Odometer doesn't work on 1992 lebaron

QuestionEdit

QUESTION: Hi, I have a 1992 Chrysler Lebaron and the odometer and trip meter do not work. Previously you told me the problem was in the instrument cluster. I removed the cluster and removed the center section that contains the speedometer and odometer. I removed the 2 screws on the circuit board and squeezed the white tips but it does not separate from the base of that speedometer. I removed the 4 screws that attach to the face of the speedometer and it does not separate. Can you tell me how to get to the gear that drives the odometer from this point? Thank you Roland

ANSWER: Here is the procedure from the Chrysler LeBaron Club site at Yahoo, message #33980. Remove bezel around inst panel by removing screws along the top. Pull out the bottom (held on with spring clips).

Remove screws holding inst panel in.

Disconnect two elec connectors in back of inst panel

Inst panel should be on your workbench now.

Remove screws that hold clear plastic lens on.

Separate black piece from white housing.

Remove 3 screws that hold in speedo.

Remove all screws in clear speedo assy.(7) Loosen the clear plastic housing but no need to separate them, i.e. don't remove the speedo needle.

Remove 2 screws that hold in odo motor. Gently rock circuit board/motor assy to expose gear assy at end of motor (or it may be left inside odo housing).

Pull off large blue gear and white cover- odo gear is inside. Replace gear with the smaller diameter against the white cover (like a mushroom).

Reassemble gear set (may have to GENTLY help larger gears to mesh with a small screwdriver on the gear that is inline with the odo numbers) Reinstall motor screws. If it starts to make a crunchy noise, STOP and try a different screw. I think the screws have minute differences, and I didn't want to risk splitting/stripping the screw hole. Reinstall all screws in the clear plastic, noting that the metal washers go opposite the metal washers that are captured in the clear housing. A plastic washer goes between the larger lug halves.

Note that there are location holes and studs that mate with them so that everything is square.

Reinstall 3 screws that hold the speedo in the cluster. Reassemble cluster, and install.

Put in bezel starting with the spring clips on the bottom, then screw holes in the top.

Road test! Total time if had to do it again: 1-2 hours tops.

Take your time and be gentle; the gear can be inserted if you are careful, and note how the old one is fitted before removing it. I did mine a year or so ago on my '89.

Roland

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Roland, That procedure seems to be a different speedometer than mine. My LeBaron is a 1992 Convertible. Could it have a different instrument cluster? There doesn't seem to be a way to remove the screws under the circuit board. The screws are too far in to get to. Any thoughts?

AnswerEdit

Hi Roger, I have looked into the matter in greater detail. First I assume this is a mechanical not a totally electronic cluster. Second, I assume the the speedometer is working properly. If that is the case then the problem is in the tachometer part only. There is no detail about the odometer drive for this model year, as far as a gear drive which opens the possibilitiy for gear replacement which was the case thru '89. The design of the speedo/odo changed in '90 and continued until the end of the run in '95. The manual suggests to "replace the speedometer assembly" in its entirety if the odometer doesn't function. The only alternative that I can suggest would be to go to the yahoo autos group called The Chrysler LeBaron Club, join it, and ask a question. There are a couple of thousand members, one or more of whom will respond from their personal experience with a '90-'95 odometer problem. Sorry to have mislead you...I hope that you didn't invest in an odometer gear (of which there are 2, and which only will work on the unit up to the '89 model year). Roland