How long does the speedometer sensor last?

While a mechanical speedometer will use a speedometer cable attached to the driveshaft and transmission, this is not the case with the electronic speedometer found in most modern cars. They use a speedometer sensor ....

While a mechanical speedometer will use a speedometer cable attached to the driveshaft and transmission, this is not the case with the electronic speedometer found in most modern cars. They use a speedometer sensor. It is mounted on the transmission, but there is no cable connecting it to the back of the speedometer housing. Instead, it sends a series of pulses to the car's computer, which interprets these signals and then displays them as the speed at which you are driving.

Each vehicle requires a dedicated speedometer sensor calibrated to its unique characteristics. In addition, the speedometer sensor is used all the time when your car is on the road. If you move, the sensor sends signals to the computer. The good news is that mechanical failure is not a problem (it's an electronic component). The bad news is that electronic components can still fail early.

Under ideal conditions, the speedometer sensor should last decades, if not the life of the car. However, premature failures do occur. Damage to the wiring harness, exposure to corrosive liquids, and more can cause problems with the sensor. Debris can also build up around the base of the sensor, which is actually installed inside the transmission case.

If your speedometer sensor fails, your speedometer itself will be unreliable. In the worst case, it might not work at all. Knowing a few common symptoms to watch out for can help manage this situation. These include:

• Speedometer does not work
• Speedometer not accurate (reading too high or too low)
• The speedometer needle bounces or the digital reading changes randomly
• Check Engine Indicator
• Cruise control is not working

If you notice any of these symptoms, or think the problem is with your speedometer or speedometer speed sensor, AvtoTachki can help. One of our mobile mechanics can come to your home or office and diagnose the problem and then replace the speedometer sensor.