66 Fairlane speedometer troubles - Car Troubleshooting


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66 Fairlane speedometer troubles

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rpacker
User

Nov 9, 2008, 4:55 PM

Post #1 of 3 (3093 views)

66 Fairlane speedometer troubles	Sign In

After having a stereo installed my speedometer is now starting at about 20 mph (with the car on or off) instead of 0. Also at low speeds it jumps around a bit and in reverse it's always at 0 (although maybe this is correct?).
I read around some and saw the general feeling was the cable is bad. So, I pulled out the cable, it didn't look kinked or bent oddly, so greased it and put it back in. I also reset the gauge back to 0 by turning it at the back of the gauge (it turns freely, not forcing anything) but after starting and moving the car it goes back to 20 mph, not 0 again. The cable turns freely (by hand) when it's in the cable housing.
Since it was working before, I don't think it would be the gear in the trans. Could there be something in the speedometer gauge itself? I can't find any diagrams of what exactly is in there, so can't make a guess. TIA.

Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Nov 9, 2008, 5:14 PM

Post #2 of 3 (3084 views)

Re: 66 Fairlane speedometer troubles	Sign In

This can get like watch repair. Is the needle rubbing on anything now preventing from returning to zero? If cable and case objected to being removed it may be a tad ajar. This is likely right at the speedo head itself not cable or trans at all. With the whole thing out in your hands you should be able to spin it and show speed but it should always PARK back to zero.

If the stereo install disturbed the cable and case at all it might have torqued on the back of the gauge. Try and carefully jockey around just a bit with it intact again and see if that changes it. If so it might have bent the back of the speedo head,

T

Guest
Anonymous Poster

Nov 13, 2008, 2:20 PM

Post #3 of 3 (3068 views)

Re: 66 Fairlane speedometer troubles	Sign In

I found out the problem. There were 2 actually.
1. the needle somehow got bumped off (over) the peg that stops it.
2. The magnet is failing.

fwiw to other that may read this, the quote I got to have it fixed was $175.00

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