This will stump you...

[RangerSVT]

Ok, here goes the stumper...
Vehicle - 96 Ranger 4x4 X-cab auto
Problem - The odometer/trip meter works intermitently, but the speedo works perfectly, no skips or jerks. Here is the kicker: truck has been through an engine swap ( motor, trans, tcase [ and different speedo head/driver located in tcase] from the donor truck) has also had the rear axle changed along with the ABS sensor located in the housing. Vehicle speedo is run off of the VSS in the tcase, not the rear axle (from what I have read in the tech library and other threads here on TRS). The odometer problem has been both before and after the engine swap and the axle swap, and I have also swapped out the instrument cluster, still does the same thing. Some times when I drive it, it doesn't move, other times when I drive it, it will operate normally. It doesn't do it on certain days, or when the ignition is turned off. I could go to the post office or my FD, stop, get out and get something with the engine still running, and it won't work going there, but will on the return trip home, or vice versa. Same with turning the engine off, I can make a trip, like to the store, it'll work, on the way back, it won't. I works when it wants to. Only thing I can think of is to change the GEM, which I haven't tried yet. This problem makes it hard to change the oil at regular intervals...Anyone got any clues or answers?? Might be a question for AD
SVT

 

[Spott]

I'd look at the lil electric motor that drives the odometer, but since you swapped the cluster out, that makes it quite unlikely.

Is there a circuit external to the cluster, that reads the VSS signal and powers/signals the odometer motor? If so, that's the most likely culprit.

Spott

 

[RangerSVT]

That would be the GEM, which I don't have another one to test it yet
SVT

 

[hondaxr650]

The VSS signal does go to the GEM for some functions but according to the wiring diagram the signal goes directly to the speedo from the VSS. I would have bet on a bad odometer motor too if you hadn't swapped the cluster already.

 

[IRKillroy]

well, I'd say the power for said motor is intermitent... or the ground for the motor. I can't say for sure, but it's either something you didn't touch during the swap or it's something you put back the same way that was broke.

I've seen your builds so I'm willing to bet you've thought of that already. I don't see a signal wire powering a motor so I'm sure somewhere a loose wire is your problem.

 

[RangerSVT]

well, I'd say the power for said motor is intermitent... or the ground for the motor. I can't say for sure, but it's either something you didn't touch during the swap or it's something you put back the same way that was broke.

I've seen your builds so I'm willing to bet you've thought of that already. I don't see a signal wire powering a motor so I'm sure somewhere a loose wire is your problem.

I'd agree with you there, only this started before any of the swaps started. When I had all original parts on the truck, including the stock axles, it was doing this. I never worried about it cause I knew I'd be swapping the engine, trans and tcase over and using the new speedo head (My first thought). But after swapping out all but one component, it's still there. But here is the kicker, my speedo and odometer run off of the same signal, and my speedo works fine, its my odometer and trip that works intermittently...I'm gonna have to locate another GEM as thats the only thing left. Funny thing is, is I've changed all the other parts not related to this problem. Motor I changed to get more power and more reliable trans, The rear axle cause I broke a shaft, the instrument cluster cause I was wanting to go digital...
SVT

 

[06RangerXLT]

bro, your gettin free mileage. id love to pause my ODO every so often

 

[RangerSVT]

Actually, I'm getting really $h!tty mileage....I average about 5 or 6 miles to a tank..So thats about 4 gpm (yeah, gallons per mile, not miles per gallon) At that rate, it takes me $80 just to go check my mail!!
I just got back from a 5 hr round trip...I got another twist to this one...When I started my trip, the OD wasn't turning, about 30 minutes later, still the same reading. About an hour and a half into my trip, I looked down and the OD was turning!! I didn't make a stop, so it started turning midway into the trip...Now explain that one
SVT

 

[Spott]

A loose electrical connection somewhere. Either a connector proper, or a bad solder joint inside a module. I still suspect the GEM (but I could be wrong).

Spott