Speedometer Issue

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

dayton1202

Newbie
Joined
Jun 7, 2013
Messages
11
Reaction score
2
Location
Amarillo TX
My speedometer is off by 8MPH. All I did was change out my instrument cluster with a 91 K1500 cluster. My truck being a 91 C1500. Before the change the speedo was reading fine. I still have my stock cluster and it doesn't seem to be modded in any way. The tires I have on it now are a little fatter and shorter. Any help would be appreciated.
 

95C1500

┌П┐(◣_◢)┌П┐
Joined
Jun 28, 2012
Messages
37,522
Reaction score
1,983
Location
Texas
The tires are probably the reason. You would have to calibrate your DRAC or VSSB... I don't remember which is which :think:
 

sewlow

Bitchin' Stitchin'
Joined
Jun 22, 2011
Messages
12,432
Reaction score
5,807
Location
Abbotsford B.C., Canada.
Just replaced the one in my '97, from a same model, year, & similar equipped truck. It's out about 10%. The other one was nearly dead on. Nothing else was changed.
I think that the only truly accurate speedo is a GPS.
 

95C1500

┌П┐(◣_◢)┌П┐
Joined
Jun 28, 2012
Messages
37,522
Reaction score
1,983
Location
Texas
maybe the size wasn't enough to make a difference :shrug:
 

great white

Retirement countdown!
Joined
Jan 21, 2012
Messages
6,266
Reaction score
210
The 91 cluster has the digital ratio adapter controller built into the cluster itself.

There are jumpers in the cluster which tell the DRAC what your tire size and gearing should be (hard wired into the DRAC by the OEM). It takes this information and looks at the pulses from your VSS (vehicle speed sensor), converts it to a signal the speedo can use and then routes it to the speedometer which displays your road speed. It also routes separate signals to your ECM, Cruise control and ABS so they also know the road speed for things like maintaining cruise, locking up the convertor, shifting the transmission, etc.

What has likely happened is you swapped in a cluster from a truck with different gearing, so the DRAC is outputting an incorrect signal.

You need to recalibrate the DRAC in the cluster.

It is slightly harder than the later models that have an external drac because you have to open the cluster, but it can be done.

There was one model that had to use a "shorting plug" and it was pretty much a one time calibration thing. It worked by shorting certain resistors/circuits to calibrate the cluster. That was right around the 91 model year IIRC. Memory is a little foggy on which one those were, you'll have to google a bit if you want to know for sure. Here's a link that seems to indicate 91 and lower were shorting plugs: http://books.google.ca/books?id=sjd...ac digital ratio adapter converter 91&f=false

I'm pretty sure guys have figured a way around that and use the DIP switch scheme, but again, you'll have to google.....

If you alter the DRAC circuit with DIP switches vice jumpers, your DRAC is easily adjusted when you do things like change gearing or tire sizes. Not as easily as an external DRAC (VSSB in later trucks), but still easier than de-soldering and moving jumper wires.

You can also use the switches to dial your road speed dead on with another source (GPS for example).
 
Last edited:
Top