Accordloser

My fiance has a 1994 2dr. EX accord (5 spd. MT). Recently, the spedometer quit working (it gets "stuck" around 20 mph, neither the odometer nor trip odometer work). Every once in a while it will all of a sudden start working (along with the odometer / trip odometer). Even when it's not functioning properly, the needle drops to zero when the car is turned off. Check engine light has not come on at all. I've searched these threads as well as google groups... From what I've read, it is either a VSS problem, or a electrical problem with the panel behind the dash. Problem is, I don't know what the VSS looks like. Only thing I've consistantly heard is that it has 3 wires (ground, 12V, and 5V). I've read that if you unplug the VSS and the speedometer drops to zero (quits working all together) then the VSS is bad. Thus my two questions are:

1) Is what I've read about unplugging the VSS accurate?
2) Where exactly is the VSS in a 94 EX (and what does it look like)?

Thanks in advance for the help!

Accordloser

Here's some photo's I found for a '90 model accord.... is this going to be anywhere close to similar to my 94 EX model??

http://www.cybertrails.com/~be...2.jpg

http://www.cybertrails.com/~be...d.jpg

lsintegra9

my dads 94 ex accord is doing the same thing. keep us updated.

93CivicDxer

Your speed sensor went out or is going out

look under your car under the passenger side in the front there should be a line going into the transmission ............yull see it

Accordloser

Well, my fiance picked up a VSS from Honda yesterday.... obviously had been re-packaged (which makes me skeptical about the results, or lack there of). I installed it anyway (for those who are curious where the VSS is.... it's behind the engine almost directly below the fuel injectors), but the problem persists. I took it back off and am going to return it today. Honda said it needs a new speedometer (which, conveniently, is $60 more than the VSS).

Does anyone have any experience installing speedometers? I assume I'm going to have to remove the dash...

audiphile

I have a similar problem on my 94 LX AUTO..

speedometer only works intermittently, as well as the fuel guage, which makes me think:
1. speedometer
2. loose ground somewhere

any ideas?

TouringAccord

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Accordloser &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Does anyone have any experience installing speedometers? I assume I'm going to have to remove the dash...</TD></TR></TABLE>

If that is the problem and you need to replace the speedo, you will need to remove the guage bezel that surrounds the guages and heater controls. I can't remember where all the screw are to remove it but that will need to be removed along with the associated parts. Once you have that off you will see the guage cluster. I think there are four screws that hold it in there. Remove those screws and the cluster should come free. I can't remember which way you have to flip it to unplug the wires but I'm sure you can figure that out. Once all the plugs on the back are unplugged then you can remove the cluster. Once it's out there should be some plastic tabs on the top and bottom that you will need to pop free. oh, you will also need to remove the end of the trip reset thing on the front of the cluster(sorry for the varque description, can't think of what to call it). Once that is done the front cover should come off. Once you have it off you will need to flip the cluster over and unscrew the (i think) 3 screw on the back in the middle holding the speedo assembly in. Once that out just replace the with the new one and reassemble everything in the reverse order. If I gave some misinformation anywhere please correct me. Hope this helps.

edit:
I just realized this is how I did the one in my Civic, I'm trying to think if it's that much different than my Accord. It's been a while since I took the Accord one apart. I think it is similar with some differences. I think one difference might be that there might be a cover that surrounds the guages after you remove the guage cover. I'm sure someone will correct my mistakes.

Accordloser

Thank you for your help! When you say "guage bezel" are you refering to the plastic / molding that covers the instrument panel (as in the heater / air conditioner / fan etc.. controls)? Also, once the cluster is free, will it slide out above the steering column?

TouringAccord

yeah, the "bezel" is the plastic piece the surround the guages, heater *****, vents, ect. And to get the cluster out just tilt your steering column down as far as it will go, it probably won't go very far but it will give you some more room to move around. When I did my Accord the steering wheel was removed but when I did my Civic the steering wheel was still there with no tilt. So just tilt your column down and you should have no problems.

hotstartup

speed sensor. you should repalce it, i hear that after a while this does affect/harm the ecu

charlie95

I'm pretty sure you'll need to remove the center console as well to get to all the screws under the radio/ashtray area. It's not too bad but lot's of screws. Good Luck!

TouringAccord

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by charlie95 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm pretty sure you'll need to remove the center console as well to get to all the screws under the radio/ashtray area. It's not too bad but lot's of screws. Good Luck!</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm almost positive that you don't need to remove the center console.

Nataku

i had the same problem with my 92... i was told to replaced the speed sensor but infact it was actually a bad ground wire running to the speed sensor.

Accordloser

Thank you all for the reply... incidentally, in searching for how to disable the airbag, I found a step by step proceedure for removing the instrument cluster on any 1984 to 1995 accord or prelude:

http://www.autozone.com/servle...1.jsp

Thanks for all the help fellas. I'll let you know if the new speedometer fixes my problem.

Atheist

I would bet that itd be a ground, or the vss its self. I have a VSS I will sell to you for pretty cheap for an accord, and I can tell you where it is and how to install it, also. You don't have to do anything with the cluster to fix a vss.

TouringAccord

I don't know. I dought that the steering wheel would need to be removed. I have to take a look at my Helms and see. Can anyone confirm if the steering wheel needs to come off to remove the cluster. I just don't want you to go through more work than you need.

rival12

Yeah I don't think its the speed sensor, they replaced mine and that did nothing, then i replaced the cluster Gauge, and it works perfect

rival12

Check Out a Junkyard, and find a cluster

Accordloser

Thanks for the help.... new speedometer did the trick (and with no left over parts! ). All the info from autozone.com was awesome. Threre were several times I had to go back and look for screws I couldn't see. Overall, the replacement took about 2½ hours start to finish. Taking the instrument bezel off required me to...

1) remove the golve box (to disable the passanger side airbag)
2) remove the center arm rest / cup holder (the little crap holder in between the seats)
3) remove the center console (which required the removal of the plastic under the steering wheel)

That alone took me an hour to figure out (didn't have drawings for all that)!

The instrument cluster was a tight squeeze, but I got it out without having to take the steering wheel apart. Incidentally, it went back in much easier.

Thanks again for all your help!

TouringAccord

Glad it all worked out for you.

Schmitey

Here's an excellent FYI/troubleshooting guide for everybody

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=933234

lsintegra9

Accordloser: where did you get the new speedometer? and how much was it? i would love to fix my dads car now that i know what is wrong with it.
thanks
mike

Accordloser

Mike:

I just went to the Honda dealer. The speedometer was around $170.00. Be sure to call around to different dealerships... I found quite a price difference between dealers. I'm sure you could find one at a junk yard, but it would be a lot of work (you'd basically be doing the job twice) and there's no guarantee it's even good.

Good luck!