Electronic speedo rebuild

Hello everyone,
I have a 1993 Range Rover Classic, recently I could not reset my trip counter, so I have stripped down the speedo to rectify the problem. I have found and fixed the problem with the trip meter, but to get at it I had to remove the dial and needle from the speedo. I had to pull the needle pretty hard to remove it and, to my surprise the whole needle and spindle came out, about 1 1/2 inches long!
Since replacing the needle, the speedo is now not reading correctly. It is slow to respond in both directions and won't read above about 55 mph. Has removing the needle destroyed it, or am I missing something when I reinsert the spindle in the drive?
Thanks,
Rob

RobCavendish said:

Hello everyone,
I have a 1993 Range Rover Classic, recently I could not reset my trip counter, so I have stripped down the speedo to rectify the problem. I have found and fixed the problem with the trip meter, but to get at it I had to remove the dial and needle from the speedo. I had to pull the needle pretty hard to remove it and, to my surprise the whole needle and spindle came out, about 1 1/2 inches long!
Since replacing the needle, the speedo is now not reading correctly. It is slow to respond in both directions and won't read above about 55 mph. Has removing the needle destroyed it, or am I missing something when I reinsert the spindle in the drive?
Thanks,
Rob

Click to expand...

You destroyed it.

Thanks for your reply Wammers, but I'm not convinced, as I have had the unit working today, although it was reading about 3 mph fast over a range of 0 - 80mph. However, if you are right that I have destroyed it using this technique, how are you supposed to dismantle the unit? Or is this not possible?

RobCavendish said:

Thanks for your reply Wammers, but I'm not convinced, as I have had the unit working today, although it was reading about 3 mph fast over a range of 0 - 80mph. However, if you are right that I have destroyed it using this technique, how are you supposed to dismantle the unit? Or is this not possible?

Click to expand...

The needle should pull off it's pin leaving the shaft inside the unit. If you have pulled the shaft out, you have pulled it from the centre of the magnetic coil that drives it. There will also be a balance/return hair spring in there some where.

Just thought I would update everyone. There is no hair spring in this type of speedo. The spindle engages with a magnet that is sealed with the coil assembly. Providing you can locate the spindle in the magnet accurately, the speedo will work fine. I've put a bit of clock oil on the spindle and re-inserted it into the magnet and then checked the accuracy of the speedo via calibration. it works just fine
To be honest I do feel lucky, maybe I should have checked this out first, as it must be very easy to bend the spindle and then you've had it.

RobCavendish said:

Just thought I would update everyone. There is no hair spring in this type of speedo. The spindle engages with a magnet that is sealed with the coil assembly. Providing you can locate the spindle in the magnet accurately, the speedo will work fine. I've put a bit of clock oil on the spindle and re-inserted it into the magnet and then checked the accuracy of the speedo via calibration. it works just fine
To be honest I do feel lucky, maybe I should have checked this out first, as it must be very easy to bend the spindle and then you've had it.

Click to expand...

Lucky lad then. Hope it keeps working for you.

what was wrong with trip?mine wont reset..wasjust gonna replace speedo?
thanks

Hi Zen,
Yep, I had exactly the same problem, one of the four "fingers" inside the reset mechanism that pulls the numbers around to zero had snapped off, jamming the whole thing. I fixed the trip "finger" back with superglue and it now resets fine. If, as Wammers says the needle should come off the spindle, then the job is easy, if it goes the same way as mine did and you have to pull the needle and spindle out, make sure you pull it evenly so that you don't bend the spindle. Be careful when removing the plastic cover from the main binnacle, as it is very easily cracked - don't ask me how I know
Getting the spindle back in at the right position can be tricky, I used the fact that the torque converter locks up at exactly 53 mph to help me get the calibration right, along with some speed warning signs!
Good luck!