URGENT: Buying a GSX. Concerns?

[Brockalishis]

Tomorrow I'm driving an hour away to check out a GSX. It has 56k Original miles on the chasis and a "recent rebuild and turbos".

Sounds great right? My concren: He said the tachometer and speedometer are always at 0. Why could this happen? Does it mean that the odometer is broken too and has many more miles that the 56k?

 

[GSX_beast]

My 97 GSX has a busted speed sensor connector, so I pretty much just stick the end of the wires onto the prongs in the sensor. It works fine but sometimes they come loose. When this happens, my speedometer and odometer either work sporadically or not at all. I have probably put 10-12k miles on my car but the odometer says I've gone about 6k since owning it. Depending on how long it has been broken, that car could have significantly more miles than the odometer says. I would be cautious and use that tidbit of information as leverage if you are interested.

 

[Cdc1221]

What he said^. Maybe I'm wrong on dsms, but isn't the tach signal derived from the coils, not the speed sensor. Could be a chronic case of screwed up instrument cluster. Which could leave you in the dark on mileage, or the odo could actually work? Best thing, drive it and see if it does count mileage. See if it actually drive s good. At this stage, with these cars being old and becoming increasingly hard to find in decent condition, worth is placed more on soundness and physical quality, not mileage. Although, as stated, could be a leverage point.

 

[Brockalishis]

Thanks guys. Can I get a confirmation on that though? That a faulty speed sensor won't affect the tachometer?

 

[Insane20]

Low mile dsms are like finding gold. If it's actually got low miles and not a whole lot of mods i would be all over that.

 

[white lighting]

Sounds like cluster is bad if tach and spedo both aint working. I have seen low mileage gsx like that go for over 10k.

 

[BlackTsi1992]

Did he mention why it had a recent rebuild? I'm just curios with only 56k and needed a rebuild. It can happen I know that but a good question to ask.

 

[Brockalishis]

You guys are all giving me great answers!! Definitely going to use this forum if I end up owning this GSX...

Anybody have a link where I can learn more about the gauge cluster going bad? He claims that the odometer still works, just mentioned the tach and speedo broken (stuck at 0). So I'm really hoping it's a bad gauge cluster.

 

[GSX_beast]

The tach signal comes from the coils on 1G's and I believe from the power transistor module located in the engine bay on 2gs. Don't quote me on that though. You can see the speed sensor connector on the transmission, just to the left of the clutch accumulator on top. It only takes a few minutes to stop by a shop and have them diagnose the problem. Most places won't charge especially if you do business with them. Given that, he may be hiding more than he's leading on. Let's be honest here, most people beat on these cars(myself included) and he may be trying to pass off his problems to an unsuspecting victim. Rebuild? Turbo? Something was obviously wrong with the car in the past. I flew halfway across the country to buy my dream car and it ended up costing me a lot of money repairing it. The guy mislead me and passed his problems on to me. Tread lightly my friend. And don't take any shit from him, he needs to sell it more that you need to buy it, you have the upper hand.

 

[WES_393]

A faulty speed sensor (or speedo drive cable for older models) should not effect the tachometer. If the tach and speedo are flat 0, I'd say the cluster is likely at fault. But that means the mileage doesn't mean squat. For all you know, the cluster went out 10 years ago and they just kept driving it.

Not that mileage even matters now days. The DMV here in the Springs doesn't even put it on the title anymore.

If you wouldn't mind, could you post up the for sale ad or pictures of the car?

 

[BlackTsi1992]

^^^^ exactly ask lots of questions. Why it needed a rebuild, who did the rebuild, receipts, ect. And I believe the if the speedometer needle doesn't work neither will the odometer

 

[Cdc1221]

On a single coil system, the tach signal is derived directly from the coil input. On a multi coil system, from the transistor pack. Regardless, if the odo still works, but the tach and speedo don't, its either the cluster or the power input to the cluster

 

[BlackTsi1992]

And you could always ask if you can or there's a way to drive the car even just enough to see if the odometer tenths numbers move just so you might be able to believe him that there original miles. Start it up let it run make sure it comes up to temp, try all the lights, windows, locks, heater fan, fluids are all full and that the radiator fan comes on before the car over heats .

 

[GSX_beast]

From my experience, the speedo and odometer are directly connected. I don't see the odometer working if the speedo isn't. Don't make the same mistake I did, do a good amount of research and trust your gut.

By the time I drove from Illinois to Myrtle Beach there was no more fourth gear. I'm sure they flushed the tranny with synchmesh to make it work for a short time. I didn't even stop by my house on the way back, I went straight to the tranny shop. When they put it on the lift, they discovered that the entire thing was sealed with some kind of epoxy. Definitely ghetto rigged. Luckily I bought it though eBay and they have a consumer protection policy, and I was able to get a 1000 dollars back to put towards my Shepard tranny. I think ebay ended up suing the guy with the testimony of my tranny shop. It's a black 2gb GSX 5 speed, and had 50K miles when I bought it. Who wouldn't fly across the country for that?

And if you guys could get answering my question in the maintenance section it would be greatly appreciated, .

 

[Brockalishis]

Thanks a ton guys! You all were very helpful.
I'm now researching broken gauge clusters to see if/what I'm getting into.

dsmtuners>dsmtalk

 

[BlackTsi1992]

That's the best thing to do. Research research research. If end up with a Dsm you'll be doing a lot if that. Things have been covered on here or the other forum and is the best way to learn is to keep reading.

 

[white lighting]

The tach will work with out the speedo. Speed sensor in tranny sends the signal for the spedo. The tach is separate. If you do happen to buy it I have a extra cluster I can sell you.

Pm me if you are interested in cluster.

 

[JusMX141]

Tomorrow I'm driving an hour away to check out a GSX. It has 56k Original miles on the chasis and a "recent rebuild and turbos".

He said the tachometer and speedometer are always at 0. Why could this happen? Does it mean that the odometer is broken too and has many more miles that the 56k?

No, it probably means the gauge cluster was swapped with one that reads 56K and was installed improperly.

 

[Brockalishis]

New Question!

I pulled a carfax and it shows that the mileage has continuously gone up throughout the cars life. However, it seems to jump.

1998-2001: 35,895
2001-2008: 40,679 only 5k miles in 7 years! (in 2008 it failed emissions 3 times, at 40,452, 40,560, and 40,598.. It then passed emissions at 40,679)
2008-2009: 43,918

Now we're at the current owner
4/12/2010: 51,503

Three years later he said it's 56k.

I'm just concerned that the miles are still rolling, just not at the rate they should be. Is it possible for the odometer to still work, while the speedo and tach are stuck at 0? And if so, is it possible that the miles add on slower than the actual mileage?

 

[Calan]

...only 5k miles in 7 years!.

And for an AWD DSM.. this sounds odd to you? Just ask to see the jack stands.

 

[BlackTsi1992]

Seems like the first owner drove it everyday. The second owner maybe had lots of problems with it and never really drive it and gave up after failing 3 time for emissions before passing and then sold it. Then the third owner had no problems and put 7k in one year? Now the final owner only put 5k in 3 years. That's roughly 1,500 miles in a year or the motor shit out and it sat for a while.

 

[Brockalishis]

Yeah you guys are probably right. I'm just worried I'll have to replace the whole gauge cluster. Because that means the miles are gonna be way off (depending on how many miles the new cluster has) And what's the point of a 56k mile dsm if when I go to sell it, the odometer says 140k? grrrrr!! Or even worse, the dude checked his VSS and dropped the bolt/gear into the tranny when doing so

 

[Doubleot]

That doesn't sound that off to me actually. I just sold my talon in February, owned it for five years, in those five years I put 13k miles on it. By choice not because it was broken down, it was my project car and I didn't want to put a ton of miles on it. Take the car for a nice long test drive and keep your eye on the mileage and make sure it's moving often. Doesn't sound that unbelievable to me though.

 

[Funfettie]

If the speedometer doesnt work, then the odometer wont roll miles. could be sketch.. could say X miles but very well could be Y miles.

 

[Brockalishis]

Yeah that's what I understand about speedo/odo relationship but he says that the odometer still works. And I'm worried I'll have to replace the whole gauge cluster because then the miles on the new cluster will likely be double.

My theory: Test the cruise control. Because if the cruise control works does that mean the VSS works regardless of the needle being stationary?