Discovery I Speedo

[Bubbles]

I have a 98 300tdi Discovery that I wouldn't replace with anything. It has been reliable, economical, comfy, fast (compared to my County diesel) but THE SPEEDO CUTS OUT!! It only does it occasionally, usually on the highway or when I have slowed for a town (but this probably means nothing). Sometimes it just flickers up and down a couple of times, sometimes it jumps around for miles, sometimes it drops to zero and doesn't return for an hour or so. But it always comes back - it drives me nuts.

I have had dealers and sparkies look at it. A connection clean, a wink, a 'she'll be right now' and $60-120 later and the damned things drops out again.

Anybody had this happen and been able to fix it?

[/b]

[Scouse]

That's the trouble with intermittent problems like this - I'm sure it's always working when you leave the workshop.

They're a fairly simple system. There's a transducer at the transfer case for the signal & then it's just wiring up to the speedo head.

Does the odometer still work when the needle doesn't ?
If it does, it'll be in the speedo head.

The transducer would be my bet though if all the connections have been tested. An electrician should be able to hook up a LED test light to check the transducer though. See if he'll hook it up as close as possible to the transducer & then run it inside the car. While you're driving, you will be able to monitor the problem. If the light still works while your speedo doesn't, then the transducer's OK.

[DEFENDERZOOK]

<span style="color:blue">dont the d1 discos have the cable drive with the famous angle drive.....?</span>

[BigT]

No Zook they dont
mine did this coupla years ago,used to jump then be ok for awhile then died . it was the transducer, $140 & 10 minutes later ,all fixed been fine eva since

[Caveman]

Mine also did this a couple of times......
I just pulled the connector apart, and sprayed some WD-40 in it.

Since then it hasn't happened again.
I guess it could be a sign that the transducer is on it's way out.
If it happens again, I'll probably replace it...but $140 is still expensive. :roll:

[BigT]

Yep but a necessity https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[Pedro_The_Swift]

worried about this a couple of years ago---
has since stopped stopping https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

still wavers 5 kays around though :?

[Bubbles]

Does the odometer still work when the needle doesn't ?
If it does, it'll be in the speedo head.

When the speedo stops the odometer stops which from what you're saying would indicate the transducer is faulty. Given the diagnostic cost each time you visit a sparky I don't reckon $140 is that bad, especially when it comes away still faulty.

I'll follow through the transducer line - thanks for the advice Scouse.

[Bubbles]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>Does the odometer still work when the needle doesn't ?
If it does, it'll be in the speedo head. [/b][/quote]
When the speedo stops the odometer stops which from what you're saying would indicate the transducer is faulty. Given the diagnostic cost each time you visit a sparky I don't reckon $140 is that bad, especially when it comes away still faulty.

I'll follow through the transducer line - thanks for the advice Scouse.

[James Riddell]

Does the transducer require lubrication before installation? It comes dry, and appears to be plastic.

[AK83]

I had a similar-ish problem with mine for a while too.

Mine would be sluggish to start with, then drop out, then come good.
I checked the transducer doodad in the transfer case.

Turned out to be 3 screws on the back side of the speedo not screwed in tightly and making an intermittent connection electrically for the speedo.

There are 3 (I think)flat head screws, maybe brass or copper that hod speedo tight to the housing, but also make the connection.

I'd be checking them first.