Solved the dodgy speedo on Peugeot 306 1998/S

Discussion in 'Peugeot 306' started by David Hearn, Nov 19, 2006.

  1. David Hearn

    David Hearn Guest

    Some might remember I had a problem with my Peugeot 306 1998/S speedo
    sticking, only increasing and not returning to 0 following cold weather.
    Well, I visited the dealers yesterday to ask about the price of a new
    instrument cluster. I was politely told £365 inc VAT, pay up front, and
    non-returnable as it's an electrical item. They said it certainly
    sounded like the instruments, especially as I said the digital odometer
    was increasing correctly (so speed sensor is okay).

    Well, after a little work, I removed both the 2 small geared motors
    (stepper motors?) which work the speedo and rev counter and swapped them
    over.

    Result? Rev counter now sticks, doesn't return to 0 and increases each
    time you rev the engine. Speedo now works perfectly.

    I then removed the new rev counter (ex. speedo) dial and plan to
    dismantle it to see if there's some problem in the gearing or something.
    No idea if I can find a replacement for it - but no point keeping it
    in there whilst it's not working.

    Only problem is now without the motor + dial there the backlights shine
    through at night - I'll just stick something over the hole for now.

    Any suggestions as to where I might be able to source a replacement
    motor? No idea of the manufacturer, pin outs, or where to start. My
    only real chance is finding another broken/cheap speedo and remove the
    motor from that (probably easier than finding the exact model spec
    instrument cluster). Just need a working motor - not any of the rest of
    the instruments.

    Some pictures of what I did, including the part I want to find a
    replacement for:

    http://www.swampie.ukfsn.org/speedo/IMG_0580.JPG
    http://www.swampie.ukfsn.org/speedo/IMG_0581.JPG
    http://www.swampie.ukfsn.org/speedo/IMG_0585.JPG
    http://www.swampie.ukfsn.org/speedo/IMG_0588.JPG
    http://www.swampie.ukfsn.org/speedo/IMG_0609.JPG
    http://www.swampie.ukfsn.org/speedo/IMG_0611.JPG

    Thanks

    David
     
    David Hearn, Nov 19, 2006
    #1
  2. David Hearn

    Ivan Guest

    'ow much!..365 quid for something of the equivalent sophistication and build
    quality that no doubt the Chinese could knock up and provide a reasonable
    profit margin for a retailer in this country to sell for under £30.
     
    Ivan, Nov 19, 2006
    #2

  3. supply and demand

    i had this argument with a large ford dealership in birmingham
    to justify thier price they showed me what they paid for it , just 15%
    mark up , when i looked up the supplier later low and behold they were
    owned by the same group , on further investigation the parts i needed
    had come through 6 different companies all owned by the same group
     
    Steve Robinson, Nov 19, 2006
    #3
  4. David Hearn

    Ivan Guest

    Or more than likely got you over a barrel!

    I've been in the domestic electronics service industry for more decade's and
    I care to remember, and have to confess that it's been a bit of an eye
    opener to see the way things have evolved over the years.

    A classic example was the other week when a guy brought me a PC board to see
    if I could do anything with it, apparently it was part of a pub glass
    washing-machine, he said that the manufacturers didn't do a repair service
    and would only supply a complete new panel at £400 plus Vat, on examination
    I guess that the component count wouldn't have amounted to much more than
    £25 even at retail prices.

    After blanket soldering a plethora of dry-joints and cleaning some relay
    contacts I charged him 30 quid (after he had confirmed that it was working
    OK) as you can imagine the chap was as they say 'over the moon'!
     
    Ivan, Nov 19, 2006
    #4
  5. David Hearn

    Ian Stirling Guest

    I'd try really carefully dissasembling, and lubricating the speedo
    motor.

    Due to the way stepper motors work, they are fed two alternating
    voltages, and the delay between them sets the direction of rotation.
    Physically the voltages run electromagnets, which repel or attract a
    magnet from them.
    In sequence it's pulled towards one electromagnet then the other.
    If one of these phases is missing, then it won't really go anywhere,
    unless it's already moving.

    Another perhaps more likely alternative is simple wear, or contamination
    - if a bit of grit has got into the works it'd do pretty much this.
     
    Ian Stirling, Nov 19, 2006
    #5
  6. David Hearn

    Brian Guest

    We do live in something of a throw away culture these days. (Well most do, I
    prefer not to).
     
    Brian, Nov 20, 2006
    #6
  7. David Hearn

    Mike G Guest

    As someone aptly said some years ago. "We live in an effluent society"
    Mike.
     
    Mike G, Nov 20, 2006
    #7
  8. David Hearn

    Coyoteboy Guest

    Id still check the wiring in case but it does sound like binding on the
    shaft to me, worth a stripdown and sand a pencil tip with very fine
    paper to make a nice dry lube for any bits you can get it into.
     
    Coyoteboy, Nov 20, 2006
    #8
  9. David Hearn

    David Hearn Guest

    The problem started off (at the start of some cold weather) as it
    sticking and never going backwards (so 0-30mph-0mph showed 30mph,
    another 0-30-0mph showed 60mph etc.) After a while, when the car had
    warmed up it started going backwards again (although never back lower
    than 100mph!). At this point turning the ignition off would reset it
    (via a juddering movement) back to 0. Ignition back on again would be
    fine (until left for a period/cold etc).

    After taking a look/fiddle with the instrument panel it stopped doing
    the warmup and return thing, and just stuck. But even then, it would
    wiggle a bit sometimes, but never more than a few degrees, and always
    still pointing right down over the distance counter.

    D
     
    David Hearn, Nov 20, 2006
    #9
  10. David Hearn

    Brian Guest

    We do live in something of a throw away culture these days. (Well most
    do,
    I like that one.
     
    Brian, Nov 22, 2006
    #10
Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments (here). After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.