Roadrunner

My friend's '97 Accord's speedometer is broken (or it works intermittently). Does anyone know if these have a cable or if it's electronic? She got an estimate close to $600 to fix the speedo. Also when the speedo doesn't work, the odometer doesn't work too. Not sure if she's being ripped off. Thanks.

Nic

I replaced one many years ago on my 77 Corolla. If it is anything like that one, the cable can be checked by unscrewing the end of the cable housing from under the car and then pulling the cable out to see if it is broken. You could do the same from the dash, but its probably harder to get to.

If the cable comes out completely and in good condition it suggest something else wrong-either up top or at the bottom.

That leads me to another "on topic" question. My 97 Tacoma speedometer waggles a little bit. Does anyone ever remove the cable to grease it? I didn't know if that was a suggested maintenance practice.

Mohamed

When I ripped out my dash to replace the gas gauge off the cluster, I unplugged electrical box "pin" connectors from the back of the cluster. Is that what you are after, or do mean at the attachment point on the tranny?

rimpainter.com

This is very strange and rare. Has the vehicle been modified or repaired in any way in recent days?

Roadrunner

Mohamed, that's a good question. I'm still waiting to see what the shop wrote down on the estimate that needs replaced. The info I provided is what she told me over the phone.

I'll post the details when I get them, but $600 seems like a lot of money to fix a speedo.

rimpainter.com

It sounds to me like the speed sender unit is shot or the speedo is toast at the head. The speed sender unit is far from $600 and easy to replace. If the speedo head is toast, she will need a new instrument cluster from a salvage yard. Those can be had for well under $100. Those are my best guesses if no recent work has been performed.

roid_monkey

i think you'd get better results from honda-tech.com, which is a board like yota but specific to hondas. they have an accord section, where alot of the accord guys that mod and repair their own cars, pass info like yota.

Roadrunner

roid_monkey, thanks for the link.

btw, I was recently told the repair estimate was $300, not $600 as previously stated. Thanks for all the input.

Mohamed

Consisting of what? What did they find that was wrong?

Roadrunner

Well getting details out of my friend is like pulling teeth. I know find out there is no written estimate. Just some mechanic telling her that the repairs to the speedo could be about $300, but could be more depending on what he finds out after opening up the dash and looking at the guages.

I think she should take it to the stealership and get a written estimate on repairs to see if the stealership at least confirms what the mechanic told her. I asked her to call them to see if they will give her a free written estimate.

Mohamed

Ah okay, but stealer will charge at least $70 diagnostic labor fee. If it was the speedo gauge and, if you where only near Sacramento, CA, I'd offer to replace it for ya. It's real easy to do but time consuming.

dropcivic

Without doing any tests, i am gonna go with the cluster. I have replaced a bunch of those on the accords.

Honda tech help here

Roadrunner

I wish I was had the mechanical skills to help her out. I'm going to try to find a repair shop through my friends. Maybe I can work out a "friend of a friend" discount for her. I appreciate all the help.