OT Anyone Know Anything About Cars?

[ShoWStoppeR]

womp womp. I have a bit of a problem. I move into my apartment in a week, and we've decided I'm going to take my car because of all my health things going on, in case of emergencies. I have a 2002 ford escort zx2, and my speedometer and odometer have stopped working. kind of necessary lol we're trying to get it in tomorrow, but if anyone could help lead us in the right direction for what could be wrong and or how to fix it that would be great! thanks!

peace, love, and happy cheering

showstopper

 

[SharkDad]

It's hard to say without know if there were circumstances behind when it stopped working.

Is it digital or analog?
Did it just suddenly stop?
Both stopped at the same time?
Did all of this happen suddenly or because of an electrical or mechanical malfunction (like a shock or something slamming into the dashboard/car)

If both stopped there is a good chance something happened to the cable/sensor that turns the speedometer/odometer, but that is a very general possibility. You need to have it fixed because if the odometer reading becomes suspect, then it may show up on your vehicle history as a tampered odometer and that would be bad. Besides the fact it is hard to know how fast you're going, of course.

PM me with more specifics or maybe someone else has a better idea.

Good luck

 

[ufomom]

I'd go with Sharkie's advice

In the meantime, if you have a GPS, try putting it on your dash without any directions showing...just the street map showing that you are driving. Mine shows my speed when I have it in that mode.

 

[ufomom]

If it's digital, could it be a blown fuse? Asking Sharkdad here, have no idea.

 

[SharkDad]

If the display is blank, then it could be a fuse. If so, then replacing the blown fuse would recover the display and the speedometer and odometer would be normal.

I assumed she knows they stopped working because the numbers stopped increasing. Digital or not if she can see the display then most likely it's something mechanical.

 

[Just-a-Mom]

It's hard to say without know if there were circumstances behind when it stopped working.

Is it digital or analog?
Did it just suddenly stop?
Both stopped at the same time?
Did all of this happen suddenly or because of an electrical or mechanical malfunction (like a shock or something slamming into the dashboard/car)

If both stopped there is a good chance something happened to the cable/sensor that turns the speedometer/odometer, but that is a very general possibility. You need to have it fixed because if the odometer reading becomes suspect, then it may show up on your vehicle history as a tampered odometer and that would be bad. Besides the fact it is hard to know how fast you're going, of course.

PM me with more specifics or maybe someone else has a better idea.

Good luck

I was going to say the same thing - cable/sensor, especially if it's both that stopped working. But yes, more info would help. And definitely get it fixed asap because if you can't guarantee that the odometer reading is accurate it can make the car very difficult to sell, should you ever decide to.

 

[ShoWStoppeR]

@SharkDad it is analog. we figured out it was the vehicle speed sensor that needed replaced. which, the part itself was nice and cheap, but after what i've read with other similar scenarios, its paying someone to put it in that gets ya because its close to impossible to get to. meanwhile, i took @ufomom 's advice and just used the gps
hopefully it will be done before sunday....

thank you all so much for the help, its very much appreciated!!!!

 

[SharkDad]

Hope it works out well for you.

 

[ShoWStoppeR]

Hope it works out well for you.

i drove him last night, and it was smooth cruising! i even took him to the carwash as a present hahaha

 

[SharkDad]

what's his name?

 

[ShoWStoppeR]

what's his name?

his name is bullet bill

 

[lakerfantlc]

when my sons odometer stopped working...no one would work on it and he can't sell it cuz the millage is wrong....I pray your situation ends better...good luck and take care