speedometer flickers
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 148
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From: New Jersey
speedometer flickers
I've noticed sometimes when idling the speedometer flickers up and down the car is running fine as far as I can notice although does idle a little high
should I be concerned
new purchase 1982 vette
should I be concerned
new purchase 1982 vette
Last edited by Hdavis; Oct 28, 2018 at 10:35 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 3,583
Likes: 504
From: Indianapolis IN
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Unmodified
C4 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
Oh yes, I know ALL about old age! 
Are you idling while moving or idling while parked? I know the question sounds a little goofy, but, your speedometer is cable driven, and if your are moving it could be the cable is starting to dry up causing the bounce or bobble of the needle. On the other hand, if you are sitting parked and it's doing it, I'm stumped. Sitting still, your speedo should have no movement whatsoever...there's no drive being applied.
Are you idling while moving or idling while parked? I know the question sounds a little goofy, but, your speedometer is cable driven, and if your are moving it could be the cable is starting to dry up causing the bounce or bobble of the needle. On the other hand, if you are sitting parked and it's doing it, I'm stumped. Sitting still, your speedo should have no movement whatsoever...there's no drive being applied.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 3,583
Likes: 504
From: Indianapolis IN
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Unmodified
C4 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
Technically you can, but that's really only a temporary fix. They can be cleaned and re-greased if the inner cable isn't frayed, but to know that you would have to remove the cable at both ends and inspect it---and if you're going through that much trouble, as inexpensive as cables are I would suggest just replacing it. If you have cruise you have 2 separate cables, one from the transmission to the transducer, and one from the transducer to the speedometer itself. either way, replacing would be they way to go to be done with it.
This will not cause you any problems other than the bouncing needle, and eventually noise that coincides with the bounce. It's not a job you have to hurry into, but one that should get done sometime going forward.
This will not cause you any problems other than the bouncing needle, and eventually noise that coincides with the bounce. It's not a job you have to hurry into, but one that should get done sometime going forward.
Last edited by Red86Z51; Oct 28, 2018 at 02:24 PM.
