So today I was driving my Dart on the freeway when I heard a strange ticking sound. I looked down and my speedometer was reading 20-100 MPH (I was only doing 65-70MPH) and making a ticking sound. The needle was jumping erratically similar to a metronome.

Got home and unplugged the speedo cable from the dash, it seems very square and the edges don't seem rounded at all. The cable doesn't give much when trying to turn it with my fingers, and while driving it twists as expected. I'm getting a little worried its the gauge itself

Any tips or suggestions? And if anybody has a source for a nice '66 Dart dash...

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'66 Dodge Dart

There is a bushing in the gauge itself that is likely worn. I'm trying to remember the best I can here - the cable spins a magnet. The magnet is surrounded by a metal disc/cup, which is attached to the needle. The interaction of the magnetic field with the disc is what raises the needle. If the bushing is worn, the magnet actually touches the disc instead of sitting really close to it, thus throwing the needle very high.

Try to tweak the angle of the cable where it enters the speedo to make sure its perfect, otherwise it can bind the bushing. If that checks out, then its time for a speedo rebuild. Do a search for SlantSixDan username and speedo - he gave the contact info of a rebuilder he used.

Try lubricating the cable before you tear stuff apart. Pull the inner cable from the trans end, and get it greased up real well, then slide it back in and test it.

Sam

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Just another possibility, look at the back of the speedometer on the top of the cable connection housing, if there is a plug there take it out, then take out the fiber plug under it and put in some white grease, replace everything and try it.

I pulled the inner cable on mine, cleaned it with carb cleaner and oiled it up with graphite speedo lube. Grease is thick and sticky and you dont want that in the cable IMHO.
Mike

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Thanks Mike

Thanks for all the replies! I haven't yet gotten a good sunny day to re-lube the cable. But after I get the chance, I will definitely give an update (hopefully positive).

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'66 Dodge Dart

As a musician and piano dealer, service man, it made me feel good to hear you use the word "metronome".

Sam

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Well that is pretty much exactly what it sounds like and the faster I drive, the quicker the tempo (although I have disconnected it until I can work on it).

How does one go about pulling the inner cable? I don't believe the FSM outlines this so any tips are greatly appreciated.

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'66 Dodge Dart

Pull it from the transmission end.

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67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC

Yes, Bill is exactly right. Turn the threaded outer cable end counter clockwise until the cable comes lose from the trans, and then grip the inner cable and simply pull it out. When you re-insert it, you will hve to rotate it a bit until the sqaure end lines up correctly with the fitting in the speedo.

Sam

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My '63 did the same thing, I used a dab of greese inside the speedo on the gears and it helped alot, not so much for the accuracy. lol

,Cliff

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'72 4 dr Dart
'63 4 dr Dart

Ok so today it was nice outside so I played around with the cable... the one end practically popped out of the outer cable. So I pulled it from inside the cab... and it was only about 4 ft long (that's only like half the length right?) and the other end of the cable appears to be square but looks as though it had broken.

So I think its safe to say its just a broken cable? However, why is the cable square at the section where it broke (if this is a poor description I can take some photos).

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'66 Dodge Dart

I would bet that is the entire thing, and not broken at all. Each end is square where it engages the device that turns it, or gets turned. Clean it, lube it with whatever lube you want to go with, and slide it back in. As I said, the square end must line up and slide into a matching square hole inside the speedo, so turn it a bit until it goes all the way home. Then put the trans end together, and take it for a ride to see if it works better.

Sam

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