Topic: Lubed the Upper Speedo Cable
in Forum: C3 Interior
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Lifetime MemberHOWELL, NJ - USA
Joined: 5/18/2004
Posts: 6812
Vette(s): 1979, Targa Blue (72 Color), Pace Car rear spoiler, L88 hood, Dark blue factory interior, 525HP 406, HD 700R4, 370 gears,Steeroids, composite rear spring, TT IIs wrapped in T/A Radials.
Thanks for posting this Dave. Mine works smooth until about 80 MPH and then starts to float. Did you use one on them doohickies they sell in the catalogs to grease the cable?
HEY RON -when you do your dash bulbs, buy a few spare bulb sockets beforehand as some of them may be beyond their useful life. I did mine and half the bulbs were still either out or dim. Used new sockets and problem cured!
Paul
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[QUOTE=LukesVette]Thanks for posting this Dave. Mine works smooth until about 80 MPH and then starts to float. Did you use one on them doohickies they sell in the catalogs to grease the cable?
Paul
[/QUOTE]
I took the inner cable out to lube it. That way I knew I had the right amount.
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My speedo cable was a little noisy. I was going to buy one of those doohickey things but after I seen a picture of in a Vette magazine I made one.Take an old speedo housing out of a Chevy trans, take the gear off, knock the center out, drill and tap for a grease fitting.Take your speedo cable or tach cable off screw it on the housing and pump grease through . Only takes 1-2 pumps.
Dave
Hi Dave,
Thanks for this post. I have had the trouble with the bouncing spedo needle at low speeds. I replaced the cruise control transducer years ago and then replaced the lower cable a few days later. The lower cable fixed the problem.
Fast Forward a few years thousands of miles, my speedometer stops working. So, I got a lower cable and replaced it. There was no change. I replaced the cruise control transducer and still no needle movement.
I am going to replace the upper cable next. The service manual says to remove the cluster to get at the cable. I think I'll try your method first.
The missing speed signal to the ECM seems not to change the performance noticeably. The car still runs pretty well.
Thanks again for the pictures and the post.
Keith
Thanks for this post. I have had the trouble with the bouncing spedo needle at low speeds. I replaced the cruise control transducer years ago and then replaced the lower cable a few days later. The lower cable fixed the problem.
Fast Forward a few years thousands of miles, my speedometer stops working. So, I got a lower cable and replaced it. There was no change. I replaced the cruise control transducer and still no needle movement.
I am going to replace the upper cable next. The service manual says to remove the cluster to get at the cable. I think I'll try your method first.
The missing speed signal to the ECM seems not to change the performance noticeably. The car still runs pretty well.
Thanks again for the pictures and the post.
Keith
Nobody ever waves when I'm driving the Explorer.
K Woody
Keith,
I'm glad you dug up this oldie but goodie. Brings back fond memories.
Let us know how you make out.
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Lifetime MemberIndianapolis, IN - USA
Joined: 9/3/2006
Posts: 2429
Vette(s): Silver 1974 Convertible - L82 4 speed
Low miles (was only 8,900 when I bought it in March 2006) - Now 54K miles. Original owner bought it as an investment for son's college expenses.
2008 Jetstream Blue Convertible
I have had to mess with my speedo more times than I would like to count (and I'm STILL having troubles!). The number one thing I've determined is to HIRE OUT! You need 2 hands and as Dave noted, there's barely room for one.
On a separate topic (those who have been to gatherings with me will get this), Alex has given us the official first quote on the list for this year! I won't repeat it here, but re-read some things and you may catch it
I wanted a Corvette my whole life, but I never dreamed of all the wonderful people I would meet because of it!
2014216132127r.jpg)
first quote !!!!
hmmm ... we may have to bring in the judges ... check the date !
|UPDATED|5/14/2012 7:40:16 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
hmmm ... we may have to bring in the judges ... check the date !
|UPDATED|5/14/2012 7:40:16 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
Hello All,
Life intervened for a while. I'm back on track in the garage now. I loosened all of the screws holding in the left side of the dash. I removed the bottom panels under the steering column and removed the AC duct.
I positioned the driver's seat as low as possible. I was able to get upside down in the seat and got to the clip at the rear of the speedo where the upper speedo cable goes into the unit. Got the clip off and pulled the cable and the feed through out of the car. So far so good.
Update: The cable went in pretty smoothly. Having the speedo and tach loose I think, helped. It was just enough that I could push forward on the assy while holding the cable in the back and it snapped into place. I had a little trouble getting the front end of the cable in the cruise module but, it went eventually.
The replacement cable I got from O' Reiley's was 41" long and the upper that came out of the car was 21".
I ordered the correct part from Factory Motor Parts and it came in yesterday. The part number of the Upper Speedo Cable w/cruise control is: ACDelco 88959470 and was $32.
The speedo needle bounces slightly under 5 mph but, works smoothly through the entire range of speeds.
So, this method works fine.
Thanks Dave.
All the best from Tucson. Wish I could have made the Gathering. Maybe next year.
Keith
|UPDATED|5/23/2012 9:43:17 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
Life intervened for a while. I'm back on track in the garage now. I loosened all of the screws holding in the left side of the dash. I removed the bottom panels under the steering column and removed the AC duct.
I positioned the driver's seat as low as possible. I was able to get upside down in the seat and got to the clip at the rear of the speedo where the upper speedo cable goes into the unit. Got the clip off and pulled the cable and the feed through out of the car. So far so good.
Update: The cable went in pretty smoothly. Having the speedo and tach loose I think, helped. It was just enough that I could push forward on the assy while holding the cable in the back and it snapped into place. I had a little trouble getting the front end of the cable in the cruise module but, it went eventually.
The replacement cable I got from O' Reiley's was 41" long and the upper that came out of the car was 21".
I ordered the correct part from Factory Motor Parts and it came in yesterday. The part number of the Upper Speedo Cable w/cruise control is: ACDelco 88959470 and was $32.
The speedo needle bounces slightly under 5 mph but, works smoothly through the entire range of speeds.
So, this method works fine.
Thanks Dave.
All the best from Tucson. Wish I could have made the Gathering. Maybe next year.
Keith
|UPDATED|5/23/2012 9:43:17 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
Nobody ever waves when I'm driving the Explorer.
K Woody
Lifetime MemberModerator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
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Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
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#2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto
Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
ceastham1 said: hmmm ... we may have to bring in the judges ... check the date !
I agree...Marshall.....what you referenced is, like, 4 years old....a little too long ago to be included in this year's list...
The upper speedo cables in these cars are simply a pita..period. The easiest way I have found is to remove the top dash pad...and the seat. Then you might have enough room to get to the cable end clip without cutting a finger off....
Joel Adams
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