speedometer noise
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Joined: Feb 2002
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From: California
speedometer noise
I have a 1989 camaro RS. When I drive at around 50-75 mph the speedometer needle makes noise. Does it need oil, or is the problem in the cable?
Akshay
akshay95624@yahoo.com
Akshay
akshay95624@yahoo.com
Supreme Member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 13,414
Likes: 6
From: Central NJ, USA
Car: 1986 Firebird
Engine: 2.8 V6
Transmission: 700R4
The speedo cable probably just needs to be lubed.
Buy the silicone lube for the cable...
Remove the dashboard panel - HEY, wait, I just typed this up a while ago. Here's the message:
Buy the silicone lube for the cable...
Remove the dashboard panel - HEY, wait, I just typed this up a while ago. Here's the message:
Originally posted by TomP
Lubed a speedo cable this weekend...and it looks like it worked. It was an '87 Camaro. I had to undo all the Torx screws holding the dash faceplate on, then undo the small hex scres holding the dash "glass" on, then undo two small hex screws holding the dash's metal "gauge bezel" on. I removed two 10mm "fake nuts" from the bottom corners of the dash, right near some light bulbs. I popped the quick-disconnect lever for the speedo cable using a long screwdriver from underneath the dash. (The lever's on the bottom of the cable, and is part of the speedometer. Push the lever in, pull the gauge cluster out of the dash, and it breaks free.) Then I adjusted the steering wheel to bend as far down towards the floor as possible. I twisted the gauge cluster so the gauges pointed downward, and pulled it out at the same time so the cluster was horizontal above the steering column. Then I pulled the cluster out from between the wheel & dash top via the driver's side of the steering wheel.
Then I started pulling the cable out of it's sheath.. I pulled and pulled, twisting as I pulled, and wound up with a short 2 foot cable.
Someone replaced the one-piece speedo cable with a two piece. (No, the car doesn't have cruise control). The joint under the hood (below the brake booster) was rusted solid; I couldn't break it free. So I reinstalled the cable. I squeezed a glob of Silicone (Napa, "Sil-Glyde") into my hand, and as I pushed the cable back into the sheath, I ran the cable thru the glob to lube it. I twisted the cable as I reinstalled it. I used a q-tip to remove any trace of silicone lube from around the blue tip of the speedo cable- that's the piece that goes to the speedometer. The blue tip should seat all the way into the end of the cable sheath. If it doesn't, twist the cable and push it into the sheath so it seats.
Anyway, the speedometer seemed to be smooth; he might not need that second part lubricated. We'll see! I have to make a note tho- his car only has 112,000 miles on it. Mine has more than double that! I think I'll lube the speedometer cable this spring.. my speedo's been a bit jerky; I always thought it was supposed to be like that! (The jerkiness is the unlubed speedo cable hitting the cable sheath)
Lubed a speedo cable this weekend...and it looks like it worked. It was an '87 Camaro. I had to undo all the Torx screws holding the dash faceplate on, then undo the small hex scres holding the dash "glass" on, then undo two small hex screws holding the dash's metal "gauge bezel" on. I removed two 10mm "fake nuts" from the bottom corners of the dash, right near some light bulbs. I popped the quick-disconnect lever for the speedo cable using a long screwdriver from underneath the dash. (The lever's on the bottom of the cable, and is part of the speedometer. Push the lever in, pull the gauge cluster out of the dash, and it breaks free.) Then I adjusted the steering wheel to bend as far down towards the floor as possible. I twisted the gauge cluster so the gauges pointed downward, and pulled it out at the same time so the cluster was horizontal above the steering column. Then I pulled the cluster out from between the wheel & dash top via the driver's side of the steering wheel.
Then I started pulling the cable out of it's sheath.. I pulled and pulled, twisting as I pulled, and wound up with a short 2 foot cable.
Someone replaced the one-piece speedo cable with a two piece. (No, the car doesn't have cruise control). The joint under the hood (below the brake booster) was rusted solid; I couldn't break it free. So I reinstalled the cable. I squeezed a glob of Silicone (Napa, "Sil-Glyde") into my hand, and as I pushed the cable back into the sheath, I ran the cable thru the glob to lube it. I twisted the cable as I reinstalled it. I used a q-tip to remove any trace of silicone lube from around the blue tip of the speedo cable- that's the piece that goes to the speedometer. The blue tip should seat all the way into the end of the cable sheath. If it doesn't, twist the cable and push it into the sheath so it seats.
Anyway, the speedometer seemed to be smooth; he might not need that second part lubricated. We'll see! I have to make a note tho- his car only has 112,000 miles on it. Mine has more than double that! I think I'll lube the speedometer cable this spring.. my speedo's been a bit jerky; I always thought it was supposed to be like that! (The jerkiness is the unlubed speedo cable hitting the cable sheath)
Supreme Member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 13,414
Likes: 6
From: Central NJ, USA
Car: 1986 Firebird
Engine: 2.8 V6
Transmission: 700R4
Ooops- wait- didn't some '89 Camaros have the digital needle-style speedometer? Or was that just Firebirds? Easy way to tell; just crawl under the driver's door, and see if you've got a thick cable running to the back of your transmission- that'd be the speedo cable. Our speedometers can't take any oil, unless, I guess, you cracked it open with a hammer. 
They even say when lubing a cable to make absolutely sure you don't get any grease inside the speedometer; the last inch of the cable should be dry.
They even say when lubing a cable to make absolutely sure you don't get any grease inside the speedometer; the last inch of the cable should be dry. 
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