The Speedometer is an instrument used to know instant speed measurements on vehicles when driving. Maintaining the proper speed limit when driving is one of the numerous factors that contribute to road safety. If the Speedometer on your automobile stops working, you may not know your driving speed. This could be dangerous on a road where maintaining a low speed is necessary for safe driving.
On the other side, the Odometer is a device that keeps track of the miles traveled by a vehicle. It is located in the speedometer part of the dashboard. The Odometer not only assists the driver in keeping track of the distance traveled, but it also comes in handy when purchasing a car on the secondary market. The mileage displayed on the main Odometer will inform you whether a relatively new car at a reasonable price is worth it.
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The difference between an odometer and a speedometer
Numerous road users think that the Speedometer and the Odometer are the same devices since they both have the same mechanism. Both are also mounted on the same panel. These are, in fact, different devices that function differently.
To determine the speed of a vehicle, a speedometer is required. However, the Speedometer does not record anything when the particular vehicle is not in motion. When a vehicle is moving, the Odometer records the distance covered by the car over its operation.
A digital car odometer that doesn’t work
Both the car odometer and the Speedometer are fixed at the same place and are easily visible. However, the speedometers are sufficiently defined. The Odometer can sometimes fail to work. In most cases, this happens when the particular car hits 200,000 miles of travel. The plastic gears that drive an analog odometer tend to snap, causing the Odometer to cease turning. The issue can, however, be corrected easily.
On the other side, the Speedometer functions normally as it does not have any issues. The Odometer usually turns the gears, which are made of plastic. After a certain duration of spinning, the plastic gear teeth wear out, making the Odometer spin nothing, thus not working. Several easy steps can help fix your faulty Odometer and make your automobile perform excellently.
Steps on how to fix a Digital car Odometer that does not work
The Odometer stops functioning when the Odometer’s internal gear wears out. Driving a car with its Odometer not functioning creates an uncomfortable feeling. It is thus essential to fix the problem, which can be done easily. The process may not require any specialized tools, but one should permanently damage the Odometer.
The following are the steps to follow when fixing the Odometer;
1. If necessary, replace the Odometer’s speed sensor
It will be necessary to replace the speed vehicle’s sensor when its Odometer stops working or does not spin anymore. The speed sensors are fixed near the transmission’s rear part and are easily accessible. A broken odometer creates a high probability that its gears are broken as well. Ensure you remove the instrument cluster to access the gears.
It would be helpful if you gained simple skills before fixing the speed sensors, which is a simple task.
2. Remove any dust particles present
Once you have the cluster out, remove any dust particles and stains. This is made possible by the use of compressed air. Use a piece of fabric cloth to wipe the translucent plastic gently. One can also upgrade and add a few headlamps to the car’s cluster lighting system since it’s now open. You can also repair or replace the car’s heater. That way, your vehicle will serve you longer before experiencing any more problems in the future.
3. Change the gears
Once the cluster is opened, one can easily notice several plastic clips; one is usually small while the other is colored blue. Use a flathead screwdriver to remove the engine, allowing some fuel to come out. You need to insert the screwdriver beneath it in this manner to remove the black gear and toss it out to examine the differences. You’ll notice some cracks on the plastic clip and the broken black gear.
The gear is broken due to the missing teeth, necessitating the replacement of the black gear with the new one. Ensure that you remove all the old components before fixing the new white gear; this prevents the newly fixed gear from jamming up. It is also vital to tightly fix the white gear, preventing the fragile plastic part from breaking.
4. Examine the back of the dashboard connector
Check the connection at the rear side of the panel to confirm that both the connector and the visual test are properly fitted. To verify that a rating fuse is available that could also worry you, examine the 1st Fuse box. You can start with the fuses. The ECM may sometimes require scanner software for it to be written or coded. This way, it easily accepts the connection.
5. Incorrect size of the fuse
It could have been easier to use the correct size of the fuses. Let’s try looking at the incorrect fuse size; for example, suppose you have a 15-fuse and require a fuse of 25. Additionally, if you decide to drive, you will likely discover an error and need to retrieve your steps and correct the errors. Another issue that may contribute to these problems is unreliable cluster relays.
6. Defective cable or ECU
One reason the car odometer doesn’t work is a faulty wire. For various purposes, the wires are shortened to enable the fuse to burn out and help stop the Odometer operation. It mainly exists in older vehicles. A weak wire is one reason why the speed meter of the car doesn’t work.
Another factor may be the Engine Control Unit. It functions as the critical unit of the motor functions. It functions as the car’s computer brain. It monitors and regulates numerous motor operations such as RPM. In most cases, the Odometer can provide inaccurate reading, which is caused by ECU issues.
If the ECU causes the problem, you should restart it to repair the problem temporarily. Note that the ignition key is rotated at the ‘Auxiliary’ location after the initial installation of the machine. It enables the ECU to initiate the cycle and adapt to the other electric machines.
After a certain mileage, every car requires routine maintenance. Over a certain period, the specific car systems and mechanisms that need to be repaired or used for a longer time should be replaced with new ones. A prudent buyer should always pay close attention to the car’s condition, especially a second-hand vehicle. It includes also having a close look at the Odometer. For a reasonable mileage, it will indicate when the vehicle was serviced.
Conclusion
Issues with the Odometer on older vehicles are extremely prevalent. As discussed above, there are various possible causes of the odometer issues. Such problems could be dust in the odometer system, faulty cables, incorrect fuse size, and broken gears. Such issues make the Odometer not spin, bringing about a bad feeling to the driver.
Above, there are various helpful solutions that on the application will help one get rid of their car’s odometer issues. It is vital first to find the causes of the problem before you begin to eliminate the problem. If the process seems to challenge you, it would best help if you consult a professional to eliminate the problem.
