Speedometer dropped to zero

biggarp · #1 04-16-2006, 06:42 PM

I have a 98 automatic escort wagon with 130K miles, that appears to have an electrical problem. The speedometer and odometer intermittantly stop working but all the other gauges are operating properly. After driving a while when the speedometer stops, the "service engine soon" light comes on. If I disconnect the battery for 15 minutes, then everything works right for a day or two.
While driving home today on the highway, I attempted to use the cruise control, but it did not engage. I noticed when I tried to use the set speed control, the speedometer stopped working and slowly dropped to zero, and the odometer also stopped. All the other gauges worked fine and the engine continued to operate properly... although the service engine soon light came on. This seems electrical... is there some sort of master swtich controlling the seepdo/cruise control. I hope it is not the computer!
I am not going to reset the code tonight with the battery disconnect... I am going to read the code tomorrow.
The car has been very reliable except for this new problem... any ideas?

richard petrus · #2 04-16-2006, 06:55 PM

i know the problem for the speedometer but i dont know what does that light mean. Anyways it does not work because of the pressure sensors. If you know where it is its under the car and its by the transmission. To fix it you have to take it out and replace it. My dad has the same problem but the shop said they could not fix it because its rusted in. The price of the pressure sensor i dont know but it would cost about $90 for eveything.

Black2000Ranger · #3 04-16-2006, 09:19 PM

Sweet, now when you resell you'll have lower milage.

biggarp · #4 04-17-2006, 09:03 AM

Could it be the speed sensor switch on the transmission? Does anyone know where that is located on the transmission?

biggarp · #5 04-18-2006, 10:09 PM

I went to Autozone and they red the code... "faulty circuit in the speed sensor." So I checked the fuse for that item and it was ok. I then purchased a replacement speed sensor and installed it.
The speedometer still does not work... I am beginning to think that the speedometer unit itself has failed... any ideas or recommendations as to what to try next?

Thanks
Pat

richard petrus · #6 04-18-2006, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biggarp

I went to Autozone and they red the code... "faulty circuit in the speed sensor." So I checked the fuse for that item and it was ok. I then purchased a replacement speed sensor and installed it.
The speedometer still does not work... I am beginning to think that the speedometer unit itself has failed... any ideas or recommendations as to what to try next?

Thanks
Pat

Did you change the speedometer rope too? I think that what causing the problem. If its still not that than i dont know what could be the problem.

biggarp · #7 04-19-2006, 07:32 AM

The 98-02 Escorts do not have a speedometer cable, they use an electric sensor that sends a signal to the speedometer.

I hate to have to take it to the Ford dealer... any other ideas?

richard petrus · #8 04-19-2006, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biggarp

The 98-02 Escorts do not have a speedometer cable, they use an electric sensor that sends a signal to the speedometer.

I hate to have to take it to the Ford dealer... any other ideas?

No i dont have any more ideas.

mightymoose_22 · #9 04-19-2006, 05:18 PM

Did you try kicking it?

biggarp · #10 04-19-2006, 06:10 PM

Yes, I pounded on the dashboard above the instrument cluster to see if I could get any movement out of the speedometer. It didn't work... but I felt better.

I may try removing the instrument cluster and re-seating the connections.

I could buy a GPS device and use that as an independent MPH indicator...

I'm determined to find out what the source of the failure... it's man against machine!

biggarp · #11 04-20-2006, 09:30 PM

OK, I pulled the instrument cluster and then pulled the speedo unit from the cluster, cleaning all the contacts. It was not very complicated. I put everthing back together and hooked the cluster back into the three connectors. Still no speedo function.

On a hunch to see if I could get any movement out of the speedo, I disconnected the battery for an hour... still not luck! When this problem first started... disconnecting the battery would correct the problem for a day or two. Now it is a hard failure.

Can someone tell me if there is anything else to check other than the instrument cluster and the speed sensor unit in the transmission?? I check the speed sensor wires on the exposed parts I could see and there are no breaks or worn insulation.

Any ideas??? Should I go ahead and buy a used instrument cluster ($50)???
Or go to the authorized ford dealer/service provider???

biggarp · #12 04-25-2006, 03:20 PM

I was able to swap out the instrument cluster with another cluster (known to work) and the speedometer/odometer still does not work. If the fuse, speed sensor, and the instrument cluster are all functioning ... what other components are there in this circuit that can fail?
Maybe I should call a priest?
Any ideas or help is appreciated!

Davescort97 · #13 05-06-2006, 10:13 PM

Speed Control amplifier could be bad. It's the only thing in the speedometer circuit you haven't replaced. It's located on the right inner fender just in front of the rubber stop for the hood. It's located down from there and is part of the speedometer schematic. It has a white with black stripe and solid black wires. check the fuses under the hood and under the dash again. There is a fuse under the dash which says meter 10 amp. Also in the engine compartment there is a fuse that says room 10 amp. Could have blown a fuse when working on the instrument cluster.

biggarp · #14 05-12-2006, 10:58 AM

I went to the junk yard and purchased an instrument cluster, a speed sensor, a cruise control box (speed control amplifier from a escort coupe .vs. escort wagon/sedan?), and a small sensor that plugs into the transmission (small round cylinder with a metal protruding tip). I swapped out these components one at a time and the speedometer does not work. I'm beginning to think the transmission gear that spins the speed sensor is not working. I stuck my finger into the speed sensor cavity and the white gear thing was there and secure in place with no movement.
Any ideas?

biggarp · #15 05-20-2006, 12:46 PM

OK, the great 98 Escort speedometer mystery has been solved!
It turns out that there was no speed sensor, instrument cluster, or cruise control malfunction. My EE friend brought over his volt/ohm meter and we tested the wires from the cluster to the cruise control amplifier, to the speed sensor and found that the ground wire was not connected to ground. I could not find the fault so I ran a dedicated ground wire from the back of the cluster ground to a chassis ground point... and it worked!

As an aside, my daughter told me the horn was not working and this ground wire fixed that as well. I laid upside down under the dash and checked all the wires... as well as removed the airbag... and could not find any obvious wire or connector issues. As long as it works I do not mind using the dedicated ground wire as a permanent fix. I hope this info helps someone else...
Pat

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