Review on 🚗 MTC Speedometer Odometer Gear Repair Kit for 94-98 Ford Mustang: Restore Accuracy & Performance! by Virgilio Feliciano

My 1997 Ford F150 odometer and trip meter stopped working. I removed the instrument cluster and found that the worm gear that drives the odometer and odometers had disintegrated - SEE PHOTO. Although the MTC gear set was listed for a 1997 Mustang, I took a chance that they might fit my 1997 F150. The prices I've only seen for the F150 worm gear were higher than the price of a set of Mustang gears. I won't go into detail on how to remove the instrument cluster as there are several videos on YouTube showing how to do it. However, if like me you have a 1997 Ford F150, there is a CRITICAL step in removing the headlight switch that I haven't seen on YouTube. This switch must be removed to gain access to one of several screws holding the main panel around the instrument cluster. I will explain it at the end of this review. Luckily the gear driven by the worm gear was fine. If it were broken too, the 2nd gear that came with my Revain order would NOT be a replacement for it - see PHOTO. To remove the motor from the plastic case, you need to turn it clockwise. Mine didn't move at first. To remove the motor I used a small cutting wheel on a Dremel tool to carefully remove part of one of the two plastic retaining tabs as shown in one of the attached PHOTOS. When I tried to fit a new worm gear onto the motor shaft it wouldn't slip. The hole in the gear was too small. I had to use a Dremel micro drill to enlarge the hole a bit, about 1/4 of the way into the gear to make sure the gear was tight on the shaft. The attached PHOTO shows the worm gear after I pressed it against the motor shaft but left space between the gear and the motor so there was no friction or binding. After verifying that the new worm gear meshed properly with the final drive teeth, I reattached the motor to the instrument cluster, reassembled the fairing, and reinstalled it in the dash. I took the car for a test drive, the odometer and trip meter worked. Loud hooray! As I mentioned at the beginning of this review, removing the instrument cluster from my 1997 F150 involves a specific procedure that the videos I've watched on YouTube don't explain. These videos show people using a screwdriver to remove the headlight switch from various recent F150 models to gain access to one of the screws holding the main fascia over the instrument cluster. In my case trying to use a screwdriver would most likely damage the switch or damage the surrounding trim as the switch is not held in place by clips but rather by a pawl sticking out on one side. This lock CANNOT be reached with a screwdriver from the front. I have a 2 volume set of Ford service manuals for my truck. Referring to page 417-01-98 of Volume 2, the procedure to retract the latch and remove the headlight switch is as follows: 1. Turn the headlight knob to the fog light position.2. Pull out the handle to turn on the fog lights.3. There is a hole at the bottom of the handle. While gently pulling on the handle, insert a thin tool into this hole to depress the locking tab. In my case I used a piece of hanger wire as shown in the attached PHOTO. The switch handle can be removed.4. Rotate the handle 180° and put it back on the shaft so it is now sliding back.5. Turn the knob counterclockwise so the back of the knob is in the OFF position. This activates the unlocking mechanism6. Then turn the knob clockwise to the FOG position. This will remove the pawl and the switch assembly can now be pulled out of the dash allowing you to remove the 3 connectors - see PHOTO. . Then remove the handle, turn it 180° and put it back on the shaft. Then twist it back and forth a few times until the handle snaps into place.