Causes of Automatic Car Speedometer Not Working & How to Fix It
There are several causes of a car's speedometer not working that need to be known. If not addressed immediately, a dead speedometer can endanger the safety of the driver and passengers.
As is known, the speedometer serves as a measure of the car's speed.
Thus, the driver can drive the car at a normal speed, not exceeding the limit. Here are some causes and solutions to address them.
Causes of Automatic Car Speedometer Failure
What causes the car's speedometer to malfunction or stop working? Here are 3 common causes:
1. Problems with the Car's Electrical System
The speedometer can fail due to issues in the car's electrical system.
The speedometer lights up due to the flow of electricity supplied to the speedometer cable from the car's electrical system. Therefore, if there is a short circuit in the car's electrical system, the automatic speedometer will also stop working.
2. Speedometer Panel Issues
Another cause of the automatic car speedometer not functioning is an error or problem with the speedometer panel. Usually, panel damage is indicated by an unstable and inaccurate speedometer needle. If not addressed immediately, it can cause the speedometer panel to completely fail.
3. Problems with the Speedometer Sensor
Damage to the speedometer sensor can cause the speedometer not to light up. This damage is usually indicated by worn transducer gears or loose or disconnected sockets.
The speedometer sensor plays an important role in accurately detecting the car's speed. Damage to the speedometer sensor can also cause other issues in the car, such as the check engine light Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) lighting up and damaging the ABS brake system in cars with ABS brakes.
If this condition occurs in your car, try not to panic. You can practice how to fix a dead automatic speedometer as outlined below.
Read Also: Here are the Differences Between Speedometer, Odometer, & Tachometer
How to Fix a Dead Automatic Car Speedometer
Here are some steps you can take when your automatic car speedometer is dead and not functioning anymore
1. Check the Car's Fuse
When you experience a dead speedometer, you can first check the car's fuse. You can borrow another car's ECU (Engine Control Unit) to check if the check engine light is functioning normally or not. Make sure to buy a fuse of the same size because each car has different fuse sizes.
2. Check the Car Battery
The second step is to check the car battery to see if it is still functioning optimally. As is known, the battery is a car component that serves as a storage and supplier of electricity.
Electricity from the battery will be supplied to the car's electrical system. Thus, the speedometer cable connected to the electrical system can receive electricity and make the speedometer light up.
Make sure your car battery is not dead, so the electricity supplied is maximized. If the battery performance is not optimal, you should replace it with a new one.
Read Also: Tips to Identify Signs of Odometer Reset in Used Cars
3. Perform Speedometer Maintenance
If you are using an analog speedometer, you can apply lubricant to the transmission part only.
However, if you are using a digital speedometer, you should regularly check the car battery to see if the voltage supplied is maximized or not.
These are some causes and ways to address a dead automatic car speedometer that you can practice.
If you feel less skilled, you can seek help from a professional technician by visiting the nearest Daihatsu dealer. You can also visit an official Daihatsu workshop to get proper handling and maintenance of the car's speedometer, ensuring safety and comfort while driving is always maintained.