Hello,

My speedometer needle has the annoying tendency to bounce, and I read in an IPD catalog that this is caused by the speedo cable binding within the sheath. It said that it could be repaired by lubing the cable.

My problem: I have no idea where the cable is, how to access it, how to lube it and with what. Anybody got any suggestions?

Also, while we're at it, my odometer seems to work very intermittently--and the '1' never turned when we passed the 100,000 mile mark. It's pretty aggravating not knowing when to change oil how to calculate gas mileage. Can anyone help me with that?

Thanks, folks!

Volfro
1984 244 GL

The cable runs in a sheath from the transmission to the back of the speedometer. You lube it with a liquid impregnated with graphite purchased from an auto supply store labeled as speedometer cable lube. You detach the cable from the back of the speedometer and drip the lube into the sheath allowing gravity to work for you. It is a long cable and might take a significant amount of the lube in the container.

The odometer in these cars has a gear that is problematic. It splits and doens't grip the shaft it is mounted to and it slips. It can be repaired but involves removing the instrument cluster and then the speedometer assembly. I have directions on fixing this problem. Email me if you (or anyone else) wants a copy. It requires a partial disassembly of the speedometer, super glue and a set of number drills. This repair will not work on the later electronic speedometers.

Randy

Okay, I have a problem.

I went in today to lube the speedo cable. And I made the assumption that, in order to lube it, I'd have to detatch it from the rear of the instrument panel--and to do that, I had to remove the panel. Which I did. BUT, there's no slack in the cable at all, and NOW I don't know how to get it back on (it detatched without me knowing it as I removed it, and the little plastic holder thingy broke). Should I have gone from underneath the car? How else can I access this for a repair?

Thanks,

Vincent

It is OK that you removed the panel, but it wasn't necessary. The plastic pieces break rather easily. You should be able to pull up on the cable and housing assembly enough to get a LITTLE slack to insert the end back into the speedometer. Do this after you have lubed it and are ready to reinsert it. My 82 doesn't have the plastic piece and it works just fine. You will just have to fiddle with it to get the correct tension to hold it in place. I would reinstall the panel before attempting to adjust the cable to hold in place.

Randy

Thanks, Randy.

One more thing: how do I detatch the speedo cable from the speedometer? I know the instruments and parts here are sensitive, and I don't want anything to go wrong. So how does it detatch?

Thanks again,

Vincent

I believe you will find that it has a black plastic piece at the end of the cable that attaches to the back of the speedometer. Turning this piece will release it from the speedometer- should release with 1/2 to 3/4 turn.

Randy