first off 97 didnt use a speedo cable,on the back of the transfer case is a vss (vehicle speed sensor)try and replace that if that doesnt solve your problems check the gauge cluster,i have a 97 eb exporer and i had the same issue it was driving me nuts had the dealer scan it and they couldn't tell me anything,i found my cluster at a bone yard for $40 and it solved my issues good luck
The odometer on a 96 Ford Explorer is tied into the speedometer. If the speedometer is working then there is a gear problem inside of the speedometer causing the odometer to not work.
Speedometer is ran by electronic sensor on rear end. Odometer is ran from speedometer. If both don't work problem is sensor. If speedometer works sensor is okay. If speedometer works and odometer does not problem is in mechanical parts (gears) of of odometer and has to be replaced. Can get used from eBay (search for speedometer or odometer, is one unit) or take to dealer.
There are two possible actions: 1) Replace the speedometer head assembly, because that is where your problem is. 2) Ignore the broken odometer and forget about it. The speedometer and odometer are one assembly. The same input that drives the speedo also drives the odometer, so you have a problem in the head itself.
The problem is inside the speedo and has to go to a speedo shop to be repaired.
The odometer runs on the same electronic gear driven sensor as the speedometer so if the speedometer is working and the odometer is not the problem is in the "Speed head" (speedometer unit in the dash). Mine and several others I have seen break at about 40,000 and will need replacing.
If you open the odometer, there are two small plastic gears. One is connected to the speedometer, the other to the odometer. The speedometer gear drives the odometer gear. In all likelihood, one of these gears is missing a few teeth. I have the same problem with my Ramcharger, same year.
Have your mechanic check the speedometer cable connections. They no longer use a cable. It is electronic. If the speedometer is not working but the odometer is, the problem is in the dash cluster. If both the speedometer and odometer are not working, the speed sensor in the transmission may be at fault.
I suspect multiple problems. The blank or intermittent odometer problem is a common problem in the 2002 Ford Explorer. The ABS and airbag lights are most likely a different problem than the odometer problem. For complete information on the intermittent odometer problem, see http://www.odometer-repair.com .
There is no such thing as an "odometer sensor." There is a vehicle speed sensor that is located on the output shaft housing of the transmission. That sends info to the speedometer. From there, the speedometer and the odometer are both operated internally, so if your speedo is working, but the odometer isn't, you have a problem inside the speedo head assembly.
If the speedometer and abs light are not working then you have a speed sensor problem. If the speedometer or odometer are not working then you will need to take it to the dealership and have them send it off for repair.
If the speedometer and the odometer are not working, I would suspect the VSS (vehicle speed sensor). If only the speedometer is not working I would suspect the instrument cluster has problems.
The speedometer is wired to a VSS. If it has failed then the unit will need to be replaced. Odometer and trip meter are wired into the same fuse and should be checked. If the fuse is blown the odometers will not work.