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So, I know there is a little clip on the back of the speedometer that I am supposed to push towards the speedo to get the cable to release, but dang, how far do I need to push that thing?
I have someone pulling on the cable in the engine bay while I push the clip.
I press on the clip and it just keeps going, and going... it feels like I am first-knuckle deep into the speedo housing and the thing still won't let go. Pretty frustrating. I was anticipating an easy speedo cable replacement.
Am I going to have to drop the steering wheel and pull it out from there? If I do that, I might as well replace the rag joint while I am at it...
The tab is at the bottom (6 o'clock) position. Just push a bit towards you (to the rear of the car) and the cable should release easily. It's actually quite easy to do yourself and with one hand once you've done it a couple times.
You need small hands but its do-able. No need to drop the column. Its a SOB to work in there but you have the right idea with a helper on the other side of the firewall. Have him / her turn the cable as you swear at it.
Last edited by HeadsU.P.; Aug 13, 2018 at 06:11 PM.
Well, yesterday I finally gave up and dropped the steering wheel, figuring I would do the rag joint while I was at it.
I still had a tough time getting the cable off, but when I pushed it in just right, it finally popped off.
Now I have the old rag joint half off. It's still stuck on the steering gear. It came off of the steering column without too much swearing. I have it soaking in penetrating oil to see if that helps.
I still need to run the new speedo cables, which sounds like the easiest part of the entire deal, especially with the instrument panel pulled out, but with my luck, something will go wrong.
Once you push the clip in the cable doesn't just pop out. The clip just prevents the cable from sliding out of the speedo. You have to pull the cable away from the speedo as you press the clip in.
I forgot to say in the beginning that it's an '81.
I got the new speedo cable connected to the speedo and everything put back together, as far as the dash goes.
I got the new rag joint in there as well, which was a lot of fun to do with no assistance.
I still have to attach the cable to the CC transducer, then put the lower speedo cable on. I have a lot of speedo cable for that upper portion. I imagine it's OK to loop it a little if I don't kink it.
I'll finish up the speedo cables tomorrow, hook up the plug for the CC and take it for a drive. Then we'll see what happens when I engage the CC, and hopefully my speedo needle no longer bounces and shows the wrong speed.
Next project is replacing the air conditioner hoses from the compressor, extracting the broken bolt from the head when I got a little too enthusiastic tightening the compressor bracket (which was backed out about 1/4 of an inch), and put everything back together.
All in all, I gotta say I am having a great time. Working on cars is how I like to "relax".
So, after spending what seemed to be weeks trying to get the speedo cable out of, and the new one into, the transmission, I finally took the car for a drive.
The cruise control does not work.
The speedo bounces just a tiny bit, barely noticeable, at first, then evens out. It consistently reads 3mph under the speed my gps shows. I've checked the gps against another gps, and another car with digital speed, so I know it is accurate.
It's dark now, so no more troubleshooting till morning. Maybe it's just a bad fuse for the CC? Yeah... just hoping. It's not a horrible thing if it doesn't work. Just some time and money.
My new problem is a hissing behind the dashboard, and my headlights popping up. I checked that little override valve, and it doesn't seem to matter what position it is in. If I turn my headlight switch on all the way, the hissing stops. Turn it off, the hissing starts again, and the headlights stay up. I tugged on the hoses a bit leading to that switch and nothing feels loose. Looks like I'll be going under the dash again. Any idea where to look, where I might have unplugged something? I'll google it, but I thought someone might know off the top of their head.
So, after spending what seemed to be weeks trying to get the speedo cable out of, and the new one into, the transmission, I finally took the car for a drive.
The cruise control does not work.
The speedo bounces just a tiny bit, barely noticeable, at first, then evens out. It consistently reads 3mph under the speed my gps shows. I've checked the gps against another gps, and another car with digital speed, so I know it is accurate.
It's dark now, so no more troubleshooting till morning. Maybe it's just a bad fuse for the CC? Yeah... just hoping. It's not a horrible thing if it doesn't work. Just some time and money.
My new problem is a hissing behind the dashboard, and my headlights popping up. I checked that little override valve, and it doesn't seem to matter what position it is in. If I turn my headlight switch on all the way, the hissing stops. Turn it off, the hissing starts again, and the headlights stay up. I tugged on the hoses a bit leading to that switch and nothing feels loose. Looks like I'll be going under the dash again. Any idea where to look, where I might have unplugged something? I'll google it, but I thought someone might know off the top of their head.
Thanks!
I'd say you are on the right track thinking the hissing is a vacuum hose. Not sure how many and where they rout/go on your car though, except probably you two on the headlight switch?
Power for the cruise control comes from GAUGES fuse so if your instrumentation is working it's not a fuse problem.
I'm a bit confused by what you said about the cruise. Does it not work at all? Does the speed fluctuate on a level road? Does it hold speed but lower than when you set it?
I fixed the headlights. I guess when I was playing with the speedo cable, I pulled a hose off of the light switch.
The cruise does not work at all. The previous owner had cut the cables from the transducer and put in a one-piece cable, so I assumed he was having trouble with the transducer itself. I bought an ebay one off of a guy who has an '82, who said it worked when he pulled it. I swapped it out and ran the hoses exactly like they were on the original. Then I added the correct two-piece cables.
I checked out Wilcox's guide on troubleshooting the cruise, and I am not sure I have the patience to go through all of that!
Stupid speedo cable release!
