Autometer Speedo Calabration issues

[Automan]

Hi everyone!!

So, one of the last issues i am having keeping from doing longer runs is my Speedo not working.

I have tried calibrating it a few times with no success.

The part of the calibration where I'm not seeing happening is the speed signal where is rapidly counts of the LCD display.

i lifted the car to check that my plug is securely plugged into my TKO500.

I haven't pulled apart my dash to confirm everything is plugged in. Here is a pic of my completed wiring. Should i assume that my VSS sensor is faulty on the Transmission.

213674

[edwardb]

Obviously any part can fail and the VSS sensor is possible. But they're pretty simple. I'd bet on wiring before swapping parts. I'm assuming you're using the internal VSS on the TKO, e.g. the RH side of the transmission? I'm also assuming your speedo is showing signs of life, like the needle bumps a little when powered on, lights are on, etc. I had Autometer gauges on my truck build, so have a little experience. The gauge only needs one wire, e.g. the RF DK-GRN SPEEDO SIGNAL from the VSS to the Autometer speedo "In" wire. I've read where some ground the other RF VSS wire, but mine worked without that. Mine worked and calibrated per the instructions. Good luck.

[Dgc333]

Anytime you power on the car the speedo should go to mid scale and stay there for a second before going back to zero. If it doesn't you have an issue with the speedo.

To calibrate you push the reset button with the car off and hold it. Start the car and keep holding it. The needle will go to mid scale for a second then to full and stay there. You can then release the button and the needle will stay at full scale. Drive to the beginning of your two mile loop. When you are ready the push the reset button and the needle will go to mid scale and stay there. When you are driving you should see numbers counting in the odometer display. At the end of two miles push the reset button again and the needle will go to zero and it will be calibrated. If you get all the reactions from the speedo I described but no count you either have a bad speed sensor on the tranny or a miss wire between the sensor and speedo. If the speedo does not react as described I would say an issue with the speedo.

Note: looking at your picture I can't see where the grey speedo wire goes. It needs to be grounded for the sensor to work.

FWIW, I have done two Autometer speedos over the past year and had no issues.

[Automan]

Obviously any part can fail and the VSS sensor is possible. But they're pretty simple. I'd bet on wiring before swapping parts. I'm assuming you're using the internal VSS on the TKO, e.g. the RH side of the transmission? I'm also assuming your speedo is showing signs of life, like the needle bumps a little when powered on, lights are on, etc. I had Autometer gauges on my truck build, so have a little experience. The gauge only needs one wire, e.g. the RF DK-GRN SPEEDO SIGNAL from the VSS to the Autometer speedo "In" wire. I've read where some ground the other RF VSS wire, but mine worked without that. Mine worked and calibrated per the instructions. Good luck.


Hey, Yes my speedo is functioning. I get the required needle bumps throughout the calibration.

Also i am using the Internal VSS on the right side of the TKO.

I am missing the increasing numbers during the calibration while driving the 2 miles.

Maybe it is the VSS

[Automan]

Anytime you power on the car the speedo should go to mid scale and stay there for a second before going back to zero. If it doesn't you have an issue with the speedo.

To calibrate you push the reset button with the car off and hold it. Start the car and keep holding it. The needle will go to mid scale for a second then to full and stay there. You can then release the button and the needle will stay at full scale. Drive to the beginning of your two mile loop. When you are ready the push the reset button and the needle will go to mid scale and stay there. When you are driving you should see numbers counting in the odometer display. At the end of two miles push the reset button again and the needle will go to zero and it will be calibrated. If you get all the reactions from the speedo I described but no count you either have a bad speed sensor on the tranny or a miss wire between the sensor and speedo. If the speedo does not react as described I would say an issue with the speedo.

Note: looking at your picture I can't see where the grey speedo wire goes. It needs to be grounded for the sensor to work.

FWIW, I have done two Autometer speedos over the past year and had no issues.

Hey, Yes my speedo is functioning. I get the required needle bumps throughout the calibration.

Also i am using the Internal VSS on the right side of the TKO.

I am missing the increasing numbers during the calibration while driving the 2 miles.

Maybe it is the VSS

[Blitzboy54]

Question,

When you drive NOT during the calibration mode does it read anything? You should have some readback like a normal speedo, it just wont be accurate. If you don't the most common reason for this is the the grey wire on the connector that goes to the speedo sending unit needs to be grounded. There is nothing in the documentation that tells you this. Find the end of the grey wire and make sure it's grounded.

If you are getting some needle movement when driving than it's probably something else.

[Dgc333]

Hey, Yes my speedo is functioning. I get the required needle bumps throughout the calibration.

Also i am using the Internal VSS on the right side of the TKO.

I am missing the increasing numbers during the calibration while driving the 2 miles.

Maybe it is the VSS

The Ron Francis wiring harness has Green and Grey wires that go from dash to the sensor on the tranny. The connector at the tranny plugged right into the sensor on my Tremec T5. The green wire attaches to the Speedo signal input. The grey wire needs to be grounded. I couldn't tell from your picture whether the grey wire went.

Not familiar with the TKO500 but the sensor I used on the 4sp in my Barracuda has three wires. Power, Signal and Ground. You may want to check the sensor.

[Automan]

Question,

When you drive NOT during the calibration mode does it read anything? You should have some readback like a normal speedo, it just wont be accurate. If you don't the most common reason for this is the the grey wire on the connector that goes to the speedo sending unit needs to be grounded. There is nothing in the documentation that tells you this. Find the end of the grey wire and make sure it's grounded.

If you are getting some needle movement when driving than it's probably something else.

when i am driving normally, i don't read anything. I will look for it tonight.

[Automan]

The Ron Francis wiring harness has Green and Grey wires that go from dash to the sensor on the tranny. The connector at the tranny plugged right into the sensor on my Tremec T5. The green wire attaches to the Speedo signal input. The grey wire needs to be grounded. I couldn't tell from your picture whether the grey wire went.

Not familiar with the TKO500 but the sensor I used on the 4sp in my Barracuda has three wires. Power, Signal and Ground. You may want to check the sensor.

Yea, i see the grey wire, but I'm not sure where it went. So the grey wire doesn't go to the speedo anywhere. It goes to a ground then. right?

[Blitzboy54]

Yea, i see the grey wire, but I'm not sure where it went. So the grey wire doesn't go to the speedo anywhere. It goes to a ground then. right?

Yes, it needs to be grounded and is most likely the problem.

Good luck

[Dgc333]

Yea, i see the grey wire, but I'm not sure where it went. So the grey wire doesn't go to the speedo anywhere. It goes to a ground then. right?
If it is not easy to get at the wiring on the back of the dash you could go under the car and disconnect the harness from the sensor and check for continuity to ground at the connector. If it is open you could just ground it under the car. When I wired my 33 I tied the grey wire into the daisy chained ground for all the other gauges.

[Automan]

Hey!! Thankyou so Much. I located the grey wire in the dash. I had taped it since there was no instructions in the Russel wiring harness. I grounded it out, and have calibrated my Electronic Speedo. What a relief lol. Speedo now reads 10 Miles after my first longer run.

Now off to my next issue. I believe my MED distributor has a rev limiter. At 3000 RPM it spudders.

[Dgc333]

Hey!! Thankyou so Much. I located the grey wire in the dash. I had taped it since there was no instructions in the Russel wiring harness. I grounded it out, and have calibrated my Electronic Speedo. What a relief lol. Speedo now reads 10 Miles after my first longer run.

Now off to my next issue. I believe my MED distributor has a rev limiter. At 3000 RPM it spudders.
Glad you got it sorted. 👍