Speedometer Stopped Working

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zephyr

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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.
 
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 .
 
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 .
Replace the cable? Where does it connect? Anybody know where I can get one for an early A?
 
Be careful if you drive the car with the speedo cable disconnected from the dash. The inner cable can come out of the tube and attack you!!:poke:
 
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I don't know what transmission you have, but on both my 904 and 727 transmissions, the cable connects to the driver side of the transmission, near the gear selector shaft.
 
It’s easiest to drop the steering column down to get the gauge panel out. Also, disconnect the speedo cable down at the transmission first and get some slack in the cable so it’s easier to get the gauge panel out.
 
The correct cable, complete with sheathe and all, for pre 66 model trans is quite expensive compared to the 66 and later.
Speedometer cable and housing for 1960-65 Plymouth Valiant, 1961-62 Dodge Lancer, 1963-65 Dart and 1964-65 Barracuda
If the sheathe is still good you can buy a universal replacement cable for it. Another member dealt with this recently. @dibbons maybe? I forget
The first thing I would do is pull the speedometer end and confirm the cable is broken. Then go under the car and pull that end of the cable to verify trans and cable are in fact pre 66 type.
 
So, I purchased a new cable. Question: will I need to remove the cluster to install it?
 
So, I purchased a new cable. Question: will I need to remove the cluster to install it?
Depends on how big your hands are???

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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.
 
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.
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?


Yes. The cable doesn’t screw on to the speedometer head. It pushes on with a little click type latch.

Unless you have the hands of a diseased 5 year old girl, it’s way quicker to drop the column and take the cluster out.

There are 3 bolts that hold the column to the floor. Those come out. There are 3 bolts that hold the column to the dash. They may be nuts on studs...I forget. There are 3 of them. Take them off and the column drops down and the cluster just unscrews and comes out.

I would disconnect the old cable from the gear box first and get some slack in the cable so you can get the cluster out.

Then reverse the order and you’re done. No way I’d try and get my hands back in there and fight that cable.
 
I agree with @yellow rose. I’ve tried doing it with the cluster in place, and it is a PAIN. Let’s pretend you can get your hand back in there, you still can’t see the end of the cable or the back of the speedo very easily, so you’re pretty much doing everything by feel and faith.

Much easier to drop the column and pull the cluster forward. At least that way you can visually verify you’re doing it right.
 
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.
 
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.
Yep! I ruined 2 brand new cables trying it that way.
 
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.
 
The speedo cables were screw on till 68 then they went to the clip on. I think 68 was a transition year.
 
Yep, I bought a 67 rally dash with a clip on speedo. Somebody in the last 54 years must have changed it. Imagine that….
 
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.


Yes yours should have a screw in spedo cable housing. The spedo cable end will slide into the back of the spedometer. Their should be no click/clip. I have never run into what was being referenced on an early a body ever, not to say they are not correct though if someone changed something .
 
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.
 
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.
How would I check that?
 
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