There are several reasons why your Honda Civic odometer will stop working. The most likely reason is that the speed sensor of your car is beginning to fail.
In this post, we will discuss the possible reasons why your Honda Civic odometer is not working. Following this, we will proffer a few solutions to the problem. Let’s dive straight in.
Honda Civic Odometer Not Working: Possible Causes
Normally, your Honda Civic Odometer should be at rest when your car isn’t moving. Once you start to move, the odometer should begin to rise slowly.
There are several ways that the odometer could malfunction. For example, it could arise when your car is idle or stay idle when the car is in motion. In some instances, the odometer may provide inaccurate reports or it may continuously bob up and down. Here are the possible reasons why your Honda Civic odometer is not working properly:
Loose wires
This is one of the most common reasons behind malfunctioning odometers. There are wires behind this component that connect it to the rest of the car. When these wires are loose or disconnected, the odometer malfunctions.
There are several reasons why you could have loose wires. It could be a result of driving over rough terrain repeatedly. This situation could also result from improper placement during manufacturing or maintenance routines.
Short circuit
When there is a short circuit, it could affect the odometer and prevent it from functioning optimally. There are several reasons why you may have short circuits. One of them is that the plastic clip holding the wires in the engine gets broken.
Without this clip, these wires rub against the engine freely. Continuous wear and tear will result in bare wires. When these bare wires touch the car metal, it results in short circuits.
Variable Speed Sensor
This is also known as the vehicle speed sensor of (VSS). It is always located on your Civic’s transmission. When this component is damaged, it results in the idleness of your odometer even when the car is accelerating.
Sometimes, the odometer will not function when the VSS is working well because of corrosion. When the connection between the VSS and the odometer is corroded, it prevents the latter from functioning properly. You solve this problem by repair, cleaning, or replacement.
Exhaust Gas Recirculation
This is also known as the EGR and it is a valve on your car engine that controls the passage of exhaust fumes. When this component gets damaged, it remains open. This makes your Honda Civic odometer keep bobbing up and down. It also results in the rough running of the engine.
Blown Fuse
This is a very common problem and may result from electrical faults or short circuits. You can find the associated fuse by looking at the fuse map on the lid of the fuse box. Once you find the associated fuse, check if it is loose or blown. If it is loose, simply place it properly and the speedometer should start working normally. However, if it is blown, you have to change the fuse entirely.
Oxygen Sensor Issues
One of the peculiarities of the Honda Civic is that it comes with two oxygen sensors. Both relay information about the exhaust to your car’s computer system. This, in turn, controls the ignition and fuel supply rate of your engine so that it remains efficient and stable.
If any or both sensors start to malfunction, it results in an inaccurate fuel supply and ignition. This causes poor running of the engine and jerking and stuttering of the speedometer. You will always see a “check engine” light on the dashboard when this occurs.
Honda Civic Odometer Not Working: Fixing the problem
Already, we have shown you a few reasons why your Honda Civic Odometer is not working. We have even mentioned few things that you can fix to solve the problem. here is a quick recap:
- Check for blown fuses and replace them.
- Reconnect loose wires.
- Sort out short circuits.
In this section, we will take it further by looking at two major advanced fixes. Check them out below:
Replace the VSS
Here are a few signs that your Civic’s VSS is not functioning properly:
- The odometer behaves erratically.
- Brakes are more difficult to engage than usual.
- Transmission revs very high before changing gears.
- When accelerating, you see the “check engine” come on sporadically and intermittently.
If you have noticed any or all of these signs, you need to change your VSS. Here’s how to do this:
- Open the hood to locate the VSS. You should find it above the transmission just behind the engine compartment.
- Take out the filter and air intake hose.
- Take out the electrical connector sitting on the VSS. You can do this by squeezing the clip then sliding it off.
- Remove the bolt holding the VSS.
- Wiggle the VSS and pull it out. Usually, it comes out with the drive link. If it doesn’t, then you should get it out.
- Connect the drive link to your new VSS and replace it.
- Replace the tightening bolt, filter, and air intake hose.
Replace the Gauge Cluster/Odometer
Sometimes, the issue is the gauge cluster/odometer. Here is how to know that your gauge cluster is malfunctioning:
- The gauge no longer illuminates.
- Its readings are inaccurate.
- When you tap on the dashboard, the symptoms go away.
- The cluster switches on and off sporadically.
If you notice any or all of these signs, here’s how to replace the gauge cluster:
- Remove the dashboard bezel screws.
- Undo the clips on the sides of the bezel then remove them.
- Take the wiring cluster out from the dashboard.
- Unplug the harness holding the gauge cluster.
- Plug in the stock harness to your new gauge cluster.
- Install the new gauge cluster and tighten the bolts.
- Replace it in the dashboard.
- Replace the clips and screws and the bezels.
