Speedometer gear in trans?

[GSX HP]

I have been trying to fix my not-working speedometer for 2-3 months now. I have replaced the Sensor twice, and still nothing happened. I replaced the entire gauge cluster, still nothing. I took it to a mechanic and $70 later he said he thinks its the gear in the tranny that spins the sensor. I drove the car home, and noticed the speedometer was working!!! As I was about to pull into my driveway I noticed it wasn't working anymore , so I drove it around the block and did some sharp turns hoping something would magically fall into place, but no.

Well, I stuck my finger down in the hole where the sensor is, and I found that the teeth on the plastic gear inside seem to be fine. But I noticed I could move the gear in several directions freely, and I am wondering if that's normal. Either way, what should I do to fix this thing? Thanks.

P.S. I can spin the sensor with the car running and the speedometer registers, so It must me a transmission problem.

 

[VelocitàPaola]

I'm having a similar problem as you...

For the longest time, my speedometer wouldn't accurately represent the car's speed. I thought it was just the sensor, because the teeth on the sensor and on the gear were fine. I also checked the cluster, so I knew the gauge itself was fine.

I finally got around to replacing the sensor, and it worked for a short while, but then started acting up again. Now I'm beginning to think it's the connection between the sensor and the plug on the wiring harness. I didn't have time to test my theory before I left my car again, but when I get back home, I'm going to hardwire the harness to the sensor by soldering everything together and eliminating the plug.

Perhaps your problem is similar?

 

[Locke]

But I noticed I could move the gear in several directions freely, and I am wondering if that's normal.

Maybe the slightest, front and back, but not with your finger. Left and right should have no play. It seems to me (lest im reading this wrong) your speedo's ring gear on the differential broke free.

 

[djjohns55]

The speedometer gear has two or three teeth on the inside of it to lock onto the shaft. It should be able to move back and forth but left and right very minimally. It sounds like one of the teeth are broken on the inside of the gear or your gear may need to be aligned correctly on the shaft that it sits on.

The only way that I know to fix this problem is to drop the tranny and remove the bolts out of the bell housing and remove it and look at the gear.

 

[Hotroddakota]

well i had the issue as well in my eclipse and found out that if i wedged something like a shop rag in the rear roll mount between it and the sensor angling it towards the rear of the car even slightly it worked not the perfect fix but it worked for three weeks now no prob.