[BunchaTBirds]

Well at 259K, the odometer and trip meter in my 93LX 3.8 stopped working. I bought the car new and would really like to have at least the odometer functioning. Can anyone advise common causes and possible fix ? The tachometer and speedometer are still working fine.

 

[pnyklr]

www.carradio.com I had mine fixed with a 1 yr warranty for I think it was $180 including shipping and packing both ways

also www.speedometergears.com you can buy the gears

 

[Trunk Monkey]

This is a common problem. Cracked odometer gears are the cause. Your Speedometer will continue to work fine. Let it go as long as you like, unless you use it to keep track of your gas mileage, oil change intervals, or something like that.

Check out the how to at:
How-To Repair Odometer Gears

This is the best How-to I've seen for this repair - complete with lots of pictures.

I wouldn't recommend removing the plastic cover before removing the instrument cluster as you might damage something. It's a little tricky to unclip the wire connnectors but it can be done with a little care.

This is the How-To that I used to repair mine. If you mark the speedo needle and put it back properly there's no need to recalibrate. I did mine in February and it's working fine.

I got my gears from http://www.supercoupeperformance.com for the same price as odometergears.

Update (December 2009): The price has changed since I bought these in 2006 the price has since increased by about $15 at supercoupeperformance. I recommend getting them from odometergears.com now.

Here are some pictures from when I replaced mine in 2006. New gears in the bag in the background. And the original and new gears on the right. You can see the broken teeth on the old one on the left.

 

[BunchaTBirds]

Most excellent replies. Yes I will opt for the new gears. I really want to see just how far this 3.8 will go before it craps out. The engine and tranny are perfect with overt 250K and I'd not hesitate to travel across country tomorrow. Plus I'm always checking my gas mileage. Thanks for the help. I'll post results when I get it functioning again.

 

[Radiodugger]

BunchaTBirds/Mike:

259,000 miles??? How the heck...I mean...woo...never heard of such a thing...

You obviously take care of your car...here I was getting all concerned that my '95 40th Anniversary Edition LX has 136,000+ (odometer/trip meter shot).

I just bought this car last week. Man....I feel better! Car needs work, but nothing serious.

Thanks for making my day!

Doug

 

[tinman_72]

BunchaTBirds/Mike:

259,000 miles??? How the heck...I mean...woo...never heard of such a thing...

You obviously take care of your car...here I was getting all concerned that my '95 40th Anniversary Edition LX has 136,000+ (odometer/trip meter shot).

I just bought this car last week. Man....I feel better! Car needs work, but nothing serious.

Thanks for making my day!

Doug

Don't worry. As long as you keep fresh fluids in your 4.6 it will last forever.

 

[Radiodugger]

Thanks Derek...that's great to hear!

I just sent my 1995 Chrysler LeBaron Convertible to the crusher. Engine/tranny shot...windows had quit working, conv top quit working...top was in BAD shape...car leaked like a sieve...and the really sad thing...it had only 86,000 miles on it!

Almost brought tears to my eyes, seeing that little car on the flatbed, on its way to being FLATTENED!

The driver looked at my T-Bird, and said, "You definitely UP-graded!" He said something about that model (40th Anniversary) Thunderbird being RARE...

Back on topic...I just ordered the odometer/trip meter gears from Super Coupe Performance...$56 total...now...I have to get over the fear of tearing into that beautiful dash!!

As a newbie, would you recommend I do this myself? Or hire someone more mechanically inclined? I have NO Torx stuff...all my socket sets are SAE...

Thanks!

Doug

 

[Trunk Monkey]

I would think you'd be glad to see the Chrysler go considering the shape it was in. I think those were built on the K-car platform which was a POS from day one on the drawing board.

Those 40th anniversary edition TBirds are rare. Take good care of it.

As far as your odometer gears go that's a loaded question. The tools are cheap enough. I did mine with No mechanical expertise, just common sense and a willingness to try something new. I had pulled my instrument cluster prior to the odometer gears failing in order to replace a bad light bulb so I knew how to get into my dash that far. The hardest part for me was getting the speedometer needle off of the post. You really have to finesse it off.

Whether or not you repair the odometer yourself all depends on your comfort level with following the how-to.

 

[BunchaTBirds]

Radiodugger, Like Tinman_72 said, keep the fluids changed, not just the oil, but all of them, however oil is most important, and secondly probably is coolant. No reason a well maintained car will not last if taken care of. Not to say mine is perfect, as with all these cars, it now could use a coat of paint, and the front end could use a complete rebuild with new bushings, etc. My only real complaint is dang rotors have to be turned about every 5K or less to keep warpage from shaking the brake pedal and steering wheel. I keep extra rotors turned so when I change them, the job is quick.

 

[Radiodugger]

I know whatcha mean, Mike...warped rotors...previous owner told me that's the reason the steering wheel wobbles during braking...

Funny thing...it's not as bad, now. Still does it a little bit, but nowhere NEAR as bad as when I first drove the car home. I guess I can live with it...

Would Lincoln Town Car rotors work? Heavier duty?

Doug

 

[BunchaTBirds]

I don't have the answer to Lincoln rotors. I bought a pair of Wanger's for mine that got me a couple more thousand miles than Ford rotors, but nothing to write home about. It's a problem with these cars and I'm living with getting them turned every 5K miles or so, or when I just can't take the shaking any longer. I do the work myself, except to pay $20 to get both rotors turned. Sometimes I put new pads, sometimes not. I can knock both sides out in thirty minutes flat now, and while aggrevating that this is needed more than normal, it drives like a dream until needed again. Oh, I do notice that harder than normal braking causes the rotors to warp much faster.
Take care.

 

[sinhumane]

yeah.. teh lebarons were crap.. even worse when they made a convertible.. my gf's mom had one about two years ago.. teh roof did leak like a sieve... car died when it got below half a tank of gas.. it was crap... and I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN! the interior was the selling poin on my 95.. i love it.. its so.. cozy and stuff. feels liek youre just wrapped up in the car.. i love it. and, as far as teh mileage thing.. thes a guy here that has a chevy truck, with over 500k on it.. just regular maintenance. after getting the HG replaced in my car.. i hope to be able to get teh body work, and suspension done.. then i should have a clean slate to start modding on.

 

[sinhumane]

i've also noticed that my rotors have warped.. theres 9k miles on the rotors.... whats causing that?

 

[BunchaTBirds]

i've also noticed that my rotors have warped.. theres 9k miles on the rotors.... whats causing that?

I don't know the real cause, but can only guess that the rotor material is not what it needs to be for stopping a heavy car like the TBird. However a hot rotor and a water puddle can mean instant warpage too.

 

[hampton.52]

Bump

:idea: Bump Bump.
Why ?
Well, because my gears need replaced and Truck Monkey was kind enough to post the link I couldn't remember.


Search is wonderful thing -- If you can SPeLL !

 

[88grandmarq]

just replaced the Odometer gears on my 95 cougar @202050 miles.

all I can tell you is make sure the gears are seated and make sure you clean all the broken gear pieces/debris out. had to take mine apart 6 times before I got it to work.

 

[88grandmarq]

yeah.. teh lebarons were crap.. even worse when they made a convertible.. my gf's mom had one about two years ago.. teh roof did leak like a sieve... car died when it got below half a tank of gas.. it was crap... and I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN! the interior was the selling poin on my 95.. i love it.. its so.. cozy and stuff. feels liek youre just wrapped up in the car.. i love it. and, as far as teh mileage thing.. thes a guy here that has a chevy truck, with over 500k on it.. just regular maintenance. after getting the HG replaced in my car.. i hope to be able to get teh body work, and suspension done.. then i should have a clean slate to start modding on.

Oh, and becareful what you call crap

I got a convertible lebaron that running 10 second qtr mile and roof doesnt leak !!
any car is crap if you dont take care of it !!

 

[bad93bird]

I've had to do this many times. It sucks. Be careful with the new gears. If they aren't on just right it still won't work. They still might break. I have someone to buy gears from, I just can't find his site right now. If I do, I'll PM it to you.

 

[dionysus94ls]

I don't know the real cause, but can only guess that the rotor material is not what it needs to be for stopping a heavy car like the TBird. However a hot rotor and a water puddle can mean instant warpage too.

my tire man told me one time that when wheels are put back on and over torqued, it could warp the rotor. I just finished replacing mine.

 

[hampton.52]

I've had to do this many times. It sucks. Be careful with the new gears. If they aren't on just right it still won't work. They still might break. I have someone to buy gears from, I just can't find his site right now. If I do, I'll PM it to you.

Did you find the site?
Can you post it or PM me too?