My girlfriends '98 Escort Zx2's odometer quit working. Here are the details:

~ The speedometer, tach, and all the gauges are all working regularly.

~ The passenger-side outer front tie rod and the plugs were replaced around when we think this occured.

~ Both the cummulative and "resettable" parts of the odometer are not functioning.

~ She said she heard a slight clicking noise while driving down the highway, and it appeared to be coming from the odometer area.

~ The Odometer is not digital.

---- I've checked under the dash for any bad connections, seeing none.

Thanks ahead of time for your help!

if you can pull pids, look and see if you have a vss reading of some mph while driving. if so, the head could be stripped. first i have heard or a escort head going bad.

Andy, If the speedometer is ,but the odometer isn't, I'd be looking at a cluster.

bowtiehatr said:

if you can pull pids, look and see if you have a vss reading of some mph while driving. if so, the head could be stripped. first i have heard or a escort head going bad.

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Thanx for the quick reply...I forgot to mention the service engine light is on as well, all I have is a cheap OBD-II code reader, I'll see if I can get a code from it later tonight.

blacksnapon said:

Andy, If the speedometer is ,but the odometer isn't, I'd be looking at a cluster.

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The cluster as in a new odometer? lol

Andyman8282 said:

The cluster as in a new odometer? lol

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Yeah, The speedometer head. I dont think you can get them separately.

Hmm...I am interested in what you find. Never heard of the odometer quitting on its own. Speedometers a lot...I have killed a couple of them somehow.

blacksnapon said:

Yeah, The speedometer head. I dont think you can get them separately.

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This might end up being a trip to the dealership to avoid "legal" issues with actual mileage

Lemme go read the codes real quick

Andyman8282 said:

This might end up being a trip to the dealership to avoid "legal" issues with actual mileage

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My wifes 97 escort has the cluster all in one. As long as you document thoroughly the cluster change (complete with mileage before and after the change) there shouldn't be a problem. You aren't trying to defraud anyone. For legal advice, call your local licence office.

blacksnapon said:

My wifes 97 escort has the cluster all in one. As long as you document thoroughly the cluster change (complete with mileage before and after the change) there shouldn't be a problem. You aren't trying to defraud anyone. For legal advice, call your local licence office.

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I broke the speedometer in an Audi I had once. I simply ordered a new one and threw the old one in the trunk. When it came time to swap it off, I had the old one as proof.

Then again...laws have changed now. In some places you are supposed to get the new one set to the correct mileage before it is in stalled. Doubt anyone does though.

Thanks for the insight guys, these codes came from my cheap OBD-II reader: 1380, 1381, and I went ahead and cleared the codes to see if the light comes back on.

P1380 VCT Solenoid Valve circuit Short or Open
P1381 Cam Timing Advance is excessive

Both don't sound much like they have anything to do with the odometer, unless I'm reading my book wrong

Vince, do you know by chance how much a new odometer will run $, and how difficult the install is? It took me 7 hours to put a new radio head-unit/temperature control/defrost/fan piece in that car because of the tight working space

you forgot to mention that the heater still doesn't work, mr. smooth.

Ryan

Andyman8282 said:

Thanks for the insight guys, these codes came from my cheap OBD-II reader: 1380, 1381, and I went ahead and cleared the codes to see if the light comes back on.

P1380 VCT Solenoid Valve circuit Short or Open
P1381 Cam Timing Advance is excessive

Both don't sound much like they have anything to do with the odometer, unless I'm reading my book wrong

Vince, do you know by chance how much a new odometer will run $, and how difficult the install is? It took me 7 hours to put a new radio head-unit/temperature control/defrost/fan piece in that car because of the tight working space

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Neither of those codes are for the odometer. As far as the cluster, I dont know about the cost, but changing it isn't too bad. Don't get scared, but the face of the dash will probably need to come off (or at least loose). The cluster is held in by small screws, have your 1/4 socket set close by! I can change one in less than an hour, so judge your time from that.

blacksnapon said:

Neither of those codes are for the odometer. As far as the cluster, I dont know about the cost, but changing it isn't too bad. Don't get scared, but the face of the dash will probably need to come off (or at least loose). The cluster is held in by small screws, have your 1/4 socket set close by! I can change one in less than an hour, so judge your time from that.

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I had the one in the 89 ranger out twice. It took longer the first time, simply becuase of finding all the little (hidden) fasteners. I doubt it took more than 30 minutes in and out the second time. We learn from our mistakes!

O'Rattlecan said:

you forgot to mention that the heater still doesn't work, mr. smooth.

Ryan

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Well...did he buy her one of those plug in ones from radio shack? Winter is getting here....

I have an inverter if he wants to run a household space heater. Yeah, he definately needs to buy her a heater.

Ryan

O'Rattlecan said:

I have an inverter if he wants to run a household space heater. Yeah, he definately needs to buy her a heater.

Ryan

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Now you have done it!

Ever see the pics of the home window AC unit in the back window of a pickup? That is the picture of the escort and the space heater.....

Andyman8282 said:

Thanks for the insight guys, these codes came from my cheap OBD-II reader: 1380, 1381, and I went ahead and cleared the codes to see if the light comes back on.

P1380 VCT Solenoid Valve circuit Short or Open
P1381 Cam Timing Advance is excessive

Both don't sound much like they have anything to do with the odometer, unless I'm reading my book wrong

Vince, do you know by chance how much a new odometer will run $, and how difficult the install is? It took me 7 hours to put a new radio head-unit/temperature control/defrost/fan piece in that car because of the tight working space

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Uh, SEVEN HOURS?

and that doesn't include heater hookup. Remember.

Ryan

It was actually the fan that didn't turn on, it's been fixed for a few months now though She lives way out in the sticks, on a road that isn't friendly to her car, so lots of connections seem to get loosened up. The fan was just unplugged (not an easy plug to get to mind you)