Speedo/alert won't work - replaced cluster, still won't work

[VS Omega]

Hi all,

Recently my cluster broke (my fault, broke the ribbon cable on the back) making the speedo not work. I tried to fix it by soldering the connection directly but I know I shorted it on something (I think the adjacent pin/s).

Now I bought a new cluster and to my bitter disappointment speedo and speed alert both still will not read anything, I checked the ribbon cable on the back of the speedo and all of the other gauges are working (it's from a S1 VR going into my S1 VS).

Fuse 12 (speed signal) is not blown so please people I need more ideas about what's happened. With the ALDL cable it can show the speed on the notebook so I know not all hope is lost.Oh, and my car doesn't have cruise control. Thanks heaps for any ideas and advice... sucks not knowing how fast I'm going (and obviously illegal because I don't have a working odometer).

[hako]

You've probably checked these items below but I'll throw them in:
Is it possible that the VR S1 cluster is slightly different than the VS S1 one?.....wasn't the VS the first with the ALDL connector under the steering column....and on the VS thre is a car phone plug behind the glovebox so there may be subtle differences. Are VR and VS speed sensors identical?
Good Luck.

[VS Omega]

Thanks for replying hako, I was told that the cluster's are identical so my guess is the sensors are the same, does anyone know for certain?

[VrWagz1]

After my sagger with speedo's recently, i would just add that dont assume the new one works. I've got 2 spare broken clusters in the house now and finally got a working one in the car. Both have dud speedo's.

You can very easily pull the clusters apart, just undo the 3 screws down the bottom on the front with a flat head screw driver and undo the 2 clips at the top.
To get the individual meters out you only have to undo the brass nuts on the back of the cluster and they just lift out individualy.
To get to the circuit boards on the instruments you just got to use a folk or knife and gentely but firmly lift the needles off and undo the 2 little srews on the face plate to get into it.

[VS Omega]

Thanks for the idea VrWagz, it could be an issue with the cluster but even the speed alert doesn't work so I think it may be something else. Anyone have any more ideas?

[benny the vr]

i have a 1993 vr commodore executive which i pulled the dash out of to change the globes but once putting it all back in my speedo and my odometer doesn't work does anyone know why this would be

[88GreenVN]

i have a 1993 vr commodore executive which i pulled the dash out of to change the globes but once putting it all back in my speedo and my odometer doesn't work does anyone know why this would be

Did you plug the ribbon back into the back of the speedo?

[benny the vr]

which ribbon i didn't unplug one they all just sit in keep in mind i'm female and haven't a clue all other gauges work it's just the speedo and odometer

[88GreenVN]

which ribbon i didn't unplug one they all just sit in keep in mind i'm female and haven't a clue all other gauges work it's just the speedo and odometer

OK - I'd look over the green backing of the cluster to see if any of the copper tracks/contacts are damaged. They are fragile if the coating is scratched off