I was wondering what I can do about my odometer/tripmeter thats been getting stuck every now and again. I originally thought the fuel mileage seemed a little poor (doing 200mi before the it was a tick from empty), but I noticed when I took a 180-200mi round trip that the tripmeter only registered 130mi. I also paid closer attention to it and every once in awhile (especially at slower speeds), the odometer and tripmeter would slow down or even stop for periods of time before starting back up normally.

I'm guessing this is a lubrication issue, I'm wondering if anyone else has had anything similar to this and how I should go about to rectifying it. Every other gauge works flawlessly, it's just the odometer acting up. Thanks in advance!

 

That's a cable drive speedo, right? It's probably in the gear drive inside the unit. If it's electronic, IDK. There must be some kind of register in the electronics that count the distance traveled by pulses and change the numbers. This may be in the sensor or in the head unit or maybe even in the BCM, who knows? I DO know that the total mileage is recorded in the BCM so changing the speedo gives you the same total mileage on the new one.

My WJ actually has 2 trip odos. One in the dash unit and one in the overhead VIC. They can be set independently.

 

I think the 93-95's are cable drive, but I'm not 100 percent. The odometer and tripmeter is mechanical, though I dont know if its electronically controlled. I didn't think about it being a sensor problem, but I really wouldn't be surprised in the slightest. Thankfully, my jeep has the optional overhead panel with all the bells and whistles, I think one of the functions actually has an tripmeter function. I actually have to make the same trip in a couple days, I'll run both and see if they read the same and I'll let you know my findings. The tripmeter and odometer also both usually act up at the same exact time if that helps any.

 

Unless I missed something taking apart my transfer case, there is a hall effect sensor on it which sends speed to the PCM, which talks to the BCM, which send to the instrument panel. If that's the case, I'd start by checking the speedo gear, and if it's good look for bad wiring between it and the PCM.

 

But wouldn't both the speedometer and odometer go out at the same time if it were a speedo gear issue or is there separate sections on the gear?

 

Ah stupid me. Yup, they probably would. I'll do some reading and check back.

 

Ok, maybe not! This is all assuming your is like mine, which I would guess it is.

But apparently the speedometer gets its signal straight from the PCM. Since the odometer has the BCM in between, it might be an issue with the BCM, or the wiring from it to the PCM or instrument panel.

 

Okay, I took it on a shorter trip (50mi) and the tripmeter on the overhead console doesn't have that problem. Also, I read an old post on NAGCA from 2005 that said the 93-95's don't actually have a BCM, I'll link it below as it's a little hard to find. I'm going to guess that maybe the odometer gets its data directly from the PCM and since the overhead tripmeter works, I'm going to guess the PCM isn't the problem (assuming its also getting its data from the PCM).

Forum Post: http://www.nagca.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19473

I'm going to guess it's either wiring or the odometer and tripmeter itself, unless there's anything else you can think of. Do you know if there's any wiring schematic in the Hayne's manual for the cluster wiring, I might tear the dash apart when it gets warmer and try test the wires relevant to the odometer before I go any further. I'm kinda hoping is savable, I'm not sure if I could find a working cluster that's about the same mileage as my car (somewhere around the 130k mark).

 

I'd assume Dave and psychobat are right about the cable-driven odometer and go from there. Any chance you have a service manual for your year?

 

Don't have an official manual, but I do have a 93-04 Haynes manual. I've been looking through it and the most I've found is just the instructions to get the cluster out. I haven't really been able to find any sort of diagram or other information in it. I guess I'll just have to take the cluster apart and hope its something I can solve like gummed up gears. Probably going to wait for a warmer day before I tackle it, not sure when that will be though. At least I figured out why I was getting 10-13mpg with mostly highway driving!