help442onguam

Speedometer broken 1971 442, how do i fix Help please

MDchanic

Well, is the speedometer broken, or the drive cable, or the drive gear?

- Eric

2blu442

If it actually is the speedometer head I've got extras. But as Eric said, can you give us more information, what is and isn't working? John

AZ455

First thing I'd check is the cable. Pretty common failure on a lot of older vehicles.

help442onguam

fellas i want to give more info, but i havent a clue on how to tell whats broken

66ninetyeightls

Then you need to take it to someone who does. Its not something that can be diagnosed without taking things apart. Unfortunatley the internet hasn't got to that point yet.

The guys have already told you the parts that could cause this. Now you need to figure out which one and fix it.

DeltaPace77

As already mentioned, I'd be going after the cable and tranny drive gears first. Pull the cable off the speedo, drive around a bit and see if it turns. Keep in mind, could still be a frozen speedo bearing that broke the cable. If it really is the speedo, check the Speedometer Repair Guy site in MN.

starfire

You don't need it. You're on an island, probably can't get going too fast before you have to turn.

I agree with everyone else, start with a new cable, work from there.

Lady72nRob71

Does the odometer work? If so, then the cable is good and the speedo head needs service.

oldcutlass

X2 on this!!

ShaunM

Help442,

I'm not the most car savvy, but I think we should hear what exactly it's doing before it could be diagnosed. I know on mine it was just the Speedometer needle would bounce around and not settle on a single number, but it was just a loose cable.

svnt442

You can confirm if it's the speedometer by removing it from the dash and spinning the input with your fingers to see of the needle moves.

To remove it you first remove the 4 screws that hold the bezel in place. 2 from under the dash just under the bezel and 2 from just above the gauges. Then you tilt the top of the bezel towards you and it will just come out.
Next remove the left hand pod by removing the ¼" headed bolts that secure it in place. This needs to be done so you can get to the clip that secures the cable to the speedometer. Also be careful not to break any of the pins on the pod when you remove the wiring.
Now you unbolt the speedometer just like you did the fuel pod and pull it slightly forward so you can get you hand behind it to release the clip on the cable. Once this is done you can pull the housing out and remove the harness on it. Now you can spin the input and see if the needle moves. If not the speedometer is the problem, if it does then you have either a broken cable (most likely) or a bad drive/driven gear i the transmission. If the cable is bad the speedometer needed to be removed anyway to replace it.
The only way to check the drive/driven gears is to pull the cable off of the transmission and remove the housing that is was secured to and pull the driven gear out and inspect it. Then if that is good then you have to get your head up where you can see with a flashlight to inspect the drive gear on the output shaft of the transmission.

DeltaPace77

You're getting some really good advice here, and didn't think about just watching the odo first before actually doing any work. Thought of another one too. Get a flex drill cable extension, square bit tool set, and after disconnecting the cars cable from the speedo, plug it in.