Hi, can anyone help me. I'm a complete have a go novice and am thinking of having a go at replacing my speedo cable. During fault diagnosis I have taken out my speedo and found that the speedo cable was connected loosley. looking at the square end it appears that the edges have worn and become slightly rounded, which I'm told is probably the cause of my speedo initially wobbling/squealing and now having stopped working all together. I've ordered a new cable and have read a few topics online and am a little confused as to whether to oil the cable before fitting and where to oil the cable.
Do i rub an oily rag around the gearbox end and hope for the best or do I remove the inner cable completely and oil the whole thing? alternatively do new cables come sufficiently oiled?
Also I am confident about fitting the speedo end as I've had that in and out several times. A little unsure about the gearbox end though. I presume it will have a similar fitting and although I couldn't see it when i looked under the car to size up the job, I presume it'll become apparent buy driving onto a pair of ramps and getting underneath and just following the cable from the bulkhead? or are there any nasty surprises to beware of?
I'd be gratefull of the benefit of your experiences. particularly with regards to oiling the cable as it seems that oiling in the wrong place could cause problems.
I'm sure like many things, once I've had a go, this'll seem a silly question to have asked but as I say, I'm a complete novice and want to learn how to fix things myself. Thanks
Replacing speedo cable
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mattreid1983
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Re: Replacing speedo cable
Matt
Photograph the "line" that the old speedo cable takes through the engine bay from the gearbox , ending up behind the speedo itself.It needs to follow soft / gentle curves rather than sharp right angled bends.If you tie some loose string to the cable end, behind the speedo when you withdraw the old cable, you can then fix the string to the new cable.Pull it back... following the string and the new cable will be in the right position.
The new cable should be lubricated sufficiently when delivered ( check operation, off the car, if not sure ).If you over oil it, particularly the speedo end, the oil will be thrown into the speedo itself and will ruin it.If you feel " compellled " to put extra oil in... then gearbox end only and only a few drops.
Gearbox end , once safely up on axle stands/ ramp..hand brake on, rear wheels suitably chocked.. so it doesn't roll.. it is straightforward.Wipe off the old accumilated oil / grease muck and use reasonable size slip / pipe pliers with a bit of rag to save mangling the cap, holding the cable end in.Clean up the threads and install new gearbox end.The cap should be done up " just " a tad over finger tight, no need to strip the thread.
Bob
Photograph the "line" that the old speedo cable takes through the engine bay from the gearbox , ending up behind the speedo itself.It needs to follow soft / gentle curves rather than sharp right angled bends.If you tie some loose string to the cable end, behind the speedo when you withdraw the old cable, you can then fix the string to the new cable.Pull it back... following the string and the new cable will be in the right position.
The new cable should be lubricated sufficiently when delivered ( check operation, off the car, if not sure ).If you over oil it, particularly the speedo end, the oil will be thrown into the speedo itself and will ruin it.If you feel " compellled " to put extra oil in... then gearbox end only and only a few drops.
Gearbox end , once safely up on axle stands/ ramp..hand brake on, rear wheels suitably chocked.. so it doesn't roll.. it is straightforward.Wipe off the old accumilated oil / grease muck and use reasonable size slip / pipe pliers with a bit of rag to save mangling the cap, holding the cable end in.Clean up the threads and install new gearbox end.The cap should be done up " just " a tad over finger tight, no need to strip the thread.
Bob