Speedometer... it comes and goes

[ScrapnSidwayz]

I drive an 89 240. What would cause my speedometer to sometimes work and sometimes not work? I would say that it only works about 2% of the time.

Thanks,
Mike

[biggie]

Most would need to know if its digital or analog.

If digital they normally go out and need to be replaced or some electrical work.

If analong, either wiring at the cluster is messed up, cluster is messed up, or speed sensor on the transmission is bad or not connected completely.

[ScrapnSidwayz]

sorry, yeah it is analog.

[Dittoz7]

Some wire lose or corroded.

Try someone else to confirm or rule out the whole cluster it's self. They're pretty cheap from what I've seen.

Just the speed or the RPM's as well?

[ScrapnSidwayz]

its just the speed. the rpms and all the other gauges work

[AZ89two4Tsx]

I had the same problem with my S13 except it worked about 50/50.

I changed the speed sensor, and it still did the same thing. I also changed the gauge cluster as well. So...

A) The part(s) I replaced were bad as well.

B) As Dittoz said, it's a bad wire somewhere.

C) It's the actual gear in your transmission that turned the speed sensor.

I learned to live with it. I knew how fast I was going anyways. But it made my clean car feel kind of ghetto seeing how something that obvious didn't work.

[Conquerer]

I have a similar problem with my tachometer, although it is rare. I've only noticed it probably 3 or 4 times but for a few minutes it stops working properly but eventually goes back to working normal without doing anything. Not sure what it is but it isn't a big deal since it rarely happens.

[Dittoz7]

Umm would still say just get a new(used/working) cluster.

They go for like what? 20-30 dollars?

[ScrapnSidwayz]

lol aight thanks. i will try all of the above suggestions (starting with the cheapest) and see if anything fixes it.