wires (no clue which ones) it worked again for a few miles and then it quit working again. After this I replaced my speed sensor that is located on the transmission and the connector and wire that plugs into it. It still will not work. What else could be wrong I could not find any fuses or anything for my speedometer. Oh my odometer also does not work anymore. Any suggestions to fix this?
Wednesday, January 9th, 2008 AT 10:41 PM

16 Replies

Tiny
WHAY2KOOL
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I also have a 97 lumina and the same thing happend to me. I put a new radio in it and the speedometer and odometer quit working. I have no idea how to fix it so if you have any luck will you tell me what to do.
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Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011 AT 5:39 PM
Tiny
SARAHCLAAR79
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
There is a #15 - 15 amp fuse in the fuse panel that sounds like it is blown, that is what was wrong with my car FYI.
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Tuesday, August 13th, 2019 AT 11:12 AM
Tiny
LUMINACAR
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1999 CHEVROLET LUMINA
  • 6 CYL
  • AWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 206,000 MILES
I have a 1999 lumina, I put in a cd player stereo but as soon as I turn it on the speedometer don't work it just sits at the bottom or shoots up with the beat of the music wether it's loud enough or not, I don't know what the problem is please help
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Tuesday, August 13th, 2019 AT 11:13 AM (Merged)
Tiny
TWOTONE99
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I had this same problem around the same time and just got it figured out today. I saw your post while looking for answers so I thought I would respond. While hooking up my new stereo I noticed I had 2 light green and 2 dark green sets of wires. I assume they were both to speakers or the same speaker and hooked them up accordingly. Come to find out only one set goes to the right front speaker and the other set go to the speed compensated volume part of the factory stereo. I had to try one wire at a time to get the speaker to work and then separately taped up the remaining light and dark green wires so they are not attached to anything. Speedometer now works with the stereo on when it used to only work with the stereo off.
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+5
Tuesday, August 13th, 2019 AT 11:13 AM (Merged)
Tiny
AJI8
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 1996 CHEVROLET LUMINA
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 87,000 MILES
Speedometer is intermittent after transmission R&R.
At first speedometer did not work at all. Then it started working when driving on the highway.

Speedometer then started to become intermittent. It was found that when the brakes were applied the speedometer would start working again sometimes for a while, sometimes just for a few seconds. I think it could be a ground issue.
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Tuesday, August 13th, 2019 AT 11:13 AM (Merged)
Tiny
LEGITIMATE007
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,121 POSTS
Maybe so, I think that the vss(vehicle speed sensor)may not be al the way plugged in or may just be faulty, have it checked replaced if necessary
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Tuesday, August 13th, 2019 AT 11:13 AM (Merged)
Tiny
AJI8
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I swapped out the VSS thinking that could be the cause. I would question it but the fluctuating with the brakes is odd.

I only recall 2 ground wires attached to the trans to engine mounting bolts. I could be missing something.
Where is the ground strap from engine to chassis on the vehicle. I could have missed it and damaged it when I dropped the cradle.
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Tuesday, August 13th, 2019 AT 11:13 AM (Merged)
Tiny
AJI8
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Does anbody know where the grounds to engine and grounds to chassis are?
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Tuesday, August 13th, 2019 AT 11:13 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CAWOOD1121
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1993 CHEVROLET LUMINA
  • 20,000 MILES
Works sometime then either drops to zero or to the highest mph or just some other speed designation. I can smack the dash and sometimes it will return to normal. The cruse control works even though the spedo is not working. Which tells me that the ecu is not at fault. I have also replaced the sending unit. If you think its wiring can you please tell me how to get an instrument panel schematic?
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Tuesday, August 13th, 2019 AT 11:13 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
If you smack the dash and it will. Return to normal sounds like it could be the cluster or a loose wire to the cluster. Do you have any codes in the computer?
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Tuesday, August 13th, 2019 AT 11:13 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CAWOOD1121
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
No codes that would lead me to the problem †what codes are you looking for? When you say cluster do you mean the board containing the dash indicators, tach. Temp, etc?
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Tuesday, August 13th, 2019 AT 11:13 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Iam talking about codes in the computer. Also iam talking about a loose connection to the cluster. Or a bad speedometer itself.
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Tuesday, August 13th, 2019 AT 11:13 AM (Merged)
Tiny
GED99
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1993 CHEVROLET LUMINA
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 188,000 MILES
The speedometer on my 1993 lumina occasionally will quit working but usually starts functioning again shortly. Now it seems to have quit for good. Is it cable or electrically operated?Is it accessible for me to repair?Thanks, gary
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Tuesday, August 13th, 2019 AT 11:13 AM (Merged)
Tiny
LEGITIMATE007
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,121 POSTS
Yeah its more than likely the speed sensor located on the tranny, it may be faulty or the connection might not be tight.
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-1
Tuesday, August 13th, 2019 AT 11:13 AM (Merged)
Tiny
TROY.WARREN
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1991 CHEVROLET LUMINA
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 90,000 MILES
Speedometer just quit working. I just replaced the fuel injectors and now the speedometer don't work.I have a Haynes manual which don't show where I can access any part of the speedo cable. Does it have a cable? I saw another response to a speedo problem on this type of car on your site and my question is where is the speed sensor and what and where is the speed head?
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Tuesday, August 13th, 2019 AT 11:13 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JOLENA2370
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
Have you checked your fuses because some of them are fuses and also electronic. The speed head is in the transmission.
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Tuesday, August 13th, 2019 AT 11:13 AM (Merged)

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