4 replies to this topic

[MiniGuy1990]

Morning All!
 

New issue i'd like some advice with please.

 

I've got a 1993 Mini 998 with a three dash binnacle.

 

My issue is very intermittent. I will set off with everything hunky dory and then randomly at some point - sometimes seconds, sometimes half an hour later - the speedo will drop to 0 and will stay there. The next time I go to use the car, everything seems fine again until the process repeats!

 

I have read a few things about it possibly being rounded at the ends?? 

 

Any advice on what this could be and what I should do would be much appreciated.

 

Thanks in advance,

Mark 

[Ethel]

Does the mileage stop counting too?

 

If the tenths keep clocking up it could be needle is loose.

 

If it's the cable (both speedo & milometer would stop) I think it's a bit more likely to have become loose. or snapped. If you detach it from the back of the speedo you should be able to extract the inner to inspect, but it will likely take a bit of jiggling to to reinsert in the pinion at the gearbox end. So check it's fully home on the back of the dash first. 

[Quinlan minor]

Pull out the speedo inner cable, first.
Check that it is in one piece. A broken cable will often give symptoms that match yours.
If it is, check that the ends aren’t rounded.
Might be worth having a replacement cable on hand.

Edited by Quinlan minor, 28 May 2026 - 11:06 AM.

[MiniGuy1990]

Thanks both. I will pull the dash binnacle and have a look there.

 

Will report back.

[Spider]

It'll likely be the Speedo Drive Pinion in the gearbox. These are a 'plastic' gear on a steel shaft, they are known to slip.

Getting at them isn't too difficult.