Xantia Mk I, Speedo not working.

gadgetgricey · Unread post by **gadgetgricey** » 03 Jan 2010, 21:20

Done a search on the forum regarding my speedo not working and now aware of a couple of issues, so just looking for clarification and where best to start.

Car:
L reg, 1.9D LX.

Symptoms:
Everything works on the dashboard, warning lights, tachometer etc. Its just the speedo that does not work, just sits at 0. Obviously miles dont go up either.

Fix:
Read the stuff about the sender unit by the gearbox driveshaft, and also the poor solders on the circuit board. Also the comment re swapping the tachometer to the speedo???

Can someone point me to what would be the best thing to test/change first, and if possible the associated instructions.
(Cant seem to find any relating to the sender unit, but that might just be me)

Thanks again.

- Dave -

Unread post by **citroenxm** » 03 Jan 2010, 21:21

L reg cars have a CABLE FED speedo, NOT A SENSOR..

The Sensor didn't come untill Late M 1994 year... along with Air bags..

Paul

gadgetgricey · Unread post by **gadgetgricey** » 03 Jan 2010, 21:55

OK.

.

Well that's thrown me a curve ball. Easy/difficult job to replace.
Any instructions anywhere, or is it time to be a Haynes.

Cheers

- Dave -

Unread post by **citroenxm** » 03 Jan 2010, 22:28

Haynes is the useual LAUGH! They tell you to unclip it from the instruments and "Pull it through"..

Im dammed if I could get one Pulled trough, and so far at 220k my S1 Cable has been fine, so not looking forward to that.. Sorry I cant help you more on changing it..

Paul

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 04 Jan 2010, 06:35

Oh dear, replacing a speedo cable on a MK1 Xantia is a pain. I've done it once

The speedo end of the cable is held in place by a rubber ball on the cable that fits tightly into a rubber socket on the bulkhed. The method is to pull it very smartly until it pops out. getting the new one back in is nigh-on impossible.. I ended up trimming the rubber ball down so it was not as tight.

One thing to check is that the cable is in two halves. There is a joint about a foot up from the gearbox. Unscrew it and turn the inner and see if the speedo cable moves. Then, hopefully, you'll find the lower part of the cable is duff, on the gearbox speedo drive in the gearbox is duff; both these are easier to fix than changing the main cable.

Xantidote · Unread post by **Xantidote** » 04 Jan 2010, 10:45

Where would we be without you Jim?

gadgetgricey · Unread post by **gadgetgricey** » 04 Jan 2010, 22:46

Thanks all.

Just started looking at Sat Nav's with broken screens on ebay. Thinking I might be able to install one in the dash somewhere, and take the speed off that instead.

Either clever or lazy, you decide.

Thanks again

- Dave -

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 05 Jan 2010, 08:02

the only trouble with useing a sat nav for checking your speed, is it tackes time to catch up with your possition, so as you vary your speed its quite offten out of sink,

regards malcolm

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 05 Jan 2010, 08:29

Mind you, fixing a satnav might be easier than replacing the upper section of the speedo cable!!!

Chris570 · Unread post by **Chris570** » 05 Jan 2010, 10:05

yeah i can confirm the top half of the cable is an absolute pig of a job, my cable came out leaving the ball in the bulkhead and i'll be damed if i can figure out how to get it out, without removing the dash.

What i did instead (this takes about 15 mins) is route the cable through the dash and out behind the glovebox into the engine bay.

much easier, but the cable won't last as long that way i'm sure