Instument Cluster...part 2 of "$%*#in' car"!!
#24
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Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Louisiana
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Originally Posted by 89BonnieSE89
Did you run into the same wonky 9'* on the odo and trip Tim?
O and when I to0k apart the cluster the other day, it seems that the odometer is very simple, and shouldn't be hard to fix.
#25
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Originally Posted by 89BonnieSE89
Check up in techinfo, there are instructions by Andy Green, on how to pull the dash of a 92+
I assume we're talking about the plastic rolling-numbers odometers, not the fluorescent display. I think what you're going to find is that the odometers are driven by little step motors that react to a pulse counter... somewhere... that counts drivetrain pulses and kicks the odometer motor every now and then, which turns the number reels, but in its old age, it doesn't have enough oomph left in it to push more than one reel at a time, such as when it'* trying to roll over from 9.9 to 10.0, etc. Probably the same feed that drives the speedometer, I guess. (I'm also assuming here that the '87-'91 series don't still use the old speedometer cables, right?)
So anyhow, a little cleaning and lube of the rolling numbers might help; they're probably dried out and baked by now. If you're good with small parts you can dismantle the whole thing and get it back together again. Promise you'll write down your mileage before you start...
Also, back in the mid-'80s, Pontiac had a lot of problems with those odometer step motors going bonkers and actually running _backwards_ sometimes. My sister'* '86 Sunbird would do this every now and then while she was driving; she had no idea what the mileage really was when she sold it.
#26
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True Car Nut
while you are in there if you ever are, look for a cracked or broken gear. i had that same problem with the nines and all too and it turned out to be a cracked gear that was jamming the whole system. if it is the motor, here is something that can confirm that it is the motor. drive around for a while, and reset the trip meter every mile or so. if the odometer rolls a number without a problem, but cant shove the trip meter, then you might just have to open up the cluster(4.5mm socket i believe) and find your cracked culprit. you may think that the odometer uses the tenth mile/kilometer of the tripmeter, but it doesnt. it has one of its own. if you look reallyhard, you can see it, unless you take it apart, where it resides in plain view.just remember, opening the cluster is illegal,lol, so be very careful when messing with the odometer. i fixed mine, and the numbers dont all line up now. never planned on selling it anyway, so who cares.
#27
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Originally Posted by rjolly87
just remember, opening the cluster is illegal,lol, so be very careful when messing with the odometer. i fixed mine, and the numbers dont all line up now. never planned on selling it anyway, so who cares.
#28
Senior Member
True Car Nut
oh well, what ever. just be careful. many things can go wrong, none of which any one wants to happen. make sure you have a good work area too. that is very important
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