Odometer not working

There is a plastic gear in the speedometer that eventually breaks on mechanical speedometers called an odometer drive gear. This will involve removing the speedometer from the instrument cluster in the dash.

Hello BDG, The answer is no. If the VSS fails on your 97 Chevy, you will lose both speedometer and odometer functions. If your speedo is still working and your odometer is not, you have a broke odometer. This is a common failure with a lot of the older vehicles that were fitted with the mechanical odometer registers. Feel free to contact Kincer's Service for a repair salution.
GM Instrument Cluster Speedometer Repair Service

It could have went out, but you might check plug, or grounds. If just the odometer and speed quit, you could have a bad vehicle speed sensor in the transmission

If you are talking about the odometer display does not show numbers, here is a detailed instructions on where to find the cold solder joints at :
http://www.f150online.com/forums/electrical-systems/373597-intermittent-odometer-repair.html

This is if the cluster lighting still works, but the display is blank. Don't know if you mean the gauges in the cluster do not work.

the odometer is bad, if the speedo works ok.. you will need to send it off and have it replaced. most auto shops/dealers have a place that they send them off to .

The odometer part itself is bad.

The odometer is driven by a small electic motor. It receives the same signal the speedometer receives. If the odometer motor is no longer functioning, I'm affraid the entire instrument panel cluster will have to be replaced.
Any other questions, let me know.
Regards,

have the vehicle speed sensor replaced on the transmission replaced it will be the front one.they are not very exspensive.thanks for your question.

Suggest you visit this website... http://www.hyperocity.com/volvo240/volvoodometer.htm
Odometer is turned by a mechanical gear wheel, which is the likely culprit.

the spedometer cable has broken. thats the only thing that will make them both stop working at the same time