1982 Speedometer Malfunction
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Joined: Oct 2003
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From: miami fl
1982 Speedometer Malfunction
My speedometer stopped working from one day to the next. I want to try to fix this myself before taking it to the shop. Any ideas where to begin troubleshooting?
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 81
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From: miami fl
Where should i check it? do i have to pull the dash out to get to the back of the speedo? does the cable connect to the tranny? where is teh cable on the tranny, driver side, pass. side?
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Joined: Apr 2005
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From: League City TX
A speedo cable that needs to be lubed usually results in a bouncing needle, not failure. If bouncing is the problem lube away. If your speedo is dead, you'll need to find out what broke.
The cable can be disconnected from the speedo without removing the dash, but its tough to get to. You kind of have to do it by feel. There is a spring clip that holds the cable to the speedo that you must push in towards the speedo before pulling off the cable.
The cable connects to the transmission on the driver's side. It just unscrews from the sid of the trans.
Another culprit can be the cruise control transducer if equipped. The plastic gears inside are not very durable and can break. If the gears inside strip, the trans gear turns cable to the transducer, but the transducer doesn't turn the speedometer cable. The transducer is in the engine compartment forward of the brake master cylinder.
To troubleshoot this system disconnect the cable (or cables with cruise) one end at a time and try to spin it by hand. From the speedo end, you shouldn't be able to spin the cable (the trans has it locked). From the trans end you should be able to spin the cable and see the speedo needle move (may need to use a drill on very slow speed). If a transducer is involver you'll need to check those connections as well.
In all cases, you need to make sure the inner cable is fully seated in the outer sheath before testing, or you could get an erroneous indication.
That's a very simplified description, but hopefully you get the idea. Good luck and let me know if you need anything else.
Peter
The cable can be disconnected from the speedo without removing the dash, but its tough to get to. You kind of have to do it by feel. There is a spring clip that holds the cable to the speedo that you must push in towards the speedo before pulling off the cable.
The cable connects to the transmission on the driver's side. It just unscrews from the sid of the trans.
Another culprit can be the cruise control transducer if equipped. The plastic gears inside are not very durable and can break. If the gears inside strip, the trans gear turns cable to the transducer, but the transducer doesn't turn the speedometer cable. The transducer is in the engine compartment forward of the brake master cylinder.
To troubleshoot this system disconnect the cable (or cables with cruise) one end at a time and try to spin it by hand. From the speedo end, you shouldn't be able to spin the cable (the trans has it locked). From the trans end you should be able to spin the cable and see the speedo needle move (may need to use a drill on very slow speed). If a transducer is involver you'll need to check those connections as well.
In all cases, you need to make sure the inner cable is fully seated in the outer sheath before testing, or you could get an erroneous indication.
That's a very simplified description, but hopefully you get the idea. Good luck and let me know if you need anything else.
Peter
