Dead Speedo/Odometer

[Coffin04]

How do i diagnose a dead speedometer? I'm sure there may already be a thread in hear on it but there's so much to sift through.

My speedometer will just sit there and the odometer doesn't move at all. Do i have a dead cable?

I pulled the cable from the speedo and found i was able to twist it freely and easily with my fingers. Should i be able to do that? I can't seem to word it right in any of my searches to find an answer on that.

[Edward Roberts]

I would guess that your speedo cable is broken; however, that does NOT mean it is the culprit... especially if your car has been "sat up" for any extended period of time. If you are able to spin it from the speedo end there is likely a break between there and the transmission (though there is a slight chance the worm gear inside the transmission housing is broken).

I recommend removing the speedo from the dash. You should be able to insert a square bit into the speedo gear and spin the speedo needle freely. If not it is because the lube will harden over time and gum up the works. Use a little 3-in-1 oil poured into the back of the gear and into the oil cup on the top of the worm gear housing. By using a square bit and a drilll you should be able to spin the speedo worm gear rapidly to loosen everything up and move the needle. Be gentle and go slowly at first. Do this until you can keep the needle fairly steady at an even drill RPM. This should get the speedo and odometer working. If not, you may have to open your speedometer to check for broken gearing or a dead squirrel stuck in there somewhere.

MAKE SURE THE SPEEDO GEARS ARE MOVING FREELY BEFORE REPLACING YOUR CABLE OR YOU WILL JUST BE BUYING ANOTHER CABLE.

[Coffin04]

well the car hasn't been sitting. I've been regularly driving the car for the past month and a half. The speedometer just stopped working after leaving the parking lot of a walgreens. Though I have been hearing a rythmic ticking sound. I'm hoping it's the cable flapping in it's housing and not something else i have to worry about.

I'm going to give the speedo a look over first, unfortunately i don't have a drill. still working on building up a tool collection ever since i've moved away from home.

I've done some reading and found i can just replace the inner cable itself and trim it to spec rather than replaceing the whole cable. This recommended?

[Frank Elder]

Yes, you can remove the cable from the housing and replace it. It would be better to remove the housing too so you can clean it out and relube before installing your new cable.

That way you know there are no obstructions and your cable will spin freely.

[Eneto-55]

well the car hasn't been sitting. I've been regularly driving the car for the past month and a half. The speedometer just stopped working after leaving the parking lot of a walgreens. Though I have been hearing a rythmic ticking sound. I'm hoping it's the cable flapping in it's housing and not something else i have to worry about.

I'm going to give the speedo a look over first, unfortunately i don't have a drill. still working on building up a tool collection ever since i've moved away from home.

I've done some reading and found i can just replace the inner cable itself and trim it to spec rather than replaceing the whole cable. This recommended?

If you take the speedometer clear out, and have an old style bicycle, you can turn the bike upside-down and hold the speedometer stem (shaft) against the tire to spin the speedometer. (When I was a kid my brothers & I used to see how fast we could get a speedometer going like that - around 50 mph, as I recall.)

Neto

[Reg Evans]

I wouldn't remove the speedometer. It sounds like a simple case of a broken cable. Just disconnect the cable from the speedo and transmission and take the 2 pieces to a speedo shop for a new cable. Before installing the new cable squirt lots PB blaster down the cable housing from the speedo end and grease up the inner cable.

Make sure the cable housing isn't crimped or damaged or the new cable won't last very long.

[BobT-47P15]

squirt lots PB blaster down the cable housing from the speedo end and grease up the inner cable.

Hmmm......a year or two ago, I did what several suggested, put some

lithium grease on the speedo cable. It seemed to work OK til real cold

weather hit. Then the needle just went crazy. I had to disconnect

the cable for a while. Worked better in warm weather.

So, the other evening I pulled the inner cable out of the housing,

wiped off all the

grease I could, and applied liquid graphite. Also squirted some graphite

down the housing. Haven't driven the car yet so can't tell how much

difference it makes. Probably need to clean the housing more

thoroughly, but not very convenient to get under the car and

unhook from the tranny. Either car is too close to the ground, or I

am bigger than I used to be - therefore need to raise car to get

under.

Have lubed and turned the connections on my 3 spare speedos too.

One was so tight it wouldn't turn at first. Now working better.

Going to try and find one better than the current one. Will test

their accuracy with the GPS.

Edited October 29, 2010 by BobT-47P15

[49 Dodge Dude]

I think I need to check mine, too. It was disconnected when I bought it, and when I reconnected it and tried it out, it made an audible noise and the needle jumped around like a chihuahua on crack.

[BobT-47P15]

Yes, it sounds as if you do need to do that.

You can pull the inner cable out of the housing.

When putting it back, just have to turn it till the

square end goes back into the opening on the trans

gear.

If broken, you will only get the top end, then have to get

the remainder from the tranny end.

Remove speedo and lube with some penetrating type oil first,

then use some liquid graphite for locks once it works ok.

At least, that's what I'm doing.

Make sure your cable housing has no sharp turns and is not

tied down too tightly at any point. One fellow lately said he

used ties on the cable, then discovered it was too binding and

removed them.

Edited November 13, 2010 by BobT-47P15

[BobT-47P15]

I rigged this up to test my spare speedometers without having to

put each one into the dash. Just moved the cable over some, and

presto.......a test thing.

Kinda hits your leg, but ok for a temporary deal.

[Reg Evans]

Here's how I test my speedo's. Just chuck up the old DeWalt ,put it in reverse and pull the trigger.

It's much easier if you aren't trying to photograph the procedure.

[Coffin04]

For cleaning i am thinking about using simple green. i've still got a good bit of it and a 5gal bucket. thought a good soak in that and some good hot water ought to clear it out.

A replacement core, and then i should be good to go right?

Graphite lubricant on the cable, what should i use for the speedo? just some 3-in-1 right? what about some 80w-90 gear lube?

Edited October 30, 2010 by Coffin04

[Frank Elder]

What is the best oil for the wick guys?

[Niel Hoback]

3 in 1 oil works good on the wick. DO NOT USE GEAR OIL.

[Frank Elder]

Thanks Niel.

[BobT-47P15]

Yes, something light and thin.....nothing thick or heavy.

I think the dry graphite powder was used waay back.

[Plymouthy Adams]

3 in 1 oil has always gotten thick with age and went gummy... good 10 weight instrument oil is best for the speedo head itself..you can find a higher grade sewing machine oil it will be good to use..or in the absence of that..Campbell Hausfeld air tool oil is a good 10 weight..

[busycoupe]

I used Armite Zoom Spout oil on my speedo. It is a light weight oil that is labelled "turbine oil" for electric motors, bearings, etc. It comes in a plastic bottle that has a long ( about 6 or 7 inch) flexible plastic tube. I was able to lube the speedo in the dash by bending the tube to get to the oil cup. I did this 2 years ago, so far it has not gummed up. I bought this at our local Ace Hardware store.

Dave

[BobT-47P15]

Good info.......with the brand names.

Guess I should look for some of that.

Thanks.

[Frank Elder]

Good info.......with the brand names.

Guess I should look for some of that.

Thanks.

X2 thanks guys

[Coffin04]

been on restriction because of a messy room such just today was able to do some searching. Got some ramps to help me get under as well.

My findings...

The tip of the speedo cable going into the trani is broken off. so going to get a new core.

Thanks for all your info gents, yall have been a lot of help!

Found some other issues as well that i'm going to post up.

Thanks again for the help.

[46Ply]

Need a replacement speedo cable for my P15.  I've searched high and low on here, and also on the net.  So far, I have not found a replacement 59 1/2" cable to fit my housing.  The cable that was in it was working fine with no needle jump.  But the speedo end had a plastic / not metal square drive end about an inch long, attached to the metal cable with a ferrule.  Evidently a replacement someone put in there.  And it broke off.

So....  where can I find one?   Or, should I replace the housing too?

[Plymouthy Adams]

_{napa carries a universal cut to length that is simple to cut, fix and install...}

Edited July 25, 2015 by Plymouthy Adams

[46Ply]

_{napa carries a universal cut to length that is simple to cut, fix and install...}

Thank you!  I had finally discovered this as an option, but it 's nice to get  a confirmation.  We're headed to NAPA in the am!

[Young Ed]

Or you just buy the next longest replacement cable