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[MoparDan]

The speedometer pointer tends to jump and swing a lot, does this mean it's broken or can this be fixed?

[Dippy.org]

[DobaMark]

Two possible causes:
1) Bad speedometer head.
2) Bad speedometer cable. If it's the cable, it can be lubed which will probably fix it. There are special lubricants for this, but since I had a motorcycle at he time, I used motorcycle cable lube when my speedometer cable needed lubed.

[lsm360]

In all the M bodies I've owned, I've never had a Speedometer head go bad or even become less than smooth, so I'm guessing cable. If it were mine, I'd just replace it. Not terribly difficult nor costly.

[MoparDan]

I guess I might as well try to lube it first, how do I do that?

[lsm360]

I guess I might as well try to lube it first, how do I do that?

Dan, I'm not sure how you get the lube all the way thru the cable. Maybe you just disconnect at one end, and pull the metal cable out, lube, and push back thru? Don't know. Also, if you have cruise control you'll have to lube the additional cable/cables.

[MoparDan]

I do have cruise control, but its an old aftermarket Sears Autocruise unit, I did check the factory service book and saw that the speedo cable is connected to the transmission, transmissions scare me, so I'd hace to have the garage replace it if it comes to that, so I thought I might as well try to lube it first

[DobaMark]

I do have cruise control, but its an old aftermarket Sears Autocruise unit, I did check the factory service book and saw that the speedo cable is connected to the transmission, transmissions scare me, so I'd hace to have the garage replace it if it comes to that, so I thought I might as well try to lube it first

You only have to remove the top end to lube it. Remove the speedometer cable from the back of the speedometer. Gravity will be your friend as the lube will move down the cable. 

[MoparDan]

You only have to remove the top end to lube it. Remove the speedometer cable from the back of the speedometer. Gravity will be your friend as the lube will move down the cable. 

Thanks 

[lsm360]

You only have to remove the top end to lube it. Remove the speedometer cable from the back of the speedometer. Gravity will be your friend as the lube will move down the cable. 

What are you lubing it with? I thought it was a grease type lube and not a liquid. Isn't a liquid lube just going to run down to the transmission end and not stay on all parts of the cable like a grease lube?

[IronBrick]

Use Lock-Ease, it's a graphited lubricant meant for door locks. I use it on anything that can't afford to have oil get gummed up. The liquid evaporates and leaves powdered graphite behind. Good stuff.

[lsm360]

Graphite is a good lubricant for locks because they are open to dust, and grease collects dust. But it's a dry lube and if you use that on a cable that was factory lubed with a wet lube like grease, I don't know  that makes a good combo.

[DobaMark]

What are you lubing it with? I thought it was a grease type lube and not a liquid. Isn't a liquid lube just going to run down to the transmission end and not stay on all parts of the cable like a grease lube?

I've always used motorcycle cable lube, from a spray can. The problem never came back.