Has anyone experienced an instrument cluster on Civic 04 DX VP getting speedometer pointer needle getting stuck at 40mph during driving and remaining there when car is turned off? The speed seems to be displaying from the new zero point. I checked battery connections and they are OK, assuming a transient load dump may have occurred. The next day the needle was stuck at 30mph, the following day at 10mph and now returned to Zero when ignition was off.

The instrument cluster is made by Visteon and the part # is 78120-S5A-L13.
Can I swap this one with an used one from Ebay from other vehicles if problems reoccurs and fails since I can't find this particular part on Ebay and new ones are $430?

 

Hm.. odd. I'm guessing it's either a faulty cluster or a wonky VSS.

Let's start with the cluster. Try the following DIY from the FAQ's..
If you swap for a used one, get a similar one; don't get one for, say, an EX or something. Also, the mileage is stored in the cluster and not in the PCM, so try to find one with similar mileage or at least note the difference before swapping them so may inform any potential buyers of the change.

 

Thanks for your input. I'm looking on Ebay but very difficult to find one.

 

First thing I want you to check carefully is if or not the speedometer needle is physically block by the face plate of the gauge. If that is the case, you may have one of these two options to solve your problem. One, remove the light bulbs from gauge assembly so your cluster will remain dark. Another, get a new gauge assembly.

 

Is it perhaps that while inserting the warning lights the needle is pushed closer to face plate? I will order an used cluster, once I find it. There are ones for Civic EX and LX but I don't know if they can be swapped without changing wiring harness cluster connector positions.

 

What warning lights? Regardless, I doubt that is the reason the gauge cluster isn't functioning properly.

It's best to stick with something similar to what you already have instead of trying to mix-and-match.


Did you do the self diagnostic test I linked earlier?

 

The following SN only apply to your case if you have carefully check your gauge assembly as I posted last time.

A ’01–05 Civic DX or VP with a
speedometer needle that sticks or won’t go back
to zero? A warped plastic facing on the gauge
assembly could be the culprit. When the
headlights and instrument panel lights are turned
on, heat from the gauge bulbs can soften the
plastic facing, causing it to warp and block the
needle’s path. To fix this problem, replace the
gauge assembly.

If this is not your case, you may try to reset the gauge assembly before you swap any parts.