The speedometer in my 98 GT intermittently stops working. Odometer and tach is fine. Pressing the trip reset button will get the speedo working for a short while but it was not accurate. I purchased a new speed sensor from an Autozone. It looks exactly like the one on the car but when I attempt to install it, the part will not fit. The plug or barrel portion is just a hair to large to fit in the cylinder. it is so close. I even tried getting a second part just in case the first was defective but no go.

I am at a loss. Any ideas?

 

Return it and go buy a Motorcraft OEM Part $50.00 and you will be done

 

Update: a little emory cloth and it slotted right in. Unfortunately that did not solve the problem. Not sure what to do next.

 

Aveos have a similar problem with the odometer display scrambling and cutting in and out. It turned out to be a cracked connection on the circuit board on the back of the instrument panel.

 

I would yank the cluster out and have it gone thru. Id assume thats the best spot to look based off your description. If pressing the trip/reset will get the needle moving, its probably an internal fault at the cluster itself