Speedo Question

[Bebop Man]

Back in April, my speedo started to make a grinding, whining noise. I replaced the cable, and all was well.

This last weekend as I'm driving about, it starts bouncing up and down, back and forth. Today, it stopped completely for about a mile, then started again, then stopped. It seems as though if I'm going below 35-40, it won't read anything at all. Above that, it starts reacting erratically.

Now, from what I remember from pulling the dash apart, it's just this cable going into the speedo. Is the cable going bad already, or is there somewhere else I should be looking?

 

[Seabronc]

It could be just a little corroded. Take it off and see how easily the cable spins inside of the sheath. If it feels tight, try squirting some PB blaster in the ends to free it up.

Good luck,

>-

 

[88horse]

i had the same problem mine is a 88 tho, it cable was starting to come out of the transfer case you really have to get under and check it make sure its in there,it looks like it might be in there fine ,but it could really be out good luck

 

[Miss Kitten]

i would check your vss /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[Seabronc]

i would check your vss /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

86 doesn't have a VSS

>-

 

[jsomedaysoon]

i had the same problem mine is a 88 tho, it cable was starting to come out of the transfer case you really have to get under and check it make sure its in there,it looks like it might be in there fine ,but it could really be out good luck

this got me motivated to search for the reason my spedometer hasent worked in forever. i got under it and looked in the transfer case to see if it had come out and it was fine. so i started to fallow the cable and found out that it was shreaded about 2 feet down the line. not sure what could have done this but the cable itself is completely split and the housing is shreaded. so i guess i'll be doing a little research on how to change a spedometer cable haha.

 

[Yardape]

Sounds to me like the cable isnt secured properly into the back of the speedo.

 

[Bebop Man]

this got me motivated to search for the reason my spedometer hasent worked in forever. i got under it and looked in the transfer case to see if it had come out and it was fine. so i started to fallow the cable and found out that it was shreaded about 2 feet down the line. not sure what could have done this but the cable itself is completely split and the housing is shreaded. so i guess i'll be doing a little research on how to change a spedometer cable haha.

Changing out the speedo cable is pretty easy. a bracket unscrews from the xfer case and the cable pulls out.. Thread it back through the engine compartment and to the firewall. On the other side, you have to take of the dash trim (wiper and headlight knobs first) then pull out the gauge cluster. The speedo cable snaps on to the back of the speedometer.

In my case, i found out what was going on. There's a plastic gear that clips on the end that goes into the xfer case, and those teeth are stripped. It's the original gear, so I'll be ordering a new one from JBG this week.

 

[jsomedaysoon]

so when i change my cable this plastic gear is going to come out of the transfer case attatched to the cable so i can see if mines stripped or not?

 

[Yardape]

Yes the gear is held on the cable with a retainer clip

 

[Bebop Man]

Changed out the speedo gear, and things worked great for about 3 miles, then it started hopping around again.

What gives?

 

[Leadsled]

Changed out the speedo gear, and things worked great for about 3 miles, then it started hopping around again.
What gives?

I used to have a car that did the same thing. What i did was i pulled the cable out of the sheath and put some lithium grease on it. Worked for me. Make sure that you dont have to much of a bind somewhere that would put undue pressure on that plastic gear that went bad before.

 

[Big_Ford_POS]

Sorry for the bad news but there is another plastic gear that is ont the output shaft of the tcase. Yeah sorry it is called the drive drive ie. it drives the driven gear (that gear you replaced). You have to remove the drive shaft, the ****** and then you can remove the tail housing which is quite simply. A couple bolts. Now take the opportunity to replace the rear seal on the tail housing and change your tcase oil. As for me when I replaced them I had to replace the cable also. The slightest burr or rouge spot on the cable will make the needle jump. Spend the extra $40 and do it right. If you change tire sizes or gear ratios, remember the tooth count of the DRIVE gear so you can later change the DRIVEN gear to coincide. Good Luck.

 

[Bebop Man]

Ah, gotcha. Well I'm going to be doing a major rebuild on it come spring time, so I'll just save it til then.

Thanks for the info.