Technical Speedometer & Milage display issue

[Berkshire Paddy]

Hi there,

there is my first proper post on the forum so hope I do this right !!

I have a 1999 Fiat Brava 100 HSX - 100 16v
MOT until November, full service last week. 58,000 miles.

Problem is, my speedometer has a mind of its own, sometimes it will come on ehwne the car is powered sometimes it wont ! When the needle does not move then milage display also goes very very faint.

If I tap ( or should that be bang ! ) the top of the dash eventually it will come back on, sometimes it will stay ok, othertimes it will just drop again.


I just had a full service done and asked them to check it, as originally I though it may have been just a loose connection. The garage said they took it out and reconnected everything but did not notice anything wrong. So all was ok for a few days and hey presto its back again !!

Garage said if it happened again I would need a new dash display Is that right ? if so how much do they cost ? ... or if not has anyone any other suggestions..as I really dont want to have to keep hitting my dash when driving up the M4., apart from hurting my hand I get some extremely strange looks from other drivers !

Hope someone can help,
Many thanks

Paddy

 

[T14086]

If its not VSS or connection its probably cluster,if so get one from scrapyard

 

[Berkshire Paddy]

Cheers... now stupid question time...

whats VSS and cluster ?

( i really should have been born blonde )

 

[T14086]

vehicle speed sensor & instrument cluster

 

[jug]

its probably cluster get one from scrapyard

common fault, but its cheap and easy to fix with a scrapyard part. if required, digital milage correction can be done by many mobile laptop cowboys, check your local paper.

 

[Berkshire Paddy]

Re: Speedometer & Mileage display issue

Hi again,

I have read on another forum that sometimes a speedo error can be caused by a cable problem at the gearbox ? How likely is this ?

The exact problem is that just the speedo and mileage readout section dont function when driving, and on occassion they will kick back into action randomly, or sometimes hitting the top of the dash would fix it ? However this week it has gotten worse now and iv had no speedo etc for most part of the week. Just want to be as sure as I can before getting the part sent to me from the breakers.

Big thank yo uto everyone who has replied in relation to this, i really appreciate it

Paddy

 

[jug]

Re: Speedometer & Mileage display issue

The exact problem is that just the speedo and mileage readout section dont function when driving, and on occassion they will kick back into action randomly, or sometimes hitting the top of the dash would fix it ?

your speedo is electric so there is no cable. however there is a speedo sender unit on the gearbox, and that can be the problem, however a bit of common sense tells you that if hitting the dashboard could have any effect then it cant have anything to do with a part fitted to the gearbox. plus internal faults are common on the bravo/a range of speedo's, speedo sender unit failure is less common. if hitting the dashboard worked you'd be surprised how often the proble is just a loose wire in one of the 2 connectors on the back of the panel. easily checked before you go wasting money.

 

[NoIdea]

I have the same problem as you and got help from the good folks on here. I have stripped my dash down twice and removed the instrument panel. Sprayed it up with electrical contact cleaner, all the cables, pins & connectors. Put it all back (baring a couple of annoying screws) and it worked for a couple of days. Now it is faint and doesnt record the mileage or move the speedo cable. I work my speed out from the rev counter these days. I dont know what speed is above 40mph though.

I noticed a date stamp on the back of the instrument panel of March 1999 - if getting one from a scrapyard try and get a new one lol.

I regret getting shot of my MR2 and getting my FIAT as i now have a problem with the immobiliser turning off as the car isnt reading the keys and i dont have the master red one !!!

 

[jug]

i now have a problem with the immobiliser turning off as the car isnt reading the keys and i dont have the master red one !!!

replace the loop aerial on the ignition barrel.