My father's 98 Forrester's speedometer stopped working sometime yesterday, and I don't know the conditions of when it stopped working. He'd just gotten his oil changed at a local jiffy-lube-esque place. He didn't notice that the speedo wasn't working until the check engine light came on. Shortly after he noticed the check engine light the car began to cut out intermittently on him. It will always start back up.. and if you're cruising when it cuts out.. it only cuts out momentarily. He drove it right to the dealer at closing time and a tech brought out a diagnostic reader and confirmed that the speedo sensor didn't appear to be working. He reset the computer and claimed the speedometer shouldn't have anything to do with it. It seemed to be fine for a little while.. still no speedometer.

I took it out this morning and drove it slowly around the neighborhood for a while.. no problem... once I got out on the main road and got the speed up to around 30mph (I think) the check engine light came on. I headed right back for home and it began to cut out on me.. it's definately an electronic problem... as the engine shuts down all at once and then right back up.. no stumble like a fuel or physical ignition problem.

So, does anyone know where the speedometer sensor is located? I've searched the Haynes.. no luck. I'm guessing it's in the transmission.

If the speed was determined from a composite of the ABS sensors then one not working would throw the ABS lamp on, correct (all the dash lamps, seem to be working, btw).

All the fuses check out okay.. the odometer lights up, but doesn't change.

Any insight into this problem is greatly appreciated.

(before anyone tells me that this is a Forrester and not an Impreza.. well, same EJ25 motor and drivetrain.. as well as engine management and nearly everything else)

 

i have seen a speedo stop working before. it happened in an outback. we simply took out the gauge cluster and replaced the speedo gauge. i don't think the power cut and the speed problem are related.

-PJ

 

Alright, I appreciate that.

It seems that the cutting out I described is actually the limp mode. The parking lights flash 30 times and then stop for 30 seconds, then flash 30 times again.. on an on. The car still purrs along just fine, but has lost 60% of power, as though the timing has been retarded (a la limp mode).

It can sit and idle and rev in place for an hour without the check engine light coming on (the parking lights still flash though??).. but then the check engine light will come on after I drive it down the road 1/4 of a mile.. every time... followed shortly by the limp mode.

I'm going to check out the speedo sensor (which I think I located on the right hand side of the tranny) from my 95 Legacy (OBDI) and see if it matches the one in the 98 Forrester (OBDII). Worth a shot, I'd say.

PS: Nevermind about the flashing blinkers.. that was just the remote door locks looking for their remote... duh.