93 Geo Prizm (Toyota Corolla) acting speedometer

Hi,

I have read some postings but I'm not sure what the problem is since I
haven't seen anybody with this particular behaviour.

After some radiator/timing belt job, the car's speedometer started
acting weird. It shows 0 MPH until I reach 40 - 50 MPH. When I reach
40-50 MPH, it goes to 65 MPH instantly (even though I'm not that fast)
When I slow down, needle goes down dead to 0 MPH again. It is automatic
transmission but there is NO shifting problem at all.

I mentioned to the mechanic who did the timing belt job, and he said it
must be the sensor since these models don't use a wired system.

Any opinions?

Thanks.

"denoxis" <google@deniznet.com> wrote in message
news:1129231566.369992.206870@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> Hi,
>
> I have read some postings but I'm not sure what the problem is since I
> haven't seen anybody with this particular behaviour.
>
> After some radiator/timing belt job, the car's speedometer started
> acting weird. It shows 0 MPH until I reach 40 - 50 MPH. When I reach
> 40-50 MPH, it goes to 65 MPH instantly (even though I'm not that fast)
> When I slow down, needle goes down dead to 0 MPH again. It is automatic
> transmission but there is NO shifting problem at all.
>
> I mentioned to the mechanic who did the timing belt job, and he said it
> must be the sensor since these models don't use a wired system.
>
> Any opinions?
>
> Thanks.
>[/color]

If it's a mechanical speedometer, check to see if it's catching. We had an
old speedometer in our Corvair do almost exactly the same thing.

Charles of Kankakee

I am having this exact same problem (either 0 or 65 showing on
speedometer) on my 93 prizm. how do i check to see if it is catching? i
would love some help with this!

thanks,
Chris



Charles @ Kankakee wrote:[color=blue]
> "denoxis" <google@deniznet.com> wrote in message
> news:1129231566.369992.206870@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=green]
> > Hi,
> >
> > I have read some postings but I'm not sure what the problem is since I
> > haven't seen anybody with this particular behaviour.
> >
> > After some radiator/timing belt job, the car's speedometer started
> > acting weird. It shows 0 MPH until I reach 40 - 50 MPH. When I reach
> > 40-50 MPH, it goes to 65 MPH instantly (even though I'm not that fast)
> > When I slow down, needle goes down dead to 0 MPH again. It is automatic
> > transmission but there is NO shifting problem at all.
> >
> > I mentioned to the mechanic who did the timing belt job, and he said it
> > must be the sensor since these models don't use a wired system.
> >
> > Any opinions?
> >
> > Thanks.
> >[/color]
>
> If it's a mechanical speedometer, check to see if it's catching. We had an
> old speedometer in our Corvair do almost exactly the same thing.
>
> Charles of Kankakee[/color]

I had a 92 Tercel that done this. It gets much worse in colder weather. Mine
would emit a horrendous buzzing noise at the critical point of 45mph. I
could hardly hear the radio. Apparently there is a set of gears or teeth
somewhere on the cable behind the instrument cluster that requires
lubrication, otherwise it will "catch" at about 45mph for some reason. The
shop I took the tercel to told me this and they lubricated the problem but
this was only a temporary fix. They had to take the instrument cluster out
to get to it I beleive, I'm not sure. The more permanent fix of course would
be to replace the part(s). Sorry I don't know that much about it, I'm only
going by what the guy told me.

Casey
<sharefreemusic@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1131222407.945134.177410@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> I am having this exact same problem (either 0 or 65 showing on
> speedometer) on my 93 prizm. how do i check to see if it is catching? i
> would love some help with this!
>
> thanks,
> Chris
>
>
>
> Charles @ Kankakee wrote:[color=green]
> > "denoxis" <google@deniznet.com> wrote in message
> > news:1129231566.369992.206870@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=darkred]
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > > I have read some postings but I'm not sure what the problem is since I
> > > haven't seen anybody with this particular behaviour.
> > >
> > > After some radiator/timing belt job, the car's speedometer started
> > > acting weird. It shows 0 MPH until I reach 40 - 50 MPH. When I reach
> > > 40-50 MPH, it goes to 65 MPH instantly (even though I'm not that fast)
> > > When I slow down, needle goes down dead to 0 MPH again. It is[/color][/color][/color]
automatic[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
> > > transmission but there is NO shifting problem at all.
> > >
> > > I mentioned to the mechanic who did the timing belt job, and he said[/color][/color][/color]
it[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
> > > must be the sensor since these models don't use a wired system.
> > >
> > > Any opinions?
> > >
> > > Thanks.
> > >[/color]
> >
> > If it's a mechanical speedometer, check to see if it's catching. We had[/color][/color]
an[color=blue][color=green]
> > old speedometer in our Corvair do almost exactly the same thing.
> >
> > Charles of Kankakee[/color]
>[/color]