Fixing Audi odometer

Repairing Audi / Vw / Volvo odometer by replacing planetary gear

frissítve: 2025-11-07 32 hozzászólás

This is an old article, which was updated several times in the last 10 years.

I'm happy that still so many people find me :)

I proudly announce my new web store for my odometer gear products!
Details on the bottom of the page.

Some Audi, VW and Volvo cars manufactured around the nineties have a common odometer issue: the counters (both total and daily) stop, while the speedometer is still working.

The culprit is a small, rubbery planetary gear, which usually deteriorates after twenty-some years and starts to loose its teeth:

This little bastard is so mushy, that you could cut in half with your nail. No wonder it did not work anymore...

Replacing this little planetary gear is simple, it can be easily found inside the odometer (screws to undo are marked with arrows).

The most complicated in the whole process is removing the needle.
If it has a stopper pin, gently lift the needle over it so it can rest. Now observe its position so you can put it back properly. This odometer on the picture (from a '93 Audi 100) did not have such stopper pin.

You may have to apply unreasonable force to pull off the needle - this is normal. Don't worry, it will not break, nor will its shaft, as long as you don't bend the whole thing - just pull. The little black "hat" will probably break off, but you can glue it back easily later - until that, it lets you have a better grip on the needle to pull off.

Be careful during removing the needle, and also when undoing the black label screws - a slipping screwdriver can leave a nasty mark on your dial.

After undoing the screws that fix the PCB and stepper motor to the odometer body, just carefully bend the whole PCB to the side and finally meet the planetary gearset.

For installing the new gears, you won't need any lubricants, as there's no high load (the RPM is low, and also the torque of the stepper motor).

Now just put it together again in reverse order. When assembling the planetary gearset, be careful, because improper alignment may cause the gears to lock and not count, despite the new gear. (Unless you want to disassemble the whole thing again, just for the fun of it :)

Now you only want to know, where could you get such lovely little planetary gears, right?

If you would like to purchase gears for any odometers for Audi, BMW, Chrysler/Dodge, Ford, Mercedes, Nissan, Porsche, Volvo or other vehicles, please check out or web store!

https://www.odometer.parts

(After 10 years we have discontinued our eBay store for various reasons, but our ratings can still be checked there.)

We are also proud of our precision micro injection molding service - if you need small plastic parts manufactured, take a look:

https://mindfacture.works

You may also contact me via email, I will be glad to help you.

(Please do not send message through this current webpage.)
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cnv 2016-01-04 21:55
Dear fellow car enthusiasts!

To protect your e-mail addresses, all comments will be hidden under this article. I will still receive your messages, so you may ask any questions about odometer gear repair, I will do my best to help you.

with best regards:
cnv