Honda Repair: VSS or Speedometer Head Problems-1991 Accord Ex, honda accord ex, reading zero

Question
Hi Bill:

The speedometer on my 1991 Honda Accord-Ex automatic, started gving me problems in late December of 2005. It was either working or reading zero, with the sports light flashing. I took it in to Honda and they replaced the Variable Speed Sensor. The Speedometer now operates, but there are several problems:

1) It is not callibrated. When I'm travelling at 50kms/hr it reads 43kms/hr, and worse at higher speeds.

2) The needle sometimes seats higher than zero when I'm stopped with my foot on the brake.

I took the car into Honda twice after the VSS change, and they demagnitized the speedo head, which did not help the problem. They told me that if the problem re-occured that I would need a new speedo head at $750cdn+2 hours labour. Based on the above scenario do you think that I need a new speedo, or do you think that the VSS they put in could be faulty?  The speedo had always worked properly prior to the VSS being replaced. The car has 180,000km's mileage (111,000 miles). Your help is sincerely appreciated.

Thanks.

Terry

Answer
Terry,
Based on what you tell me it sounds reasonable that Honda needs to check the VSS first before replacing the speedo.
They may have already check it but before spending that kind of money I would make sure the cable is not kinked and the VSS is seated and known to be good.
Hope this helps.
Bill