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        General >> Give/Need advice to/from others >> Speedo Jammed at 180 M.P.H. ( 24V  !! )
        
(Message started by: Malcolm73 on Apr 7^th, 2005, 11:17pm)

Title: Speedo Jammed at 180 M.P.H. ( 24V !! )
Post by Malcolm73 on Apr 7^th, 2005, 11:17pm

The speedo' needle has jammed pointing at 6 oclock without getting into top gear. The problem has been caused by the battery suddenly failing well inside warranty and the needles on rev' counter and M.P.H. both swung violently and the M.P.H. has stuck in the vertical position.

I have tried gently tapping the the perspex in front of the instrument without success.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Malcolm

Title: Re: Speedo Jammed at 180 M.P.H. ( 24V !! )
Post by craig on Apr 8^th, 2005, 7:49am

has the battery now been replaced ?...
would of thought the dials would have reset at that point..........
if not,try disconnecting the battery again,and leaving for a few minutes

Title: Re: Speedo Jammed at 180 M.P.H. ( 24V !! )
Post by scorpio_man on Apr 8^th, 2005, 7:50am

hi there

disconnect the battery for a minute or two (remember radio code). the needles should flick round and reset.

hth

Title: Re: Speedo Jammed at 180 M.P.H. ( 24V !! )
Post by scorpio_man on Apr 8^th, 2005, 7:50am

craig

just beat me to it!! :)

Title: Re: Speedo Jammed at 180 M.P.H. ( 24V !! )
Post by Jo on Apr 8^th, 2005, 8:03am

Or..

Hold the trip button in for 10 seconds to enter diagnostic mode, then switch off and back on again.

That should make the needles flick right round like the battery has been disconected!

Good luck ;)

Jo

Title: Re: Speedo Jammed at 180 M.P.H. ( 24V !! )
Post by Malcolm73 on Apr 8^th, 2005, 9:28am

Sorry I did not make it clear. I have replaced the faulty battery with a new one.

The problem occured when trying to start the car with the old faulty battery, the needles swung around and the speedometer needle stuck at the bottom.

There seems to be very little clearance between the perspex front panel and and the dial and the needle seems to be mechanically stuck at 180 M.P.H.

Only on rare occasions do I drive at speeds in excess of the 160 M.P.H. dial calibration, perhaps I should take a 'photo and impose it on the opening screen of the Scorpio site. The old battery ( And the replacement ) is a Fiam which I am told is fitted to Ferraris. maybe this also had an effect.

Seriously, any ideas welcome. I am thinking of drilling a verysmall hole in the perspex and pushing the needle back with a piece of wire.

Malcolm

Title: Re: Speedo Jammed at 180 M.P.H. ( 24V !! )
Post by nodge on Apr 8^th, 2005, 9:36am

You could try one of those rubber sucker things (like on those sets of plastic hooks you get). There may be just enough give in the perspex to pull it away from the needle.

Nodge

Title: Re: Speedo Jammed at 180 M.P.H. ( 24V !! )
Post by Snoopy on Apr 8^th, 2005, 11:35am

Yes! We understand that you have fitted a new battery, and ANOTHER reset may well put the needles back to where they should be. Other than that try taking the instrument panel out and easing it from the perspex front.

I have heard of people drilling a small hole and using a bent paperclip to free it off if al else fails.

Title: Re: Speedo Jammed at 180 M.P.H. ( 24V !! )
Post by Malcolm73 on Apr 8^th, 2005, 6:04pm

PROBLEM SOLVED. I tried three Ford garages but did not receive any useful response, however the speedo' is now working.

To move the jammed needle I used a piece of copper wire, 0.5mm diameter but this gauge is a bit heavy. At the end I formed a small hook. There is sufficient clearance around the trip recorder reset button to feed the wire towards the stuck needle and it is very easy to pull it back from the 180 M.P.H. position back to about 170 M.P.H. It did try to creep back towards 180 M.P.H., but it was at least free from the the raised panel of the dial ( It was in fact not touching the transparent perspex window ). I tried the car but the needle would not zero. I disconnected the battery for twenty minutes and on reconection the problem was resolved.

Thanks to everyone who read my post and offered help.

Malcolm 73's

Title: Re: Speedo Jammed at 180 M.P.H. ( 24V !! )
Post by scorpio_man on Apr 8^th, 2005, 6:59pm

another result. good one. :)