Honda Activa's Speedometer Issue fixed after some unexpected twists

I took a longish test ride and the needle was rock steady. Finally, I was at ease. I am very happy to inform that all issues resolved.

BHPian BLACNWYTE recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Fluctuating Speedometer Needle - ISSUE RESOLVED

I wanted to get the issue resolved after a couple of weeks into using Blu, but a busy work schedule and other personal commitments meant that the issue took a backseat.

In about the second week of January, I was seriously considering changing the entire wiring/ sensor for the speedometer and told my better half about the same. To say she wasn't even not at all interested in the matter will be an understatement. She told I was acting crazy and instead should drop her off at work and the speedometer issue is not an issue at all.

I don't know whether to put it this out here in the open lest my wife sees this, but, I think we should listen to our better half at times because I would not have believed what happened next would have ever happened otherwise. (to help the context, I and my wife take our respective two wheelers to office mostly and if we have to travel together its always the Car or else her scooter, because Blu's suspension comfort is worse that that of an autorickshaw running on rims). While we were travelling to her office, I observed that the speedometer needle was rock steady on the bad roads and was indicating normal speed. No fluctuations whatsoever. I was dumbfounded but dared not to tell my wife for the fear of hearing, 'I told you so, see you are crazy'. I purposefully rode through bad patches to see the needle budge but nothing happened other than my wife telling me off for trying to destroy her spine.

I half expected that the issue resolved by itself, unlike last time the handlebar bearing had to be replaced. But after dropping my wife off and on the ride to my office, the fluctuating needle returned in full fury and was dropping to zero even at the slightest imperfection on the road. It was even dropping to zero during acceleration and sometimes staying at zero for more than 5 -10 seconds. Now, I was even more confused. In the evening, on the ride back from office, the erratic needle behavior stopped once my wife took the pillion seat. Now I was thinking, was Blu afraid of my wife and behaving nicely. Absurd thinking, right?

So, in theory, whenever Blu is fully loaded, the speedometer worked fine and during single person rides t it danced away to glory. To test my theory I volunteered to drop my wife off at her office from then on. (now I really wish she doesn't read this). She was happy as she did not have to deal with rush hour traffic and I was happy to test out my theory or conduct my little experiment.

So over the next couple of weeks, I did this and confirmed that under full load, speedometer was working fine and during solo rides and idling the needle behavior was erratic. I also observed steady needle most of the time when the engine is cold. So, I threw out the initial conclusion of bad sensor/ wiring and arrived at a new conclusion -'loose contact'.

The next possible free day (last Saturday - 08/02/2025) I took Blu to the regular HASS (EVM Honda Neeramankara, Trivandrum) for the repair works and asked the technician to check for loose contact in the speedometer and check the oil level as I was fearing another leak from gasket. Also, I purchased a new floor mat (push lock type) as the old one was hard and not locking into the holes on the floor.

By afternoon on 8th, the technician called and said it was indeed a loose connection and they have tightened it and there is no oil leak. So, Blu was ready for pick up. I went there by around 5:30PM and took Blu. I had to wait for half an hour as they had ten Blu for washing just as I asked for it. However, as soon as I was out of the HASS and on the road Blu spluttered and died.

Initially I thought it must be due to the water from pressure washing. So let it sit for about 10 minutes and then tried. Self was working but Blu won't start. Same issue with the kicker- no response. Now I was at a traffic signal and there were traffic cops nearby. They also enquired about the issue and tried to help kick start Blu. No success.

I hadn't even checked out if the issue was resolved with the speedometer now I have a new problem. I parked Blu on the side of the road and walked back to HASS to report the issue and get a mechanic to come and take a look. By then it was well over 6:30PM and all the staff except for a couple of SAs and watchmen had gone home. The SAs were not at all helpful and they simply asked me to bring back Blu to the HASS and they will sort it on Monday as they are not open on Sundays.

I called up my BIL and he came and we pushed Blu to the HASS and left. On Monday morning itself I called up the HASS and informed of the issue and since I didn't have any appointment they said it might take them till Tuesday to resolve the issue. I was speechless at the logic that they needed me to take an appointment to fix an issue created by them. They swore up and down that they have not done anything to Blu other than fixing the loose connection and checking oil/ engine gasket. Well, on Tuesday (yesterday) after repeated calls to the front office and SA finally, I got the call back saying Blu was ready and the issue was loose spark plug. I didn't want to get into who loosened it in the first place so I just took permission from office and collected Blu. I didn't want to keep him with HASS any longer.

I took a longish test ride and the needle was rock steady. Finally, I was at ease like, Thanos after the snap(?). So, for some time now I have become the official chauffeur for my wife and today I wanted to test Blu after the repair. I am very happy to inform that all issues resolved. Now I'm scheming as to how to make my wife take her own ride to office tomorrow onwards.

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