Thread: Speedometer help

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Hi all!! Looking for some help or places to get information. I have a 1986 Trans Am came out with TPI 305, but when I purchased it 350 carburated. Through the years of miscellaneous owners the wiring harness has been cut to pieces i.e. plugs for a/c, & sending units gone(cut off) etc. Okay, I installed a different carburated engine with a 350 transmission and want to get the factory electronic speedometer to work; never has worked since I have owned it. Thanks for any help. Cheers...

are you useing the computer or have you did away with that.

got to thinking about that Ironmahn but you dont have a factory electronic speedometer. if its a 86 trans. am it has a cable like the older cars has. the trans, you put in may have the speed sensor in it but you need to change it back to cable and gear.

I'm thinking, I don't think my 86 firebird has a cable I think it's electronic. I don't remember messing with the cable. It's not digital, but I believe it has an electronic speed sensor in it.

Originally posted by firebird45331
I'm thinking, I don't think my 86 firebird has a cable I think it's electronic. I don't remember messing with the cable. It's not digital, but I believe it has an electronic speed sensor in it.

i think if you check the sensor tells the computer what to do, the speedometer is not electronic its got a cable, and wouldnt need the senser if hes not using the computer. in any case he dont need the sensor to work the speedometer.

i'll check tomorrow for sure, but I don't think I have a cable. We put a 700r4 in an 84 Z and it had a cable.

$14.86 cable 1986 trans am. 305 cu in. i dont think they had Elec. speedometers before around 1990. i think

grrrrr now this is bugging me, brb I'm going to go check

i can't tell i'll jack it up tomorrow

Originally posted by firebird45331
i can't tell i'll jack it up tomorrow

we got to get it running first.

My T/A is what I stated, there is no cable. That would be to easy, lol. The whole cluster of gauges plugs into a socket in the dash.

i dont know why but t/a's are showing both, cable and sensor. its looks like that yr. might have either. you need to call a dealership and ask them. if you have changed trans you'll have to know which sensor you need, may be dif. than the one in the trans. also you said you had put a carb. motor in ,have you changed your dist also? you computer will have to work to make the speedometer work. you gonna wish it was cable i belive. i just put a speedometer in a 1987 ss monte carlo and it had a cable.

GM speed sensors on newer cars are usually in the transmission where the speedo gear would be. If the trans has been swapped out and there is no way to install a speed sensor, you might want to seek out a cable driven speedo.

If the trans is a late model unit, check the speed sensor at the back of the trans to make sure everything is hooked up and that there is no broken pieces.

If the problem is definitely in the speedo, these can be sent to your local speedo repair place (most metropolitan areas will have one to three places that specialize).

I forgot all about checking whether I have a cable or is electronic, tomorrow when I have it up putting the power steering pump on I'll check