Speedometer problem what causes this??

[AlaskanJack]

I was driving my wifes X today and noticed that while I was driving on the highway around 55-65 mph the speedometer would bounce and slowly settle back down. As I watched this I noticed that it was a fairly constant thing. As I sped up from say 45-65 mph the needle would go to like 75 and then I would guess that I was at around 65 and get off the pedal and it would settle down to the proper speed.

What is causing this??

 

[88vert]

Sounds like your cable is about ready to go,you should check if its tight it might have worked its way loose too

 

[AlaskanJack]

I wasn't sure if the X even had a speedo cable. That's why I posted here. I was surprised to find out the clutch was a hydraulic piston self adjusting. I tend no not make assumptions anymore.

 

[88vert]

yeah you got a cable,might want to check it out

 

[Maniak]

The 1993 explorer does have a speedo cable..

On our 1992 We get some bouncing in our speedo when the cable starts to get dry. I was using very light oil and I had to relube it every 20k miles or so.. I used high temp bearing grease and haven't had a problem since.

Hopefully yours is that easy..

~Mark

 

[GenerationX]

Mark, how and where did you grease the speedo cable? There must be a way to grease it with it out and with the gear off? (by the way mines an automatic) I didn't check the haynes because I'm at work. Maybe you could tell how you did it?
Thanks, Garrett

 

[Maniak]

It is actually pretty easy.. The hardest part is taking the speedo out of the dash (I've done it enough times it is now easy to do)..

There is 1 bolt that hold the speedo into the xfer case... Once you have that off.. you take off the clip that holds the speedo gear on.

The other end (the end in the dash) is a little harder until you have done it a few times.. you use torx bits to take out the cluster (after you have taken the front of the dash off).. Once you have the plastic away from the guages you can take the speedo cable off the back of the speedo.. At that point you can pull the cable out. I then greased it and put it back in from the top.. The last 1" or so can sometimes be a pain. Just keep turning and pushing the cable down.. It will eventually go in.. Some times I get it first try.. other times it takes me 5 minutes to get it to go..

Then just put the dash back together and put the speedo gear back on the bottom end and put it back into the xfer case.

~Mark

 

[GenerationX]

thanks alot for your help, Mark
the only difference is that mine is a 2wd so the cable would go to the tail of the tranny ( should be the same deal though). Now I just need to get over my fear of taking apart the dash!!

 

[Maniak]

Once my pictures come back from being developed I'll have some pictures on taking apart the dash.. I am making an article on changing the analog idiot light oil pressure guage into an actualy guage that actually reads true oil pressure.. instead of just something above 5psi..

~Mark

 

[AlaskanJack]

Maniak- Thanks for the info I will try and grease it to see if it solves my problem. Its my wife's X and I rarely drive it. She seems to not mind so I guess I can do the fix at my leaisure.

Thansk again.