# Speedless Speedometer

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/speedless-speedometer/15644>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** speedometer\
**Created:** [June 21, 2008, 3:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/speedless-speedometer/15644 "2008-06-21T15:42:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![IndyBob7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@IndyBob7](https://community.cartalk.com/u/IndyBob7)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 3:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/speedless-speedometer/15644/1 "2008-06-21T15:42:25Z")

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I have a 1996 Mustang GT. The speedometer works some of the time and some of the time the needle does not move unless I tap on the lens on the dashboard. Sometimes the needle moves to the correct speed I’m going and sometimes it moves beyond the correct speed. I must then tap the dashboard lens again to try to bring it down to the correct speed. I have replacd the speed sensor on the transmission but it did no good. Any ideas? I have been told by a mechanic that I must replace the mechanism in the dash and that could cost over $400 just for the part. Thanks.

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**Author:** ![dongkwan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c4cdca/32.png) [@dongkwan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dongkwan)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 3:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/speedless-speedometer/15644/2 "2008-06-21T15:48:23Z")

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Sounds about right. Flex cables and geared counters are history, and the “mechanism” is probably more electrical than mechanical. Not much to repair, just replace…

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**Author:** ![IndyBob7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@IndyBob7](https://community.cartalk.com/u/IndyBob7)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2008, 5:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/speedless-speedometer/15644/3 "2008-06-22T17:20:13Z")

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Thanks for the reply.

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**Author:** ![Beadsandbeads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c57346/32.png) [@Beadsandbeads](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Beadsandbeads)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2008, 5:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/speedless-speedometer/15644/4 "2008-06-22T17:42:24Z")

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Since tapping it makes it work properly, YOU might be able to take it apart and find the electrical or mechanical fault that is causing the problem. I emphasize the YOU because it probably won’t be cost-effective to pay someone else to do it.

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**Author:** ![oldschool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e19adc/32.png) [@oldschool](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldschool)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 1:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/speedless-speedometer/15644/5 "2008-06-23T01:13:26Z")

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With the cluster out look for “cold” solder joints that can be re-flowed (usually at the point on a board where a ribbon cable is attached)