Jap import speedo help.

Third Opinion · 13 Oct 2015 at 18:12

I have owned an Mitisbushi FTO GPX for about a year now. I must say for a 20 year old car with 60k on the V6 it has been faultless.

It's first problem has emerge, the speedo has developed an intermittent fault were it works when warm but can be a intermittent when cold.

Doing my research it may be down to a converter chip that changes Kilometres per hour into MPH.

Seems an easy fix (if it is this) however I have no idea were this chip may be located?

Any import owners that can help?

p1RATE · 13 Oct 2015 at 18:19

It is usually behind the speedo cluster. It can also be spliced in on the gearbox sensor.

Just pull your dials out and see if you can see anything soldered on to start with.

ci_newman · 13 Oct 2015 at 18:30

Before pulling dials, check for any little black boxes hanging out your Gearbox

MarkLP · 13 Oct 2015 at 19:56

I'm not clued on FTOs but also check it isn't cable driven instead of electronic.

Clarkey · 13 Oct 2015 at 20:05

MarkLP said:
I'm not clued on FTOs but also check it isn't cable driven instead of electronic.

They are electronic.

Personally I would just bin the thing off they are more trouble than they're worth and it only takes 5 minutes to get used to driving with km/h.

sovietspybob · 13 Oct 2015 at 21:44

But then you'll be limited to 112mph where's the fun in that

They are a load of faf though, the one i had broke on my DC5 and the one on my current import impreza just isn't working at all at the moment so i'm very much looking forward to taking the dash apart to get the clocks out to try and fix that..

ci_newman · 14 Oct 2015 at 09:44

I agree that they can be a bit of a pain, the one on my DC5 caused an under-read of about 10-15%.

markweatherill · 14 Oct 2015 at 14:12

Would a UK-spec mph speedo just bolt right in?

insane200 · 14 Oct 2015 at 15:39

Remove it to save the hassle, and use a satnav for the MPH.

Nasher · 14 Oct 2015 at 17:44

Not sure you would pass an MOT without a proper working speedo though

I know, I know...health and safety gone mad

[TW]Fox · 14 Oct 2015 at 17:50

Amazed and pleased to see there are still FTO's around that have not died of terminal rot.

sovietspybob · 14 Oct 2015 at 18:49

i just had an MOT on my impreza with a completely no functioning speedo and while it did fail on emissions there's no mention of the speedo at all!

Clarkey · 14 Oct 2015 at 18:58

Why would there be? The car doesn't move during an MOT..