speedo/temp gauge cuts out

[LayZieBoNeLBurNa]

hi sometimes wen im driving my temp gauge n speedo jst suddenly drops then flings back up with the temp gauge it says it overheating but its nott ... n the radio cuts out wen it happens aswelll

[hgallegos915]

It seems you have a short somewhere. I would start with looking at the speedometer sensor located on the transmission. Sometimes those wires can be bare(battery acid fell on them) and make contact with each other. The temp sensor, I would also check for that. it does seem like a short somewhere. Start with the speedo first. Does the car jerk or drive as normal when this happens?

[LayZieBoNeLBurNa]

it drives normal wen it happens

[waspone]

its your alternator, before long it will stop working completely, get jerky and be running on pure battery power, then when u turn it off and try to start it again it will be totally dead, this happened to me a few weeks back and i had to run to the wreckers and pick up a new alternator, after this it worked fine, all the same symptoms though, radio died, lights died, gauges died, everything flicked on and off.

[PATDIESEL]

If the alt. is going out it will usually show on a volt meter. 12v normal with car off, 13.5-14 with the car running shows a good alternator. Anything less than 13.5v and I would replace it before it leaves you stranded. Check the wires though just in case. Both are good ansers and prolly the easiest two to start checking.

[Mx3Kid16]

How does the speedo go out? isnt it a straight up gear to cable to speedo?

[PATDIESEL]

On the V6 is is a gear attached to a electrical meter, which transmits a signal to the guage cluster, so it needs power to work. Yes, the 4 bangers use a unreliable cable driven system.

[jmdearras]

hi sometimes wen im driving my temp gauge n speedo jst suddenly drops then flings back up with the temp gauge it says it overheating but its nott ... n the radio cuts out wen it happens aswelll

An electrical issue, probably a corroded plug under the dash. Not a short, but rather an "open", a connection breaking.

Jim

[LayZieBoNeLBurNa]

oh ok i will check it out and i will let u know wats the go... and wen i am changing gears its abit jerky.. how long does it take for the clutch to wear in ? or could it be that electrical issue

[jmdearras]

Clutch is totally non-electric. But car jerking under shift could wiggle some engine control connection that is loose.

[Mx3Kid16]

On the V6 is is a gear attached to a electrical meter, which transmits a signal to the guage cluster, so it needs power to work. Yes, the 4 bangers use a unreliable cable driven system.

unreliable...? looks like mine still works and his doesn't. hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

[LayZieBoNeLBurNa]

wat do u mean?

[Ryan]

Actually ONLY the SOHC (92-93) motors used the cable driven speedo. I've pulled apart many many MX-3's at scrap yards. DOCH I4's always have digital speedometers.

[Mx3Kid16]

i wish there were mx3's in our junkyards... theres never ANY or Escorts it suckss

[Mnemonic]

On the V6 is is a gear attached to a electrical meter, which transmits a signal to the guage cluster, so it needs power to work. Yes, the 4 bangers use a unreliable cable driven system.

Not 100% correct...


4cyls got both the cable driven and the electronic. Depending on the year and engine.