Speedometer not working...

[1jayp]

Hope Folks, hope that some one can help...
I have a 2003 Polo S 1.2 12v 3 cylinder petrol manual.

The speedometer has stopped working and I wanted to check if it could have anything to do with the engine speed sensor.

I have checked all the engine sensor connections and all are ok.

Despite this issue the car drives very well.

Any troubleshooting pointers will really help.

Thanks in advance,
Jay

[iichel]

Could you perhaps be a bit more specific as to what part of the speedometer isn't working? Any other warning lights?

[1jayp]

Hi Iichel

The speed gauge is not providing the speed of the car when you drive it. The needle just stays at zero.

Any help you can provide for troubleshooting will be really appreciated.

Thanks, Jay

[1jayp]

Hi Friendly folks,

I'm still having this issue, if anyone can steer me in the right direction please?

The car has just been MOT'd and the engine light was on, which showed that cylinder 1 coil pack was faulty. I changed this, cleared the errors and engine light is now off. However, I still have this erratic issue with the speedometer stops working, rev counter is ok all the time.

The speedometer stops working randomly and when it does and you turn the corner, the fuel gauge goes to zero and bleeps indicating low fuel, even when there is fuel present.

I haven't done anything other than to check all sensor connectors in engine bay to make sure they are not lose. I haven't found any that were lose.

Also, there are no fault codes showing from diagnostics reader.

So my question is => What stops the speedometer from working, its got to be electrical, is there a sensor and related wiring I need to check for breaks/faults?

I really hope someone can help as this is REALLY frustrating me....

Thank you again, Jay

[alexperkins]

This could be due to dry connections on the PCB for the instrument cluster. Many members on here have removed the cluster and discovered a number of dry joints on the main clock connection which cause all sorts of strange behaviour

Might be worth investigating this

[1jayp]

Thank you for your response Alex

If there were dry joints, would the problem of speedometer not working be constant?
Also, would this issue show up as other parts of the display cluster not working, in my case everything else is working perfectly except for the fuel gauge randomly having a fit and showing no fuel, when there is over half a tank available.

My speedometer works randomly and over last 2 days it has completely stopped working.

Is it hard to remove the cluster?

Thanks to everyone who can help.

Jay....

[1jayp]

Hi All

Update on this issue....

So the speedometer works first thing in the morning and when parked and restarted, it stops working.
At this time depending on how sharp a turning you take with the car, the fuel gauge indicates no fuel and bleeps.

I have read a number of similar issues reported through google search and a lot of people are saying it could be related to the speedometer sensor, which sits at the top of the gearbox, near the firewall.

I've removed the connector, sprayed electrical contact cleaner, but this hasn't resolved the issue.

I called VW (TPS) and the part is £65+vat, which is expensive for a part which I cannot return if it doesn't resolve the issue. Also, they refused to provide the part number so that I can try and source the part from elsewhere.

Can anyone help on how I can find the correct part number for this item please?

Thanks....Jay

[alexperkins]

I’ll look tomorrow for you Jay

Need your engine code, year and manual or automatic gearbox (if you have the code, even better)

The codes are on the sticker underneath the boot carpet and in the service schedule first page - pop a photo up

[1jayp]

Hi AlexPerkins

Thank you for you offer to look up the require part number for the speed sensor fitted on top of the gearbox on my polo, which has 5 speed manual gearbox. I will private message you the details of my car.

Please let me know if you need anything else.

Thank you again.

Jay

[RUM4MO]

You know it does sound like there is an electrical issue at or close to the dash pod as you mentioned fuel gauge being erratic as well.

You asked if a dry joint would make this an intermittent or permanent - it could do either as a dry joint is a partial joint as making sometimes and breaking at other times.

I'd think you should spend time and if necessary money getting the dash pod and its associated connectors checked over before thinking about buying a new speed sensor.

[1jayp]

Update on 25 June 2019

A big thank you to @AlexPerkins who kindly provided the part number for the speed sensor.

I ordered a brand new one online at quarter of the price that VW wanted for the same part.

I replaced this and all the bugs I mentioned previously have all been resolved.

Thanks to everyone for your help.
Jay

[alexperkins]

Thanks for coming back to let us know jay

[RUM4MO]

Good result, also good that you came back with what the final fix was.

[qx200x]

Hi everyone. I’m having an issue with the speedometer not working. It works for the first 3 miles then stays at 20/30 the more I drive the higher it gets. Untill about 80. Then it stays there untill overnight when I come back it goes back to zero and starts again. I think it’s a sensor would anyone be able to tell me which sensor it would be and where it would be found. Thanks.

[j-prado.campelo]

Hi Guys!

I’m very new at this forum and I have the same problem of Jay had with his polo.

I just bough a manual 5 gear 2002/2003 polo s 1.2 and
The RPM works fine but my speedometer doesn’t work.
the car is perfect for the year this is only problem I have at this moment.

Can you help me to find out where I could buy this sensor to buy as well?

Many tks guys!