Autometer electrical speedo meter broken?

[Moabdude]

I have a covan dash with Autometer gauges.
Sometimes the Speedometer works, sometimes it doesn't. How come?
If I turn on the ignition the needle goes up and after 2 seconds it goes down. Than I start the car. Lately it fails 2 out of 3 times. is the procedure not good?

Also the oil pressure gauge and temperature gauge have problems. Sometimes they work, sometimes the don't but all independent from each other.

first think you would say is: ground.........
thats not it.

please help!

[XcYZ]

If you were having problems with only one gauge, I'd suspect it as being the problem. But, since you're seeing the same failure on 3 separate gauges, it rules that out. What is common to all 3? You said you have a good ground, but what about source voltage? Are you seeing any variations there? Where are you getting the 12V?

[HRBS]

Dont rule out a bad ground just yet.
Are the gauges grounded seperatly or pigtailed together ?
If they are pigtailed togther (one linked to another to another etc then grounded) you may encounter your exact symptom.
Also check to see if your signal wires are "clumped togther". They should run seperate and not zip tied as a bunch. This sometimes causes signal interference.

[Moabdude]

My problem is solved --> I sold the car

[69MyWay]

Me too. I am having a speedo problem that is driving me a but nuts in my 69 Camaro. I'm running the pro comp utla lite 3 3/8" as well.

I bought all the gauges new in 2004. They have worked well except the fuel gauge that is always slow to register unless you tap on the face or go down the road a while. My 69 Vette with the same gauge does the same thing.

The speedo a few weeks ago got notchy, then dropped. The trip odometer continued to work. I yanked it and mailed it in. They were promt to call me and tell me there was a problem with the gauge and they would replace for free and even re-set the odometer to match!

Got the new one in...put it in the car, and now I have bigger problems.

The car won't shift with the speedo hooked up...AND it doesn't work - but the trip odometer still runs. I have a LS1 with 4L60E in the car. The gauge is grounding out the speed signal. Now...the original gauge just quit reading, there were no driving issues with the transmission.

Called Autometer up. They told me to try a 1K and a 3.7K resistor in line to see if it woud trip. The good news is the 1K resistor allowed the trans to shift, but no speedo reading. The 3.7 kills it just like nothing is there.

So, I put the Snap On Tech II scanner on. I'm getting a perfect reading from the trans speed sender with the gauge unhooked. It picks right up a 1 mph etc. etc. When I plug in the guage it reads ZERO to the PCM and the trans won't shift right. With the 1K resistor in there...I don't pick up any speed signal to the PCM until about 8 mph.

Anyway...they are telling me to force a ground at the speed signal sensor on the grounded side under the car..then test again.

Oh...they told me the NEW gauges have been internally redesigned to be more friendly to a wider range of OEM applications...but they are having trouble with them on GM. Hmmmm. Me thinks...GM is pretty popular, but we may be losing out to the ricer crowd.

I'm going to do what he says, ground the sender to make sure the PCM isn't having a ground issue and go again. If this doen's work (I know my signal is correct due to the scanner reading it loud and clear with the speedo UNHOOKED - I may have to find an older design speedo used and replace it that way.

[camcojb]

Originally Posted by 69MyWay

Me too. I am having a speedo problem that is driving me a but nuts in my 69 Camaro. I'm running the pro comp utla lite 3 3/8" as well.

I bought all the gauges new in 2004. They have worked well except the fuel gauge that is always slow to register unless you tap on the face or go down the road a while. My 69 Vette with the same gauge does the same thing.

The speedo a few weeks ago got notchy, then dropped. The trip odometer continued to work. I yanked it and mailed it in. They were promt to call me and tell me there was a problem with the gauge and they would replace for free and even re-set the odometer to match!

Got the new one in...put it in the car, and now I have bigger problems.

The car won't shift with the speedo hooked up...AND it doesn't work - but the trip odometer still runs. I have a LS1 with 4L60E in the car. The gauge is grounding out the speed signal. Now...the original gauge just quit reading, there were no driving issues with the transmission.

Called Autometer up. They told me to try a 1K and a 3.7K resistor in line to see if it woud trip. The good news is the 1K resistor allowed the trans to shift, but no speedo reading. The 3.7 kills it just like nothing is there.

So, I put the Snap On Tech II scanner on. I'm getting a perfect reading from the trans speed sender with the gauge unhooked. It picks right up a 1 mph etc. etc. When I plug in the guage it reads ZERO to the PCM and the trans won't shift right. With the 1K resistor in there...I don't pick up any speed signal to the PCM until about 8 mph.

Anyway...they are telling me to force a ground at the speed signal sensor on the grounded side under the car..then test again.

Oh...they told me the NEW gauges have been internally redesigned to be more friendly to a wider range of OEM applications...but they are having trouble with them on GM. Hmmmm. Me thinks...GM is pretty popular, but we may be losing out to the ricer crowd.

I'm going to do what he says, ground the sender to make sure the PCM isn't having a ground issue and go again. If this doen's work (I know my signal is correct due to the scanner reading it loud and clear with the speedo UNHOOKED - I may have to find an older design speedo used and replace it that way.

who's tranny controller are you using? I give the vss signal to my tranny controller (PCS) and use their output vss signal for the Autometer speedo. That way the trans computer gets the unaltered signal, as I need the trans to shift correctly, and the output from the trans controller runs my speedo fine.

By the way, the 04/05 speedo that was in the car when Mark built it didn't work for me, so I bought a brand new Autometer speedo a month or so ago, same style to match. Worked perfect.
Jody

[69MyWay]

Originally Posted by camcojb

who's tranny controller are you using? I give the vss signal to my tranny controller (PCS) and use their output vss signal for the Autometer speedo. That way the trans computer gets the unaltered signal, as I need the trans to shift correctly, and the output from the trans controller runs my speedo fine.

By the way, the 04/05 speedo that was in the car when Mark built it didn't work for me, so I bought a brand new Autometer speedo a month or so ago, same style to match. Worked perfect.
Jody

I am using a stock LS1 1998 F body computer to control the trans and motor. Never had a problem with shifting, etc, until I put the new guage in. Perhaps I have a weak ground. Only one way to find out.