My speedometer is going crazy!

[zaebst]

It actually started on my way to work this morning. i noticed starting at about 35-40 my speedomoter would jump up and down about 10mph higher to about 45-50. when i was going about 45-50 it was jump up and down between about 60-65. i turned my stereo off and it did make a little noise sounding like it was coming from the dash. getting louder as i would go faster. i'm thinking possible the speedo cable came a little undone at the gauge cluster? or could it be that my speed sensor is going? any help or ideas on what i could do? the couple things i did find searching around didn't really do me a whole lot of good

 

[OWGTI]

On a 1G the speedometer is driven off the cable. Chances are the cable is binding and then unwinding. A new cable or some graphite lube should take care of it.

Later
Arnie

 

[zaebst]

cool. i'll go try that. would i try at the sensor or at the gauge cluster or both?

 

[zaebst]

ok, update.
i thought i had it fixed by actually adjusting the angle it was screwed in at and it worked just fine. then this morning it starts going nuts all of a sudden again going 50 showing 110. then just now i went and took off and got on it in first and second and the needle shoots to 150 and ping the speedometer needle pops off the pin. now no speedo and a moderate whirring buzzing noise coming from the gauge cluster. help?

 

[Slipstream]

1)replace needle
2)new speedo cable
3)find a friendly cop with a radar gun to help you calibrate the speedo again.

 

[Omega]

Save yourself the headache... buy a used cluster and a new cable.

 

[alexg1323]

i bet its not the cable and its the nylon ring gear that drive the cable in the tranny. Those nylon gears will get eaten on ocassion http://vfaq.com/index-main.html click that it shows you a picture of the gear in question.

alex

 

[zaebst]

couple more questions,
1: how much of a pain in the *** is it do a speedo cable?
2: where did you find the vfaq under for the nylon ring gear? is there some sort of test or inspection i can do to see if it is that?

 

[92redman]

Make sure the cable is screwed into the tranny all the way before you go replacing anything.

 

[alexg1323]

i sent you a link of it. Take it out, just unscrew the cable from it and take off the 1 10mm bolt holding it down. Then wiggle it out and look at the gear. if its missing its teeth and looks eaten up and smooth then thats the problem. Replacing the cable isnt that big of a deal you have to take out the guage cluster and pull the cable out the firewall.

 

[zaebst]

well i guess i fixed it. it turns out it was the driver for the speedometer inside the gauge cluster. i figured it out when i swapped the gauge cluster from my friend's 94 and it worked like new. the only was that the tach didn't work cuz it wasn't a 90 cluster. so i swapped the whole speedo assembly out of the cluster and put it in mine.
but how do i change the mileage on the counter the right way? so i have the correct mileage on my car?

 

[Defiant]

but how do i change the mileage on the counter the right way?

By breaking really big Federal laws.

so i have the correct mileage on my car?

The legal way to do it is to file a Certificate of True Mileage with your state. In the real world, just make a note and do the math.
Trying to turn back moden odometers usually puts you back on eBay looking for another cluster. If you're good with dental tools, it can be done.