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Adventure speedometer overhaul

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Created on July 29, 2025

Text:

Emanuel Zifreund

Photos:

Emanuel Zifreund

35

Gisbert Marx

1

Emanuel Zifreund

35

Gisbert Marx

1

First visual check - speedometer overhaul

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Year of manufacture clearly recognizable - speedometer overhaul

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Perfect readability - speedometer overhaul

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VW 411 Instrument cluster - Speedometer overhaul

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A cogwheel rarely comes alone - speedometer overhaul

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Here we go - speedometer overhaul

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Speedometer test - Speedometer overhaul

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Workshop equipment - Speedometer overhaul

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Cautious first steps - speedometer overhaul

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Speedometer now without glass - Speedometer overhaul

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Out of the housing - speedometer overhaul

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Still with speedometer disk and pointer - speedometer overhaul

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Good thing I don't have to do that - speedometer overhaul

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The speedometer disk comes off - speedometer overhaul

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Getting down to business - speedometer overhaul

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Same VDO sticker as on the housing - speedometer overhaul

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Inspection of the electrolytic capacitors - Speedometer overhaul

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Moving on - speedometer overhaul

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Removal of the electrolytic capacitors - Tachometer overhaul

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Soldering in new electrolytic capacitors - Speedometer overhaul

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Dexterity is required - speedometer overhaul

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Tolerance test - speedometer overhaul

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Repair note inside - speedometer overhaul

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Soon ready again - speedometer overhaul

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Fitting the speedometer ring - Speedometer overhaul

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Ready for installation - speedometer overhaul

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Final test - speedometer overhaul

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I too will soon be a speedometer again - speedometer overhaul

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Speedometer dials waiting to be used - Speedometer overhaul

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Back in action soon - speedometer overhaul

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There is a lot to do - speedometer overhaul

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Bulb check - speedometer overhaul

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Barely legible - speedometer overhaul

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Fuse work - speedometer overhaul

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On the left, the cause of the problem - speedometer overhaul

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Eddy current principle - speedometer overhaul

Summary

When the speedometer fails on a Porsche 911 Carrera (993), the search for spare parts or repair options begins. The author of this feature had to experience this first-hand (or at least on his own car). But he found the right solution.

This article contains the following chapters

When the speedometer goes on strike
The last hope
The speedometer is dismantled
Tired capacitors
Precautionary measures
Reassembly
Spare parts shortage
How does a speedometer actually work?

Estimated reading time: 10min

Preview (beginning of the article)

When the timer for the auxiliary heating failed in my VW 411 LE Variant in 1984, it was no problem to find a replacement. Off to the scrap yard, remove a used clock, pay at the exit and the matter was off the table. Today it is no longer that simple. You can no longer find gauges from bygone days either at the car recycler or at your trusted dealer. The manufacturers themselves generally offer neither spare parts nor repairs. Instrument failure is often also relevant for the TÜV. Without a speed display, the points account is also quickly filled in case of doubt. In other cases, for example when the trip odometer fails, it is above all a nuisance. It is important to everyone that the odometer works. At least most of us do. Okay, let's agree on many. There are also some people for whom the odometer is more convenient when it comes to selling their car - but I'm getting off the subject.

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