zephyr
Well-Known Member
My 65 Dart's speedo stopped working (stays at 0). I checked under dash to be sure the cable didn't come out. What do I check next? I know nothing about how the speedo works so please educate me a little.
Replace the cable? Where does it connect? Anybody know where I can get one for an early A?an easy test is to disconnect the spedo cable from the back of the gauge and get it in a position where you can see it when you drive, go for a drive and see if its moving. If not moving its broken and you will need to find a replacement. I would stay away from the universal replacements try to find one that works for an early a . I have not had to search for one for years. But back then there were no good new replacements. I had to go junk yarding to find a replacement. Make sure when you put it back in you lube it up real good use oil. I also used to use graphite .
Depends on how big your hands are???So, I purchased a new cable. Question: will I need to remove the cluster to install it?
no you will simply unscrew from the back of the instrument cluster on the dash and pull the cable out, the other end of the cable is connected to the spedo gear in the transmission. if it broke then you will not get all of the spedo cable out by pulling it through the instrument cluster end- because it broke-. You will need to go down to the transmission end and unscrew the speedometer cable housing from the transmission. 2 things to keep in mind when you do this. 1. You might get lucky and it comes out easily. 2 the crossmember is in the way. If the crossmember is in the way you need to drop down the crossmember while supporting the transmission using a bottle jack or a floor jack. When i was younger i could squeeze my fingers in there and unscrew and re tighten. Now i drop the crossmember and remove . You may get some trans fluid leaking out thats ok. The spedometer gear will also come out. So if your speedometer is off due to change in tire combo now is the best time to find a replacement to match your tire /wheel combo. There are calculators online to help you with that. Keep in mind the early a spedo gear is different than the 67 and on ones.So, I purchased a new cable. Question: will I need to remove the cluster to install it?
Thank you. I guess I won't know till I crawl underneath and look. I'm old and fat so wish me luck!no you will simply unscrew from the back of the instrument cluster on the dash and pull the cable out, the other end of the cable is connected to the spedo gear in the transmission. if it broke then you will not get all of the spedo cable out by pulling it through the instrument cluster end- because it broke-. You will need to go down to the transmission end and unscrew the speedometer cable housing from the transmission. 2 things to keep in mind when you do this. 1. You might get lucky and it comes out easily. 2 the crossmember is in the way. If the crossmember is in the way you need to drop down the crossmember while supporting the transmission using a bottle jack or a floor jack. When i was younger i could squeeze my fingers in there and unscrew and re tighten. Now i drop the crossmember and remove . You may get some trans fluid leaking out thats ok. The spedometer gear will also come out. So if your speedometer is off due to change in tire combo now is the best time to find a replacement to match your tire /wheel combo. There are calculators online to help you with that. Keep in mind the early a spedo gear is different than the 67 and on ones.
Good Luck...you'll do OK!!!Thank you. I guess I won't know till I crawl underneath and look. I'm old and fat so wish me luck!
So, I purchased a new cable. Question: will I need to remove the cluster to install it?
Yep! I ruined 2 brand new cables trying it that way.Be careful. It looks at first like you can just push it on and the "locking tab" will slide over and catch. Well, maybe you can do it that way and fine. However, when I tried personally to push one on without lifting the little plastic latch tab the cheap plastic tab snapped right off.
Unless somebody swapped out the speedo like I did on my car!The speedo cables were screw on till 68 then they went to the clip on. I think 68 was a transition year.
Wow, now I'm confused. I removed and replaced my instrument cluster a while back and when I reattached the cable to the speedo it screwed on. No tab, no clicking. Are you maybe talking about a newer model? I have a 65 Dart. And yes, doing it from underneath the dash was an ordeal.
How would I check that?The first thing you need to do is see if the input shaft in the speedo head is seized....a very common problem. If the cable broke, there is a reason for it. You need to find that reason before just plugging in a new cable, or, you may just break the new one right away. Other things to look for would be a kink in the housing, melted housing from being too close to the exhaust, and lack of lube in the housing.
Take the cable loose from the speedometer head and try to spin the input shaft with your fingers. It should spin easily and smoothly.How would I check that?