RE: 86 5ks Window and Odometer

[Gfbourcier@aol.com]

Alexander,
Have you had the front door panels off for anything yet?  If not, then you 
probably need to do the dreaded door servicing ritual (just did all four 
doors on mine this weekend.)  After the door panels are off, on the jerky 
window you will probably find the window regulator hanging loose within the 
door.  It probably adds a banging noise to the jerky window movement.  
Reattach the regulator at the three mounting bolt points and use a 
lithium-type grease on the vertical window track and, at the base of the 
track, CAREFULLY grease the cable going into the regulator (I pinched my 
finger twice.)  While you're in there, lube any linkage that you can reach to 
make opening and latching the doors go smooth like butter.  Also, check the 
wiring harness for the power mirrors.  If the outer rubber sleve is frayed 
where it goes from the door to the body (through the rubber accordion thing,) 
reinforce that spot with some electrical tape to avoid power mirror failure 
in the future.  I know I may have made life miserable by suggesting this 
other stuff, but it's easier to knock it all out at one time (this coming 
from the former Champion of Repeat Repairs!)
Regarding the odometer, if you spedometer is still functioning, it is 
probably a salvagable unit.  Many of the VDO model W-15xx and W-16xx are 
similar in the way the odometer is driven off of the main internal gearset.  
Remove the instrument panel (may require removing the steering wheel to get 
the black plastic bezel off,) disconnect the spedo cable and wire connectors, 
and remove the instrument panel via 8 phillips head screws from the rest of 
the housing.  Be careful of the blue circuit board (plastic sheet!) when 
playing with the assembly.  Once you remove the spedo head (4x5/16" screws 
directly behind the spedo, the red and brown slip-on connectors from the side 
and top of the spedo, and two flat head screws hold in another two wire 
connector,) look for a yellow gear on the driver's side of the unit.  It 
should be directly on top of a white "worm" gear.  If the gear is pushed 
towards the outside of the housing, push it back in.  There are several 
methods to holding this gear in place, point being that the yellow gear needs 
some type of retainer (like a clevis pin pushed down the outer beige housing 
edge, lined up with the yellow gear) to keep it from "walking" off of the 
gear.  Do that.  Re-assemble.  The only way you can tell if there is any 
internal gear damage now is to drive the car.  Reset the tripmeter and drive. 
 If it is going to break again, it will be at 0.9, 9.9 or 99.9 miles, because 
any problems will be with the "roll to the next digit" function.  If that is 
the case, like it was with mine, either spend the money to have the guage 
repaired ($100-$125!) or replace with one from a wrecking yard that is close 
in miles to your vehicle.  How many miles on your 5ks?  I have a wrecking 
yard here in Baltimore that is a good source for 5k models.

HTH and keep in touch,

Gil Bourcier
Columbia, MD USA

87 4kcsq - 83k mi
97 Honda Valkyrie Tourer - 20k mi