Speedometer issues
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 997
Likes: 2
From: Rock Valley, IA
Speedometer issues
I have a problem with my speedometer. I believe it is in the cable but can't be sure. So far the transmission has eaten 2 gears and I don't want to try a third without know why. When I put the speedometer gear on the cable it is very hard to push on and get the clip to stay. I thought I had it this last time but apparently I was wrong. Another thing is when I had the gear on it was very hard to push the cable onto the speedo and get it to lock into place. Is the speedo cable too long? Do I have to trim it down? I got one that was supposed to be for the non cruise type. It's driving me nuts having to use my phone as a speedometer as it takes up battery life and it only lasts for about 2 hours of driving time. Any hints would be very welcome.
Thanks,
Jeremy
Thanks,
Jeremy
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 666
Likes: 5
It sounds like there is definitely a mechanical issue with the cable or speedo. The cable should plug into the back of the speedo and lock into place without much effort.
When you put the gear on the transmission end of the cable, it should just slip on and the clip should slide in without being forced. Once installed, the gear should turn freely.
Your cable maybe too long, or it may be for a different application. Sometimes, the rubber jacket on the cable can be cut or torn. Then the steel part of the jacket can rust to the point that the cable binds. It sounds like you bought a new cable, so that should not be the issue.
When you put the gear on the transmission end of the cable, it should just slip on and the clip should slide in without being forced. Once installed, the gear should turn freely.
Your cable maybe too long, or it may be for a different application. Sometimes, the rubber jacket on the cable can be cut or torn. Then the steel part of the jacket can rust to the point that the cable binds. It sounds like you bought a new cable, so that should not be the issue.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,786
Likes: 28
From: Northern California
What pitch was the original gear.
The gears come in left handed and right handed pitch, and it sounds like you are either using the wrong pitch or the plastic gear in the transmission is bad, or frozen as well. Shine a light in the hole and try to inspect the teeth on the transmission gear.
Also did you lubricate the speedometer cable really well when you installed it? Use white lithium grease or speedometer cable lubricant and make sure it is free turning in the speedometer housing.
The gears come in left handed and right handed pitch, and it sounds like you are either using the wrong pitch or the plastic gear in the transmission is bad, or frozen as well. Shine a light in the hole and try to inspect the teeth on the transmission gear.
Also did you lubricate the speedometer cable really well when you installed it? Use white lithium grease or speedometer cable lubricant and make sure it is free turning in the speedometer housing.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 997
Likes: 2
From: Rock Valley, IA
I know the original gear was 16 tooth maroon (or wine) colored. I did lube the new cable very well with white lithium grease as well. I will have to check the speedo again. I should be getting a new cluster from Fordzilla in the next couple of weeks. Could it be that the cable and hole in the speedo aren't quite lined up correctly. I would think that after a couple of spins it would slip into the groove. Does anyone have the original part number? I have this list from a different (shorter) speedo cable:
More Information for DORMAN 03171
Thanks for the help guys.
More Information for DORMAN 03171
Thanks for the help guys.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 997
Likes: 2
From: Rock Valley, IA
I think my problem is I ordered a speedometer cable for the automatic transmission. I'm not sure if there is big difference but I ordered one that said it was specifically for (and 22" shorter) the manual transmission. Hope this works....
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,521
Likes: 16
From: Lost
IIRC, the auto and manual trans have the speedo adapter on opposite sides. Having a longer cable could easily lead to the cable binding internally, as the outer housing would be making a few extra bends/bows due to the extra length.
Also, I gotta ask. Are you getting genuine Ford speedo gears, or some cheap aftermarket brand that is likely made in china?
Also, I gotta ask. Are you getting genuine Ford speedo gears, or some cheap aftermarket brand that is likely made in china?
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 997
Likes: 2
From: Rock Valley, IA
I ordered the gears off eBay. Came in a set of 5 ranging from 16-20 teeth. I'm not sure if they're genuine Ford (I doubt it) but I don't think that's the issue. Cable bind seems to be be the issue here. When I had the gear on but the speedo disconnected I couldn't get the cable to clip onto the speedo and the opposite was true when I had the cable on the speedo... So, now I have 2 gears in the trany and don't want any more bouncing around in there. LOL
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,786
Likes: 28
From: Northern California
If you put a longer cable into the shorter cable housing, this is definately your problem.
You never said what pitch the original gear was, only the color and number of teeth. You also need to match the pitch with the original gear, either left (IE: \\\\ ) or right (IE: //// ) handed. This is crutial for the gears to line up correctly and mesh together. If you get the wrong pitched gear, it will chew them up and destroy them as well. The application of the gears pitch is also dependant on what transmission you have (IE: manual or auto or 4x4). As rogue_wullf stated the speedo adapter is on opposite sides depending on auto or manual, therfore the pitch of the gears teeth are opposite as well.
I'm also serious on checking the speedometer drive gear in the transmission. It's also plastic, and if you chewed the speedometer cable gear, you could have chewed the drive gear as well. I would hate for you to get it all back together and have the new cabe gear get eatten again due to either the gear pitch being wrong or the drive gear being damaged.
You never said what pitch the original gear was, only the color and number of teeth. You also need to match the pitch with the original gear, either left (IE: \\\\ ) or right (IE: //// ) handed. This is crutial for the gears to line up correctly and mesh together. If you get the wrong pitched gear, it will chew them up and destroy them as well. The application of the gears pitch is also dependant on what transmission you have (IE: manual or auto or 4x4). As rogue_wullf stated the speedo adapter is on opposite sides depending on auto or manual, therfore the pitch of the gears teeth are opposite as well.
I'm also serious on checking the speedometer drive gear in the transmission. It's also plastic, and if you chewed the speedometer cable gear, you could have chewed the drive gear as well. I would hate for you to get it all back together and have the new cabe gear get eatten again due to either the gear pitch being wrong or the drive gear being damaged.
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Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 997
Likes: 2
From: Rock Valley, IA
I didn't put a new cable into the old housing. If it is standing the teeth go this direction: ///// Here is a good example of what I have:
Ford SPEEDOMETER GEAR 16 tooth BURGUNDY | eBay
It seems as though the cable is almost too big (thick) to go into the slot in the speedo/gear as what is happening is the cable is pushing the gear off the end and into the transmission.
Ford SPEEDOMETER GEAR 16 tooth BURGUNDY | eBay
It seems as though the cable is almost too big (thick) to go into the slot in the speedo/gear as what is happening is the cable is pushing the gear off the end and into the transmission.
Last edited by lavatan; Dec 21, 2011 at 12:55 PM. Reason: Clarification
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,786
Likes: 28
From: Northern California
Good, as this is theoretically possible to do.
Good, that is the correct pitch. These gears are supposed to be color coded as follows...
D0AZ-17271-A: 16 tooth: Color Blue: Left Handed Pitch (\\\\) Automatic.
C0DZ-17271-A: 16 tooth: Color Wine: Right Handed Pitch (////) Manual or 4x4.
The problem is some of the cheap chinese stuff avaliable doesn't follow the correct color codes or part applications. I've seen wine colored 16 tooth gears in both right and left handed pitch.
Speedometer Cable: Manual Tranny/ without cruise control: E3TZ-17260-A
Speedometer Cable: Automatic or 4x4 / without cruise control: E0TZ-17260-D
I would try and get the correct speedometer cable, as this might fix your problem. The parts book doesn't specify exactly what differences there are between these parts except for length.
EDIT: Since the automatic and 4x4 use the same cable, but the 4x4 uses the same pitch as the manual tranny, you should be able to put your gear on that cable. Possible aftermarket part not made to exact specs perhaps?
If it is standing the teeth go this direction: ///// ....
D0AZ-17271-A: 16 tooth: Color Blue: Left Handed Pitch (\\\\) Automatic.
C0DZ-17271-A: 16 tooth: Color Wine: Right Handed Pitch (////) Manual or 4x4.
The problem is some of the cheap chinese stuff avaliable doesn't follow the correct color codes or part applications. I've seen wine colored 16 tooth gears in both right and left handed pitch.
It seems as though the cable is almost too big (thick) to go into the slot in the speedo/gear as what is happening is the cable is pushing the gear off the end and into the transmission.
Speedometer Cable: Automatic or 4x4 / without cruise control: E0TZ-17260-D
I would try and get the correct speedometer cable, as this might fix your problem. The parts book doesn't specify exactly what differences there are between these parts except for length.
EDIT: Since the automatic and 4x4 use the same cable, but the 4x4 uses the same pitch as the manual tranny, you should be able to put your gear on that cable. Possible aftermarket part not made to exact specs perhaps?
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 997
Likes: 2
From: Rock Valley, IA
Update: I put the new cable on tonight. The old cable still had the old gear on it, but it was in pretty poor shape:
Is this a result of the speedo not spinning fast enough or just cable bind? The speedometer is doing the same thing with the new cable as well. Reading about 10mph slow no matter which gear I put on. I should be getting a new cluster from Fordzilla soon. Any advice would, as always, be appreciated.
Is this a result of the speedo not spinning fast enough or just cable bind? The speedometer is doing the same thing with the new cable as well. Reading about 10mph slow no matter which gear I put on. I should be getting a new cluster from Fordzilla soon. Any advice would, as always, be appreciated.
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