speedometer help
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Posting Guru
Joined: May 2013
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From: Manteca, CA
speedometer help
while driving it bounces all around and makes noise, quite loud at times. usually bounces within 10 miles an hour. I have my truck clocked with my tach so I know how fast I am going, but it is annoying to watch it bounce around.
before I tear it apart are there any pointers? what to expect, what not to do. anything you think may fix it? I am thinking it just may need to be lubed...
thanks in advance
Joe
before I tear it apart are there any pointers? what to expect, what not to do. anything you think may fix it? I am thinking it just may need to be lubed...
thanks in advance
Joe
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 317
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From: SF Bay Area
It's the cable, not the speedo. It winds, then unwinds.
Pull the cable out of the case, clean it good & lube it with some lite duty grease (not wheel bearing grease). I have had to do that to all of my cars.
Pull the cable out of the case, clean it good & lube it with some lite duty grease (not wheel bearing grease). I have had to do that to all of my cars.
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Posting Guru
Joined: May 2013
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From: Manteca, CA
thanks for the replies. hopefully I did it correctly. I was able to unscrew from back of speedometer and pull the entire cable out of the housing without having to disconnect from trans. Didn't really look that bad at all, just needed a good lubing I think. I cleaned off and ran some cable lube/cleaner through housing and lubed cable and reassembled. even fixed a turn signal bulb while I was at it! I will drive truck to the office tomorrow and see how it goes
Posting Guru
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From: Fairfield, CA
At least that's what I've found and have the exact same problem sporting a brand new lubed cable right this moment. looking to buy a new housing AND cable soon to start fresh.
Posting Guru
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From: Fairfield, CA
Adding too this thread, today my Speedo went totally nuts and stayed pegged past 100 mph while going 55 or 60 with a screeching noise.
Is this still a bad cable\housing or somthing in the Speedo it's self?
Is this still a bad cable\housing or somthing in the Speedo it's self?
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From: SF Bay Area
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Fairfield, CA
Ok thanks for that info. Anyone ever take these apart for fixin or should I try to spray some PB blaster in through the cable input?
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2013
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From: SF Bay Area
I stole this pic from my gauge install thread.... You can see the back of the speedo. I had to lube mine for noise... The shaft goes through the bronze collar. If yours seized, it may not be repairable. I found no way to take it apart.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Upstate NY
I would agree it sounds like the speedo itself. If your cable hung up and broke, then the speedo would think it was not moving and show zero. You may be junk yard bound!
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Inside the speedometer cable housing is a woven steel core. It's supposed to be lubed every so often, but most people are unaware.
When the lube dries out, the woven steel core binds up inside the housing and snaps.
Auto parts stores sell a woven steel core kit. Cut it to length, coat with a fine film of graphite, install in the housing.
Speedometer DRIVEN gear located at the end of cable where it fits into the trans. The gear can strip, causing the speedometer needle to jump around.
Another cause of jumping speedo needles is...worn gears inside the speedometer itself. Ford did not sell these gears, only furnished with speedo, but speedo shops have them.
When the lube dries out, the woven steel core binds up inside the housing and snaps.
Auto parts stores sell a woven steel core kit. Cut it to length, coat with a fine film of graphite, install in the housing.
Speedometer DRIVEN gear located at the end of cable where it fits into the trans. The gear can strip, causing the speedometer needle to jump around.
Another cause of jumping speedo needles is...worn gears inside the speedometer itself. Ford did not sell these gears, only furnished with speedo, but speedo shops have them.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Fairfield, CA
On Sunday I pulled the cable off the speedo then hit the Speedo input with few shots of PB blaster from under the dash and it shut right up and is behaving nicely. Still has a 5 Mph bounce at low speeds. Thanks for the details Bill.
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