Vs speedo not working..did before rwc...dont trust mechanic...please help

[strikewon]

I recently purchased a VS Executive Series II for a modest price from a small car dealer.
I tested it and it ran well so i made a deposit and he sent it off for rwc and rego....
When i picked up the car the speedo was no longer working and the mechanic that done the roadworthy said hed fix it but its ages away and i dont particularly trust him anyway...
i have a few mates with workshops and extensive knowledge but it seems like a pretty easy job seeing as it couldnt be a major fault because i saw it working not 3 weeks ago.... BEFORE ROADWORTHY BUT NOT AFTER !?!? lol.
I have tried changing the cluster for a working one (although the original does have a break in one of the circuits i duct taped some tin foil to connect it...does this even work!?) all the wires look sweet all the other gauges are working i am hoping for a reasonably easy fix or any advice...PLEASE HELP!!!...Cheers

[Brett_jjj]

Try doing an error code check to see if any sensors (like the speed sensor) are throwing up an error code.Checking error codes VR/VS (Revised)

[strikewon]

will have a try at this althought i think my mate already had...he was checking the fuses with a multi meter??? i think...im not two knowledgable on this stuff but it was like a cable with a metal tip and a clear thing that lit up....he checked all the fuses with it...is this what you are suggesting??

[strikewon]

will have a try at this althought i think my mate already had...he was checking the fuses with a multi meter??? i think...im not two knowledgable on this stuff but it was like a cable with a metal tip and a clear thing that lit up....he checked all the fuses with it...is this what you are suggesting??

[Brett_jjj]

will have a try at this althought i think my mate already had...he was checking the fuses with a multi meter??? i think...im not two knowledgable on this stuff but it was like a cable with a metal tip and a clear thing that lit up....he checked all the fuses with it...is this what you are suggesting??

Go into the link I posted above and scroll down near the bottom of the posts.There is some excellent pictures that will show you exactly what I mean.The very top post in the link tells and explains the actual test.The test is easy to do and is very handy when trying to find problems with your car.Its not done with a multimeter either.Just a paperclip or similar and it will flash up all different engine management (ECU) fault codes on the engine light on your dash.

[strikewon]

ill give it a try tonight or tomorrow and tell you how it goes...cheers for your help mate

[strikewon]

just tried it and it worked as it should of it flashed once a second pause then twice...any other suggestions??

[strikewon]

still a handy thing to know about thanks for that!!!

[bandit10]

did you wait for it to flash 12, 3 times? it will flash 12 12 12 then any stored codes 3 times each then back to 12 when all codes have been displayed.

Does the car still drive ok and change gears as it should?
If the answer is yes then it wont be the vehicle speed sensor at fault as brett suggested, no speed sensor = no gear change

[strikewon]

i dont fully understand the whole "12" and numbers that your talking about but i got 1 flash a second pause then 2 more flashes which i think is a 12 which means everythings in order there right??...the car drives fine everything works well except the speedo and the speed sensor, as i said ive tried changing the cluster and fixing a break in a circuit in the original one with tin foil and duct tape (still unaware if that works??) so it must be something from behind the cluster ....something unplugged...damaged or under the bonnet?? cheers for your interest! any other suggestions?

[Brett_jjj]

i dont fully understand the whole "12" and numbers that your talking about but i got 1 flash a second pause then 2 more flashes which i think is a 12 which means everythings in order there right??

It will flash the code 12 (one flash then the 2 flashes) three times,then flash any stored errors (if any errors are logged)..Let it go through for a minute or two to see if theres any error codes logged after it flashes up the code 12 three times at the start.If it just keeps repeating code 12 over and over there are no stored error codes.

[strikewon]

then this is not the issue...ive got no error codes

[Brett_jjj]

Its probably the cluster itself.

[hako]

Questions - does the tripmeter work?.....does the speed alert work?

[strikewon]

speed alert doesnt work....i dunno if thats different to the speed sensor but that what i referred to it as earlier....what is the tripmeter?? if you mean the kms then no

[Garth]

do the vs clusters suffer the same fault the vn's and vp's have with the cog on the back of the cluster that the speed needle sits on actualy fails and shreads its self?

[strikewon]

i was thinking this could be a problem (actually inside the cluster) but the fact i put a completly different cluster in and it still didnt work pretty much rules that out anyway....weird....keep shootin ideas lads im hoping to figure this one out without the mechanic but chances are looking slimmer

[strikewon]

think i found a fix...... How to fix speedo VS Commodore.... for anyone with the same problem you should really try this!!!!!

[hako]

do the vs clusters suffer the same fault the vn's and vp's have with the cog on the back of the cluster that the speed needle sits on actualy fails and shreads its self?

They do....mine is busted right now!....the new plastic gear is on the bench ready to fit.

[hako]

think i found a fix...... How to fix speedo VS Commodore.... for anyone with the same problem you should really try this!!!!!

If your speed alert is also not working, the above link may not help because if your speedo had a bad circuit board, the speed alert should still work.....and your's doesn't.
Maybe you should check the vehicle speed sensor located on the transmission - this sends the speed signal to both the speed alert and speedo and if it is buggered or the connector cable is missing or damaged neither will work.
Good Luck.

[strikewon]

well i did this and i did get accurate readings last night but it was very jumpy (working when it wanted to) and the distance went up by 2kms...this is definatley a solution because its the first ive seen it work but todays its not working...think i have to try again

[strikewon]

i redid it and it works perfect now...great!!! cheers for your help still wondering about the coolant stuff and this weird gurgling noise tho.

[Brett_jjj]

So what was the problem you found with it?

[strikewon]

there was minor brakes in the circuit for the speed gauge/sensor under the green plastic on the back of the cluster (probably damaged when the mechanic was doing the roadworthy....musnt have taken much care when taking it in and out!!!) i carefully shaved back the plastic with a razor so the copper was exposed and taped down thin strips of folded foil over the broken parts of the circuit in order to reconnect them and wallah!!! i have a working speedo... saves buying a new cluster or taking it to a mechanic and having them charge you for the labour aswell (piece of piss to take the dash components apart) as long as your careful! apparently there is a copper based paint you can use like white out in the same manner which conducts electricity..then you would just put clear nail polish over it although i called up a few stores..hardware,electronics,paint stores but couldnt find it...you can order it online i think, anyway there is a link to a detailed "how to" in on of my previous posts which showed me how to do all of this.

[Conwaysinc]

i had the same problem but mine still not working lol, mine stopped when i took it out put LED's in and put back in, lost cruise control speed alert , speedo, tripmeter dad reckons my circuit is fine tho, but there is no breaks just breaks in the plastic, lol some of the copper has little scratches in it, but my tacho and shit works so yeah