intermittent speedomter issue

[Drusillus]

Hello. Searched but didnt find what I was looking for.

I have a 2004 Sport Trac and am having intermittent speedometer issues. At times, the speedo will drop to zero and remain at zero for miles. Then, without cause will start working again. No rhym or reason.

Today is a good example. Started the truck and pulled out of my drive way. Speedo worked till I got about a block away. Then it went to zero. Then going abouts 40mph (using my gps for mph) and 5 minutes into my drive it started working again.

The speedometer has been doing this for about 4-5 weeks now. Even at highway speeds it'll drop to zero, then miles later it will work. Shutting the truck off and restarting doesnt resolve the issue.

The odometer still tracks miles while the speedo is at zero however. Unlike when this happened to my 2007 SantaFe. On that vehicle, not even the odometer would work.

Any suggestions? The SantaFe's speedo issue would have been a costly one but it was under warranty, I hope the Fords issue isnt an expensive repair.

Thanks in advance.

 

[ncranchero]

If the odometer didn't register when the speedometer stopped I might think it was a loose connection at the VSS (Vehicle Speed Sensor) but since it continues to register I'm afraid the problem may be in the actual cluster and/or microprocessor. A scan tool that reads body DTC's will be required to even begin to diagnose it and the dealership is likely to be the only place you'll find the tools and knowledge to solve this one. Sorry for that bad news.

 

[Drusillus]

If the odometer didn't register when the speedometer stopped I might think it was a loose connection at the VSS (Vehicle Speed Sensor) but since it continues to register I'm afraid the problem may be in the actual cluster and/or microprocessor. A scan tool that reads body DTC's will be required to even begin to diagnose it and the dealership is likely to be the only place you'll find the tools and knowledge to solve this one. Sorry for that bad news.

Thanks for the info. Do you think the diagnostic would only work at the time the speedo is also not working? Or do you think there is a way to pull up a history of when the speedo wasnt working?

I'm afraid I'll take it to the dealership and it'll work the whole time there.

If I had to guess I'd say it doesnt work 20 out of 150 miles, all at random times

 

[ncranchero]

The codes should show "history" but even then intermittent troubles are a bugger to find.

 

[Drusillus]

Thank you for your help.

 

[bdmaash]

most likely it will be bad connection to the servo motor (drives the needle), or the control circuit behind it.

If you can solder (must have a good iron) take it apart and touch up the connections.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Or try a cheap replacement cluster from the boneyard (all '98-01 4 doors and sports/sport-trac's until end of production) will work. If it stops, you can swap the white facing from yours onto the other cluster if you can't find one to start with...

 

[mercer123]

What was the Solution

was there a solution to this? I am having the same issue. Checked the cluster fuses the other day. no dice.