1993 Sedan Deville – speedometer acting strange

[Benny]

I'm putting in this post in order to help a friend with a problem. He has a 1993 SDV, version 1 (equipment standard), VIN 1G6CD53B5P4328421. Problem is that the speedometer has been unstable for a while and now it has stopped adding miles to the road trip meter. It's an analogue speedometer showing miles per hour etc. This vehicle is rolling in Sweden and it would be nice to have a digital instrument where you can switch between English/Metric. Can anyone on this board advice us how to act:

1. Is it possible to replace the analogue speedometer with a digital instrument cluster, plug n' play or do you have to install any more stuff, like digital sensors etc?
2. If this (1) is a hard way to walk, do you think it's possible to get hold of a working analogue speedometer?

Thanks /Bengt

Moderator

Cadillac Club Sweden sub forum

[Dave in Texas]

The speedo uses the VSS to indicate speed. It is a electronic pulse generator geared to the output of the transmission and provides the electronic feed to the meter. Check the VSS, and it's wiring. Does the Cruise Control work properly? A Digital dash for you vehicle shouldn't be too difficult to find. There were plenty of them installed.

[Benny]

The speedo uses the VSS to indicate speed. It is a electronic pulse generator geared to the output of the transmission and provides the electronic feed to the meter. Check the VSS, and it's wiring. Does the Cruise Control work properly? A Digital dash for you vehicle shouldn't be too difficult to find. There were plenty of them installed.

Hi Dave,

Thank you very much for your info. The Cruice Control works all right, so the problem seems to be in the speedo. We managed to get hold of a digital dash on ebay from a good seller, so we just bought it. It will probably take a couple of weeks for it to arrive over here. So after that it should be just plug'n play as I understand it.

Thanks again,

/Bengt

[corkyd]

usually, speedo needle bouncing, etc.. is in the cable... age + not being lubed, makes them bind. the elctronic dash should fix the odometer issue.. ifthe feed to the electronic dash is electronic.. then your speed variance will go away.. if it uses a cable also, then you need a new cable..

[KHE]

usually, speedo needle bouncing, etc.. is in the cable... age + not being lubed, makes them bind. the elctronic dash should fix the odometer issue.. ifthe feed to the electronic dash is electronic.. then your speed variance will go away.. if it uses a cable also, then you need a new cable..

That was true for cable driven analog speedos but even the '93 Sedan deVille's speedometer needle was positioned by a stepper motor. My '86 Park Avenue's analog speedometer was electronically controlled.