Help: Leak coming from speedometer cable at manual transmission
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Help: Leak coming from speedometer cable at manual transmission
I bet someone can answer this queston pretty easily. I just wanted to have an answer before tearing things apart. I recently acquired an 84 Trans Am with the 305 HO, 5 speed manual. Looking back at receipts from the original owner, the following seemed to happen often. It looks like tranny fluid is leaking out from where the speedometer cable attaches to the tranny. Is there some sort of seal that can be replaced if I unscrew the cable (like an o-ring or a washer)? If so, where can I get a replacement? Anything I should be aware of while tearing into this? Thanks in advance.
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Re: Help: Leak coming from speedometer cable at manual transmission
Quote:
Originally Posted by bart0977
Is there some sort of seal that can be replaced if I unscrew the cable (like an o-ring or a washer)? If so, where can I get a replacement?
Welcome to TGO. Unfortunately, this problem seems common--at least for me. I've replaced the sleeve a couple of times, the last as recently as early summer, and the drip is back. At any rate the TH350 sleeve is the same as the T5. See the following link:
Re: Help: Leak coming from speedometer cable at manual transmission
I'm not sure what you mean by the "sleeve." Does the "sleeve" disconnect from the cable/housing? I figured the only replaceable part without replacing the whole cable assembly was a seal. Isn't there a "seal" that fits inside the part that screws onto the transmission?
Re: Help: Leak coming from speedometer cable at manual transmission
Quote:
Originally Posted by bart0977
I'm not sure what you mean by the "sleeve." Does the "sleeve" disconnect from the cable/housing? I figured the only replaceable part without replacing the whole cable assembly was a seal. Isn't there a "seal" that fits inside the part that screws onto the transmission?
The sleeve or speedo gear housing, which has an external and internal seal, can be seen in the link in post #3 above.
Unscrew the cable at the trans, remove the single bolt and retainer which holds the sleeve in the tail shaft and gently pry it out. Swapping in a new sleeve requires less time than jacking the car up.
JamesC
__________________ "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, / Than are dreamt of in your philosophy." Hamlet
Re: Help: Leak coming from speedometer cable at manual transmission
I've got more information that has got me stumped. I removed the cable from the sleeve this afternoon. The leak is coming out of the cable, not out of the sleeve. I didn't think that there would be fluid inside the cable. I thought there might be some grease inside of there, but it is leaking red fluid at a rate of about one drip per minute. Any ideas? If it all leaks out, will the cable seize up? It seems like I will need a new cable?
Re: Help: Leak coming from speedometer cable at manual transmission
Quote:
Originally Posted by bart0977
I removed the cable from the sleeve this afternoon. The leak is coming out of the cable, not out of the sleeve. I thought there might be some grease inside of there, but it is leaking red fluid at a rate of about one drip per minute. Any ideas? If it all leaks out, will the cable seize up? It seems like I will need a new cable?
I doubt that the fluid was drawn very far up the cable housing. I'd replace the sleeve, reattach the cable and run the car to see what's what before I went to step two, cleaning and lubing. If it should come to that, check the following link, post #1 for instructions:
