Help! Can I bypass my cruise control transducer?

[Rmagid]

My speedometer stopped working and I want to replace the speedometer cables but I have cruise control (That doesn't work anyway) and I was wondering if I can bypass it all together and get a cable that goes from my speedometer to the transmission?

Also, while removing the bottom cable that goes from the transmission to the cruise control I found this piece that I'm not sure what it is. It has a wire that is grounded to the transmission and the other end of the wire wasn't connected to anything. Can anybody tell me what this is and what it's supposed to be connected to? I have a picture below.

Thanks in advance.
-Ryan

 

[Art Jett]

It's a speed sensor used for either an electric speedometer or a computer. An OBD1 computer will throw a check engine light if there's no speed sensor hooked up. (At least the one I used to have did.) You can remove it being as how it's not hooked up anyway. I removed the cruise from my 77 and you are correct, all you have to do is buy the speedo cable for a car without cruise. Art

 

[Rmagid]

Thanks Art. I may need to find out where that wire hooks up. There could be a chance that I pulled it out when I removed the cable.

I'll buy a long cable in the mean time to bypass the cruise.

-Thanks!

 

[terry82]

what i did before i fixed my cc,was take apart the cc and made it so that the gears inside would turn freely.then put it back together with the regular cables.check the ends of the cables they sometimes round off.

 

[Rmagid]

Bought the long cable to bypass the cruise control that doesn't work and I never used anyway and now the speedometer works again and no check engine light...yet. I only drove it about 4 minutes and never went above 30 mph.

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

'79s don't have computers so there is no 'check engine' light to worry about.

 

[TimAT]

Some aftermarket cruise control systems used a device like in the picture for speed sensing. And all the other visible parts look exactly like the factory parts.

 

[Rmagid]

Speedometer works fine now and I didn't need that sensor hooked up any more. I did however just have to remove the speedometer console to dye my dash from oyster to black and in doing so broke my speedometer needle. ad I bought a new one on Corvette America and I have to say it would be nice if one of these online corvette part suppliers shipped the product based on weight and not cost. I really don't think it costs $8 to ship a needle that's less then an ounce....but I digress.

 

[terry82]

they make more money on shipping then then they made on the part.

 

[6880 Mike]

...'79s don't have computers so there is no 'check engine' light to worry about...

I agree. If you have a Check Engine light in your 79, you need to worry.

FWIW: You could R&R your transducer and possibly have your cruise control up and running again.