help....odometer just quit

m.cakes · 09-23-2002, 01:23 AM

aight well check this out...i was on my way back from nopi today and i was like 45 minutes away from home when all of a sudden i noticed my odometer wasnt working....im assuming that it hasnt been working for at the most a week...cuz i dont drive my car that much....since im in school now....but anyways...my speedometer works its just the odometer....anyone have any idea what it could be...ive heard that its illegal to ride like this so...but i really could care less...im never going to sell the car....but like i said i need to get it fixed...help me out..thanks

jake

wolfman · 09-23-2002, 02:34 AM

It's fixable..but a pain. There is a little pin that functions as an axle for the odmeter numbers to turn on. It also holds the rotating dials in the proper location for them to be turned by the electric motor that drives them in responce the signal from the PCM in relation to the data recieved from the speed sensor in the transaxle. SOMETIMES you can CAREFULLY disassemble the instrument cluster and odometer and snap the pin back into place. A better..easier method is to replace the entire cluster with a used one OR order new with the correct mileage already set on it from Saturn. Operating the vehicle with a non-functional odometer is not illegal per se'..however when and if you decide to trade or sell the car..it MUST be listed as "actual mileage unknown" reducing it's "book value" automatically by a minimum of 50%. OH, and IF you decide to attempt to repair the odometer DO NOT be tempted to "roll back" the mileage. There are built in "tamper indicators" that will reveal themselves permanantly if you try to turn the dials by hand.

m.cakes · 09-23-2002, 02:47 AM

well if i were to get a used one how do you set it to the correct mileage...without tampering it...and if i were to take the cluster out how hard is it from that point on....thanks

jake

wolfman · 09-23-2002, 03:39 AM

It might be a good idea to check with your State DMV office. Most states allow the installation of another odometer to replace the defective old one PROVIDED a State issued sticker is applied to the door jam..indicating the mileage of the car on the old odometer AND the mileage on the new (or used) one that replaced it. Hence "disclosure" and a way out of the "original mileage unknown". trap.

Joeybagodonuts · 09-24-2002, 12:48 AM

wrong, its the little red gear that runs both the trip meter and odometer, many, like 90% fail when you hit the reset button and your trip meter reads "000" i see HUNDREDS OF these fail and it is ALWAYS the little red gear and truely 90% are at 000
obtaining the little red gear is the trick and whats next to impossible, speedo repair shops do rebuilds, charging you 200.00 for the freaking gear.
saturn charges over 400.00 and refuses to address this issue which i knew full on by 96.
we have ground down helicopter gears from hobby shops, looked all over creation for the proper gear, ****ing a, very furstrating we cant EVEN sell the damn things as we constantly are in need of working ones, you hit that trip meter, POW, that gear disingrates.
anyway, after removing the cluster and face plate when you get into the guts youll see the odo cluster, theres 4 small philips head screws holding it in, remove it carefull and gently, but really, its made NOT to spin so its not gonna fall apart, and there on the side youll see the little red gear. broken, as they all are.

m.cakes · 09-24-2002, 01:30 AM

so what can i do.....i need to get it fixed...but i dont want to pay an arm and a leg...also joey this is jake that ordered the window regulator last week...thanks

jake

Joeybagodonuts · 09-24-2002, 02:29 PM

hi jake, cool man, your reg is on its way, but back to your odo problem, by the way is it set at 000 on the trip meter? just curious.
if you open it up as i described best bet is to take the gear to hte biggest hobby shop in your area you can find and see if they can match it, youd be surprised at how helpful many counter guys are at these stores. next, beg a speedo shop to sell you just the gear needed.
ill keep an eye out for a working one but they are rare, almost all of them are broke and set at what? 000 of course, lol

m.cakes · 09-24-2002, 02:39 PM

yeah i did reset it when i noticed that it wouldnt work anymore...so...if i take it apart...i can fix it???........and on a scale from 1-10 how hard is this project......thanks joey...later

jake

Joeybagodonuts · 09-24-2002, 02:46 PM

removing the cluster is easy, taking it apart for the average guy shouldnt be to hard, it simply snaps apart realy, getting the odo out of there like i said is 4 screws, once out the little red gear is right htere on the side and very visible, the hardest parts going to be finding a replacment gear that will work!

m.cakes · 09-24-2002, 02:51 PM

the gear exist right...heh...do most hobby shops carry these gears and do i just take the red gear to them and just ask if they have a gear like this...or what...about how much for this little gear...thanks for your help joey..

jake