Speedo doin' funky things
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,462
Likes: 4
From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
Speedo doin' funky things
Drove from Dallas to Austin and back yesterday. On the way down there I was going through a pretty rough section of 35, and my speedometer suddenly jumped up to 90. (I was doing roughly 80) It then went back down to around 70 and bobbed back and forth to pretty much random speeds between those to for a minute or so, and then settled back down on the speed I was going.
Cruise control worked fine, engine RPM didn't vary at all. It's a '94, so it's still got the cable driven speedometer. I've checked the transmission end of the cable, it's in securely. I'm putting off yanking the dash yet again to see if that end is good.
It did it a couple of times on the way down there and once on the way back. It's fine now. Any ideas?
Thanks.
Cruise control worked fine, engine RPM didn't vary at all. It's a '94, so it's still got the cable driven speedometer. I've checked the transmission end of the cable, it's in securely. I'm putting off yanking the dash yet again to see if that end is good.
It did it a couple of times on the way down there and once on the way back. It's fine now. Any ideas?
Thanks.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 325
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From: Manassas Park, VA
If your lucky it's just the cable going bad. I have a 94 and mine would do the same thing, the bouncing on mine started at 55/60 and it would bounce between that and 80. After talking with several shops about it I ended up replacing the speedo with a rebuilt one. that was in 2002 and so far so good. Place I got the rebuilt unit from mentioned they rebuilt/sold many speedo's for 93/94 Rangers.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,940
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From: Eastern WA
For old Rangers there are two types of speedo heads in them.
1) It's still working right but on borrowed time.
2) It's doing the dancing needle boogie. Time to repair/replace.
*Cable failure will most likely be a pipe dream, as will be the drive. Nonetheless, they need to be checked.
1) It's still working right but on borrowed time.
2) It's doing the dancing needle boogie. Time to repair/replace.
*Cable failure will most likely be a pipe dream, as will be the drive. Nonetheless, they need to be checked.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,462
Likes: 4
From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
Ok I'm assuming the speedometer head is the gauge itself?
I've been into the dash but never removed the speedo or gauge panel itself before. Once it's all out and the gauge panel is there exposed, what's next?
And where would one go about finding a speedometer head assembly, since I imagine going to a boneyard would be pointless since it's on borrowed time as CB9M said.
I've been into the dash but never removed the speedo or gauge panel itself before. Once it's all out and the gauge panel is there exposed, what's next?
And where would one go about finding a speedometer head assembly, since I imagine going to a boneyard would be pointless since it's on borrowed time as CB9M said.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 325
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From: Manassas Park, VA
Yep speedo head and gauge are the same thing.
Once you are into the dash removing the gauge is as simple as disconnecting the speedo cable and undoing either 2 or 4 screws and the speedo will come right out. Also is a good time to replace dash lights, I didn't and as soon as I got it all back together I blew a couple bulbs in the tach. Going from memory the whole process took under 2 hours, hardest thing I recall was disconnecting and reconnecting the speedo cable.
For a new speedo, you could go to ford and spend a small fortune on a new one or look look online or in Hemmings Motor news for guage rebuilders. The one I used was out of Richmond VA(forget the name) and the cost was under 200
Once you are into the dash removing the gauge is as simple as disconnecting the speedo cable and undoing either 2 or 4 screws and the speedo will come right out. Also is a good time to replace dash lights, I didn't and as soon as I got it all back together I blew a couple bulbs in the tach. Going from memory the whole process took under 2 hours, hardest thing I recall was disconnecting and reconnecting the speedo cable.
For a new speedo, you could go to ford and spend a small fortune on a new one or look look online or in Hemmings Motor news for guage rebuilders. The one I used was out of Richmond VA(forget the name) and the cost was under 200
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
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Likes: 4
From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
That's the thing...last time I had the dash apart I figured what the heck, I'll replace all the bulbs. I got the gauge panel itself loose but couldn't find a way to get to the back of the speedo to get to the cable, so I'm obviously missing something. What's the best way to get to it?
Thanks again all of you.
Thanks again all of you.