Gauge Cluster woes

[edudu77]

Hey guys. Whenever I purchased my car, the speedo cable was cut, so I put in a new one. A few weeks later the speedo died, so I got a tach cluster from a j/y...Sunday night, as I watched my lights dim on my way back from SC as my Alt died, my speedo crapped out as well. The Odo/trip both work, but the speedo is stuck on 20mph, sometimes if comes back to life briefly, then back to 20mph or thereabouts. It seems to oscillate at the base of the needle, so I think something just came loose. Has anyone ever torn into one of these things? I'm temped to start removing things until I find the magic missing link...but I'd like it to work after I am done. Any idea? Anyone happen to have a schematic to one of these deals. Search turned up nothing, but I wasn't uber-diligent. Any help is much appreciated.
Donovan

[Gforcefd]

Make sure your speedo cable is in all the way, also check the part that goes into the transmission. Check the speedo gear on the end of it, to make sure it isn't damaged, and that when you put it in all the way. The cable inside the casing can come out of the speedo gear part, or the cable can get streched, but very unlikely.

[jglutz]

I think the speedo cable and alt light are un related problems....the reason why...if their is a problem with the new cluster or your installion of such....the alt is mich stronger than any probly thaat could be cause dby the cluster. If it was custe was the problem...a fuse would have blown.

[Ogrestiva]

I took mine apart a few times, it wasn't hard, just a bunch of screws. It might be that the metal coil is out of whack, but the most likely cause is the needle is lose on the speedo/tach. you should also check if you connected the cable all the way with the clip and everything. what kind of tach do you have? also check the cable where it connects to the tach...they are prone to coming lose. hope you figure it out.

[GenevaDirt]

there is a little washer that goes over the end of the cable and if it is missing the innercable will not seat into the tranny, therefore not working the speedo. Had that happen during one my swaps.....just a thought.

[edudu77]

Yeah, wasn't stating that the alt light and the cable were connected, just adding to the frustration of it all. One thing popped into my head, I cannot get the speedo gear out of the trans...took the bolt out...but the assembly is STUCK. When I backed up, before the speedo died, there was a popping sound. Is the speedo gear supposed to spin backward..or should it "idle" when I am backing up...and do you think the cable and all spinning backwards could be what is fragging my speedos? I'll have to pull it apart to see what is going on...I know the cable is engaged, as the odometer still works. Thanks for the suggestions. BTW I purchased an alt from wrestler3025, it's going in this weekend.
Thanks,
Donovan

[edudu77]

Hey Geneva, my new cable didn't come with the washer, and I wondered about that when I installed it. My old one was "misplaced" by my toddler/helper..most likely buried in the front yard. The cable end is a little different on the one I got from McParts, so perhaps it is compensated for in this difference...I will check this out though.
Thanks,
Donovan

[wrestler3025]

Shipped out the alternator Priority mail this morning .

[edudu77]

Awesome, thanks a lot!

[Damkid]

there is a little washer that goes over the end of the cable and if it is missing the innercable will not seat into the tranny, therefore not working the speedo. Had that happen during one my swaps.....just a thought.

i had a problem with my speedo cable not quite seated right in the tranny and my speedo jsut stopped working, i'd check the gear on the end of the speedo cable

[edudu77]

Okay, so I pulled the cluster and took it apart, tested the parts, and it is shot. I then took apart my old, non-tach cluster, which had the same issue. What do you know...same problem. I called a speedo repair shop, explained the symptoms and they said the bearing was bad...$245 to fix. Ummm yeah...soo, has anyone ever built a custom gauge cluster using an aftermarket speedo. I was looking at an Autometer..they have a mechanical to hall sensor do-dad that seems to hook straight into the tranny, any idea if it meshes with ours?
Donovan

[Ogrestiva]

wow, I'd say just get a new tach off ebay, they are going for about $40.

[Damkid]

Ya it would be way cheaper and easier to just buy a replacement, put a [WTB] in the for/sale section for one