240sx Speedometer/Tachometer problem

[mcpaul99]

I have a stock '96 240sx. No mods whatsoever. Still riding on factory black rims with wheel covers. But I love this car!

I've had a problem for some time with the tach. About 80% of the time, it doesn't work at all, reading zero. About 10% of the time it works. And about 10% of the time it pins back and forth from full redline to zero. I've lived with it for a few years, because I personally couldn't care less what the tach is reading. I don't race the car and I know when to shift. So while having the tach is cool, it doesn't kill me that it doesn't work.

More recently, I've had a problem with the speedometer and odometer. Mostly when I just start the car and start to drive, I notice that the speedometer doesn't work, reading zero no matter what speed I go. When that happens, the odometer doesn't turn either. I find that if I play with the trip odometer reset button, either toggle it as if I was resetting the dial or wiggle it back and forth, I can usually make it work. This only works when the car is in motion.

I shouldn't have to constantly toggle the trip odometer reset button, and frankly I don't know how much longer I can do this before it stops working altogether. Any ideas on what's causing it? Do I just need to replace the tach/speedo? If so, where can I go to get a stock one and not pay through the nose? Thanks in advance!

[Acecool]

I am no expert and can be completely wrong, but did you check the wires?

[Florida240sx]

Get a new cluster. George at powerline has some. Just replaced my friends s13. His rpm always worked, and if he would smack his dash the speedo would work... just a circuit going bad. Get new.......

[mcpaul99]

Thanks for the quick replies. I didn't check the wires, I assume that it's a solid state or integrated circuit type of wiring and there would be little I could do...maybe if there is a loose wire or short then the whole thing might be bad. I'm not even sure that I would know how to check the wires other than getting my head behind the unit and just seeing that the wires into the unit are connected.

[mcpaul99]

Okay, so I tried Powerline and they never got back to me. In the meantime, I fu**ed with the trip odometer reset button so much to make the speedometer work that I broke the button off. So now I've got a screwdriver that I shove in the hole and press what's left of the reset button whenever the speedo reads 0.

Botttom line, I need a new instrument cluster. But where can I find a new one? I'd be fearful about buying used, I might have the same issue. And are they easy enough to swap out and replace?

Thanks!

[mcpaul99]

bump

[240Guroo@ProtoMotoring]

of course check the basics. check wirng. easiet way out, replace cluster. then go from there. ur speedo is gauge is going out. worst case sensor at transmission. second, check tach wires around engine bay wiring area.

good luck you'll figure this out.

[180fan]

Changing them out is pretty easy. Just takes a little time. I think the problem may be with a hook up issue at the back of your cluster, the various gauges are held in with small screws that will give power, signal, and ground. I suspect one of those has gone loose on the back of your cluster. I'd check the Nissan Parts under the classifieds section to see if anyone's parting out an s14.

zeroforum/43

You can also make a post in the WTB section that was recently made.

zeroforum/202

[mcpaul99]

Thanks.

Maybe if I can go behind the instrument panel I can check the wiring. Does anyone have an official Nissan diagram showing screws/clips for the instrument panel for this car? The Chilton manual that I have is a combo 240sx/Altima one and the diagrams are not necessarily accurate. It says that I have to remove the airbag and steering wheel to get the panel out; and I know that's not the case.