Trip Odometer Reset

[Les G.]

My trip odometer reset is not working on my 1970. The judging manual says you pull it down and turn it to reset. last night I attempted to take it out and try to lube and clean it to get it working. got the bottom part out twisted the cable, did not know you needed a wrench on the other side. Does anyone have any tips on this repair? Could not figure out how to get the top of the cable off the speedometer with pulling the dash.

[Ernie F.]

Re: Trip Odometer Reset

On the back of the speedometer is a clip that holds the cable. Push the clip inward toward the back of the car and pull the cable toward the front of the car.

On your trip cable, the nut is staked to the housing. You possibly could re-stake this to the housing but the speedometer will need to come out of the car. (dash pad too!). To reset the trip odometer, push upward while turning.

[Pat M.]

Re: Trip Odometer Reset

Ernie is correct about the reset, and the manual is wrong. You push UP and turn to reset it.

[Greg H.]

Re: Trip Odometer Reset

I'm am also having trouble with this on my 70. It is one of a few items I must address before I consider PV. I do not look forward to taking out the speedo. Everything else works well and I'm afraid I will mess it up.

If I put a power drill onto the reset cable I can turn it both ways, no problem. It's a little overkill, but the cable is so stiff the knob spins and I can't really get it turning with fingertip pressure. So I'm very curious to see what can be done by just removing the cable as described here.

But I also have the problem that the trip odometer does not calculate miles along with the main odometer. Is this failure in the speedo itself, meaning I need to remove and repair the speedo?

[Michael F.]

Re: Trip Odometer Reset

hope someone answers this as I have a similar problem.

[Jim T.]

Re: Trip Odometer Reset

I used to use trip odometer after I bought my new 1970. It was never a push it up and a smooth operation when turning it. The odometer quit registering mileage in early 1975 and I replaced the speedometer with a new one from GM.
Thinking the trip odometer could of had something to do with the odometer breaking in less than 4 years of ownership, I did not use it any more.
Bought a new trip odometer assembly from GM which contained new cable housing, cable and new rubber tip. Big difference in how easy the new one functioned in the cable by pushing it up and rotating.
Kept the new one for years before I installed it which was about 10 years ago. Don't remember using it since I installed it. Don't want to mess up the odometer.
Do not remember exactly since some time has passed, but I think the way the original trip odometer cable housing was routed from the speedometer case to dash retainer put a strain on smooth cable operation. I made sure the new one I installed was not installed like the original.

[Harmon C.]

Re: Trip Odometer Reset

Make sure the cable has no bends by removing it on the bottom from the bracket. Then try to reset it. If it turns hard it may take some force to get it unstuck. If it takes more work you will need to remove the housing.

[Greg H.]

Re: Trip Odometer Reset

Thanks for the tips guys.

I may be able to get away with lubing it up or straightening it out for the reset function, but if I go to PV it will need to register mileage, right? What is the typical failure and repair to make sure it registers miles?

[Edward S.]

Re: Trip Odometer Reset

Greg,

You are correct in that when going for the PV the judge will set it back to zero and at the end of your road test will check to see if your odometer and trip odometer match the number of miles laid out for the test.
At the present time I can set my trip odometer to anything I want by hand, but it will not move when the car is going, I have already got a Duntov so until something else goes in the cluster I am not going to worry about it. Good luck.

[Don L.]

Re: Trip Odometer Reset

For what it's worth, I replaced my trip odo cable without removing the speedo or even the left dash pad. One of the toughest jobs I've done on the car to date. Lots of street language, sweat and patience went into getting it in. Oh yeah. Lots of hours standing on my head trying to see/reach up in to where the new end needed to go for intallation. Walked away many, many times before succeeding.

Frankly, I'm not sure if it's easier to do it the way I did it or to just drop the pad and R/R the speedo head.

BTW, the cable, when operable, is pretty crude. I've seen many that need to be manually pushed/pulled into place after re-setting. Unless the cable is put back into place after zeroing out the odo, it won't count miles.

Les, maybe/hopefully, that's all you need on yours...

[Terry M.]

Re: Trip Odometer Reset

BTW, the cable, when operable, is pretty crude. I've seen many that need to be manually pushed/pulled into place after re-setting. Unless the cable is put back into place after zeroing out the odo, it won't count miles.

Les, maybe/hopefully, that's all you need on yours...

Don has the right idea. You have to pull the cable down after resetting the trip odometer or the miles will not register on the trip odo. The cumulative odometer should work regardless of the trip cable position, however. If the cumulative odometer is not working the dash pad and head will have to come out.


If you are heading for PV it is best to check the language in the PV manual (yes, there is one for each year class). Some team leaders want the trip odo reset cable to go down from the internal spring, others are content to allow the operator to pull it down. Check the book, or ask the team leader to be sure.

[Joe R.]

Re: Trip Odometer Reset

OK, Here's the 123's!

If your speedometer works and the Odometer (Total) or the Trip is not working you will have to remove it and send it to a speedometer shop for repair.

If you are having problem with the reset of the trip you MAY be able to solve the problem by removing the trip cable, cleaning and lubricating it.

If there are any kinks in the reset cable it would be best to replace the cable with a good used one. Found on e-bay frequently or at swap meets.

Last but not least, DO NOT remove the speedometer cable and generously lube. The cable inside the sheath acts as a pump and will force oil/grease into the speedometer head. Then you will have to remove the speedometer for repair. You will be best served by replacing the speedometer cable with a new one available from Delco/GM if they are still in business.

There are several speedometer shops listed in the Driveline. Looks like every Tom/Dick and Harry are repairing speedos these days. Beware as neither Tom/Dick or Harry knows what they are doing.

JR

[Alan S.]

Re: Trip Odometer Reset

Hi Les,
There's someone who advertises in THE DRIVELINE that he has a tool used for repairing the 63-77 trip odometer. I don't know if using it will help your problem or not. Issue 185, top of page 29. carclub@comcast.net.
Regards,
Alan

[Jack H.]

Re: Trip Odometer Reset

If the car has been driven with the trip reset cable left in 'no mans land' between engaged (reset knob fully down) and reset (knob fully up), it's highly likely that damage has resulted in the speedo head due to gear clash...

If that's the case, the speedo AND the reset cable need to be pulled and sent out for restoration/repair...

The reset cable, when removed from the speedo, should rotate freely and the cable's internal return spring should crisply 'snap' the cable back to its fully engaged (down) position. If that isn't happening, it's probably the result of prior owner failure to use/exercise and/or keep the cable lubricated.

The trip reset function needs to be periodically exercised to keep the internal cable and return spring uniformly lubricated...

[Greg H.]

Re: Trip Odometer Reset

I'm getting around to paying some attention to this issue again, so I hope to keep the discussion going. I was fiddling around again with the reset knob, and I did notice it clicks when I pull down after spinning the cable, so I will now test to see if it registers miles.

I'm trying to avoid ripping at apart this month as I won't have time to repair all the things I break before the regional.

But what I notice is an issue of force when resetting. If I grab hold of the pin without the black rubber cap and spin it (using my drill) it seems to work fine. When I use the rubber cap the cap seems to spin on the cable. If I had a metal cap with a set screw I think I could get it to work but then of course I have lost points with the wrong cap. I'd take the point loss for now.

Has anyone had luck replacing the rubber cap, or putting a sleeve inside it to keep it tightly held to the cable? How about a small hole through the cap and sliding a pin through both?