Speedometer Cable Conversion

[ShredXJ]

Hey guys!! Does anyone have experience making a mechanical speedo cable from a 1990 ax15 work with a 2000 XJ (electrical connection) PCM/gauge cluster?? Throwing a code and preventing me from passing DEQ. Thanks!

[4.3LXJ]

You just need the proper speedo sending unit. Instead of a cable it has a plug on it. It takes gears and inserts the same way into the tail housing. You calibrate it just like the cable version with different tooth count gears

[ShredXJ]

Thanks again 4.3!!

I went out and had a look at my speedo gear.

http://www.xjtalk.com/picture.php?albumid=630&pictureid=4187
http://www.xjtalk.com/picture.php?albumid=630&pictureid=4188

So is the sending unit/gear a one-piece component? OR can I keep what I have and get a sending unit that threads on and connects to my harness? Kinda like this setup.

http://www.xjtalk.com/picture.php?albumid=630&pictureid=4189

Locating this part is a bear I am finding out.

[4.3LXJ]

One piece component. Keep the little gear though

[ShredXJ]

One piece component. Keep the little gear though

Cool! What should I call this part in my Google searches? All I am getting is SYE kits. Weird!

[4.3LXJ]

Speedometer drive I think. Look at a quadratec catalogue at the pic of the tcase exploded view. It will tell you what the proper name is

[ShredXJ]

Hmmm...the speedometer drive is showing up as the gear. I found this but it is not showing me much of anything either as far as ordering part. Will keep looking.

http://www.xjtalk.com/picture.php?albumid=630&pictureid=4190

[4.3LXJ]

Try this. Vehicle Speed Sensor

[4.3LXJ]

Jeep calls it a Vehicle Speed Sensor in the FSM

[ShredXJ]

Thanks for sticking with me on this Steve!!

Almost all of my searches are popping up just the gears. I did find this which looks like the right connector and setup...

AutoZone Vehicle Transmission Speed Sensor (http://www.autozone.com/engine-management/vehicle-transmission-speed-sensor/duralast-vehicle-transmission-speed-sensor/195855_0_20285_7910/)

Assuming this could work, this leaves the adapter/housing.

I may need to run into Baxter's auto parts to see what they can find. Interesting that these components are so difficult to track down.

[4.3LXJ]

A wrecking yard may be your best bet.

[ShredXJ]

A wrecking yard may be your best bet.

Good call...I have been cruising Craigslist too. I will make a few calls to some wrecking yards and report back. Thanks again Steve!

[GoneWithTheWind]

Good call...I have been cruising Craigslist too. I will make a few calls to some wrecking yards and report back. Thanks again Steve!

Please stay out of 205, those are my parts! :smiley-taunt002:

[ShredXJ]

Please stay out of 205, those are my parts! :smiley-taunt002:

LOL!!! Note to self!!

[GoneWithTheWind]

They might have what you need. Do you know where they're at?

[ShredXJ]

They might have what you need. Do you know where they're at?

Yeah - I think they are out 105th way aren't they? Thank you!

It actually dawned on me to reach out to a local friend of mine. Come to find out he has a 2001 XJ with a np231 that is toast. He is going to let me have the sensor off his TC. SCORE!!!

[GoneWithTheWind]

Yes they are, just N. of Sandy. I'm glad you don't need to go there, but it's a good place for parts. Get what you can from your friend before he changes his mind, take full advantage!

[ShredXJ]

OK - picked up a speedometer pinion gear adapter/VSS out of a 2001 np231 today. My friend had a parts np231. SWEEET!!!

I had read in my research that the mechanical senders (1991-1993) use a long drive gear. Electronic senders (1993-2006) use a short drive gear. Confirmed...here are my old and "new" sensors.

http://www.xjtalk.com/picture.php?albumid=630&pictureid=4197

http://www.xjtalk.com/picture.php?albumid=630&pictureid=4198

So I need a short drive gear matched to my tire size and axle ratio. Here is a good chart to help me order the right drive gear to compensate for my gearing and tire size...

Speedo Gear Chart (http://www.xjtalk.com/showthread.php?p=47736&mode=linear&highlight=speedo+gear+chart#post47736)

I am using my actual tire height (not the size on my tire), so 37s are measuring 35". For my 5.13 axle ratio the chart tells me I need a 41-tooth gear for my speedometer.

The gear that came in my np231 was a 30-tooth gear. 41 teeth should get my speedometer dialed in.

[4.3LXJ]

Sounds like you are almost there

[ShredXJ]

Sounds like you are almost there

Thanks again for the help Steve!

Also uncovered some guys with stalling issues similar to what I am experiencing that were resolved with a speedo fix. There is something that makes sense logically about that. If the speed sensor is not communicating with the PCM then there could be issues.

I am throwing 122 and 123 (TPS voltage) OBD2 codes. My idle at cold start is fine but when I accelerate and then come to stop, engaging the clutch, then my motor bottoms out and stalls.

Curious to see if anything changes when I bring my speedometer back online.

[4.3LXJ]

The ECM does need to know when the vehicle is moving. It operates differently than when parked

[ShredXJ]

Ran into a bit of an "AHA" moment when I plugged my new 41-tooth VSS gear drive into my send unit and went out to fit it into my tcase...OOPS!!! Forgot about the Klune V underdrive which pushed my tcase back about 7" or so. Clearance from tunnel to tcase is too tight to slide vss in.

To get the VSS sending unit into the tcase I will have to drop the np231 and even then I am pretty sure (just eye-balling it) clearance from tcase to tunnel is too tight for sending unit and harness plug together. BUMMER!!!

[4.3LXJ]

Use a BFH to dimple the floor board. I had to do that for the Atlas. You won't even notice it inside

[ShredXJ]

Use a BFH to dimple the floor board. I had to do that for the Atlas. You won't even notice it inside

I thought of that too because we already did some to get the Klune in. However there a brace in the way.

http://www.xjtalk.com/picture.php?albumid=630&pictureid=4199

[ShredXJ]

Where there is a will there is a way!! Get a bigger hammer, eh!

[4.3LXJ]

Failing that, dynamite fixes everything

[ShredXJ]

Failing that, dynamite fixes everything

LOL!! Good call Steve!

[Mudderoy]

Please stay out of 205, those are my parts! :smiley-taunt002:

I remember hearing about that place from Josh.