Exactly my thoughts but with the added suspicion this problem didn't happen by itself -- it is more likely caused by whomever had the cluster out some time ago. Getting the cable threaded through the wires back there takes some thought to have it so the bias in the bend keeps it in the socket. The broken anti-tamper plastic locknut isn't likely to make up for that.

Having the whole cable replaced may even have been the cause, since this requires a lot of exacting work with clamps, etc., all "geared" to making the length perfect from movable transmission tailshaft housing to the speedometer in the cluster.


--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

Two boll weevils grew up in South Carolina. One went to Hollywood and became a famous actor. The other stayed behind in the cotton fields and never amounted to much. The second one, naturally, became known as the lesser of two weevils.