An Awkward Speedo

[schrumbum08]

I have a weird speedo problem. It seems that when the temperature drops and a little while after i am driving, the speedo cannot go under a certain mph. It can still accelerate, but when it drops back down it gets caught.

So lets say that i am stopped at a red light and the speedo is at 35 mph. When I accelerate to 20, I'm registered at 55.

Does anyone have an idea of what could be wrong?

[howell_jd]

I know that I am not the only one who had a vision of that viral video where the guys are oogling the "girl" sunbathing topless only to discover "she" is a "he" when their catcalls make "him" stand up.

Malfunctioning Speedo(R) is just as BAD an image!

Help!

Ok. I'm fine now.

Sorry.

Jonathan

[howell_jd]

I'd guess that it's more humidity than temperature but you observe a temperature response. If there were moisture in your gauge then you could get swelling...sorry it's not you it's me...ok...during increased humidity or if the temperature is below freezing then you could have crystalization maybe? My own speedometer has failed to register the speed before. I had the cable replaced and the sending unit checked but it happened only during operation under extreme 4x4 conditions and then only sporadically. What type of vehicle, what weather conditions?

Jonathan

[schrumbum08]

The truck is an 06 f250 6.0.
The weather conditions are around the 30's, but I don't think that I have any moisture in the front of the gauge because no crystallization has occurred on the front of it. But i could be wrong when it comes to the inside of it.

[howell_jd]

Since it's cold I'm guessing you're running the heater so it probably isn't from ice crystal formation but if there is moisture inside the instrument panel then the heater could make it expand.

I have a cheap recommendation (it may not work but it's VERY low cost - probably free and it can't hurt). I'm sure you have some of those silica gel packs (you know the ones labelled "do not eat" that come in shoe boxes and other cardboard packages?). Get one (or a few) of those and set them on the instrument cluster, behind the fuze panel, basically around the speedometer...as close as you can get them. Leave them overnight and see if that has any effect. Oh yeah, remember to take them out before you drive around and have little silica chips rattling around in your dash causing you to curse my recommendation.

Jonathan

[schrumbum08]

Thank you. I will try that.

[howell_jd]

Any news on the sticky speedometer?

Jonathan

[thmper321]

I have an 06 F350 and my speedo does the same thing. It only does it when it rains so I know it's a humidity problem. The odometer and cruise control are still accurate so it is strictly a speedo problem. When it happens I just pay attention to my revs and ignore either doing 100 mph or 35 mph, whichever way it decides to go.

[F350jim]

I had the same problem on my '06F350...got so bad, that the speedo would read 35 when stopped. The dealer replaced the instrument cluster under warranty.

[Galaxie]

On one of my fox body mustangs it stuck at 125 once. lol. It it was doing the oposite, I would bet a c note it was your speed sensor. Since it is freezing at a higher mph, I bet it is your speedo needle.