Merry Christmas everyone!!!

I'm trying to fix my speedo. I have a 98 Civic EX, 2 dr, with 160k, stock engine, stock manual tranny, and stock wheel size.

When the car is off it reads at zero. I turn the ignition to the accessory position or on and it jumps up to about 8 mph. As I'm driving the speedo stays about 8-10 mph ahead of my actual speed.

I've tried searching this with no luck. If someone could help me out that would be great.

 

vss?

 

I sure hope not. Anyway to check before switching it out? Like with a voltmeter?

 

Remove the cluster.

Remove the speedometer.

Take a fork and very carefully wedge the fork under the needle and then pull the needle off. This will take several times and it will look like you're making no headway until it suddenly rockets the needle across the room (sometimes it will not shoot across the room).

Put the needle back on, but rest it on the little tab in there.

This could end up fixing it. If not, then you've got the cheapest repair out of the way at least.

 

I would say that it's the VSS. When the car is off it reads 0 and when powered up it reads 8, so disconnect the VSS on the tranny and then power up the car. If it still goes to 8 then chances are the cluster is screwed. If it remains at 0 then the VSS is the problem.

Make sure the grounds at the thermostat housing are good.

 

I actually was going to do this. I have it all taken apart and was going to pull the needle. I just didn't want to break it. So I figure I would check here first. Is it like glued on or what?

 

It still goes to 8 when unplugged. So I'm going to try NOFX's suggestion. Since she is mostly right and knows her stuff.

 

Okay so it stays at 0 now. I'll have to drive it around in the morning to see if this was the actual fix.

Thanks everyone for your help. Have a merry christmas.

 

Did you do the needle pull thing?

I got that information some time back from Blue Integra Boy when I was dealing with cluster repairs. He's really well-informed and helped me out when I had to pull needles off. It worked for me (different problem, but when I put my needle on the cluster it worked right, just as he'd said), so I thought it might work for you.

 

X2! I have had to do this on a used cluster I bought. After you finally pry the needle off turn the Ignition to Slot II and the put the needle on resting on the tab. Turn ignition back off and then back to slot II and see if the needle stays on zero. It fixed mine and it feels I am doing 50mph when it says I am and from judging from other cars.