Speedometer needle bouncing

[Mike1919]

Hey guys, on my 1993 with a mechanical speedometer, the needle bounces pretty bad when moving between 10 & 25 mph. Above 25 it doesnt bounce as bad. But its hard to read low speeds because the actual needle bounces from 10 to 20mph regardless off how fast I'm actually moving if that makes sense

 

[rathr-b-cruisin]

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=147927

 

[Mike1919]

Okay I searched for this problem and did not find that thread. Thanks

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Maybe a kink in the spedo cable or a bad gear in the tranny/transfer case. It is normally a bad cable. You should be able to get a new cable at LMC truck.

 

[Ranger Dave (B25)]

Before you replace the cable - try lubing it. Use chain and cable lube, or even just plain old 30W motor oil. If it calms down, you know what the issue was. If not, a new cable is in order.

 

[black_demon69]

inspect all gears and replace as needed worm gear(or speedometer drive gear can get at transmissioncenter.net $35 if i recall right), speedometer driven gear (the one attached to speed sensor can get these at roush yates.com about $5 if i recall right), and gears on the back of the speedometer its self ... you could also try to clean and lubricate cable (pull cluster and remove cable from housing soak in mineral spirits and wipe to clean spray brake clean into housing then soak cable in power steering fluid or similar weight oil also get some oil into the housing. put it all back together. and see if problem is gone. thats what i had to do to fix mine. i also replaced the speed sensor because it leaked.

 

[Mike1919]

Would a manual transmission ranger have a speed sensor, or is it just a straight cable. Also, I'd like to know how to remove the speedo cable, I've had tge cluster off, i just dont know where it goes through the firewall. Thanks

 

[rathr-b-cruisin]

yes the speed sensor is on the end of the speedo cable where it goes into the trans. I dont think my speedo cable went through the firewall. i think it goes down behind the dash around the steering column and goes through the floor. pull back the floor insulation and i think you'll find it. I went through everything to fix mine. started with new cable and speed sensor, pulled the cluster back out to check it. ended up replacing the driven gear in the tail of the trans. it is pretty easy to do.

 

[black_demon69]

I'd like to know how to remove the speedo cable,

there is a wire clip where cable goes into the speed sensor pull it to remove cable. then remove cluster you can now pull housing to make more room for your hand and press plastic retainer then pull cable from back of cluster.

 

[Mike1919]

Okay. I'll remove the cable and check it out. I assume after disconnecting it from the cluster, I just pull it down through the floor?

 

[black_demon69]

Okay. I'll remove the cable and check it out. I assume after disconnecting it from the cluster, I just pull it down through the floor?

pull it up through the floor it will have to be un clipped from under truck