The Oldsmobile Connection

bobshow · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Posts: 51

hello.....having problem with speedometer replaced cable... problem is that it bounces from10 to30 mph and then it works fine after that ...removed gear from tranmission were cable goes into,,looks good.coule it be the head it self???/ thanks for help....1987 cutty v-6

88 Coupe · Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2004 1:04 pm Post subject: Re: speedometer

Hi bobshow, hello All,
Quote: ............... it bounces from10 to30 mph and then it works fine after that .................could it be the head itself? ................. Yes.

Dismantling and inspecting it is educational, and you might find it to be something you can fix youself.

Easier to have a speedo shop repair it.

FWIW: One from a bone yard will be as old as the car it came out of.

Regards, Norm

85cieraholiday · Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2004 2:06 pm Post subject:

My spedo bounces and such at all speeds, its done that as long as I can remember so I just kinda accept it as being 19 years old.

88 Coupe · Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2004 6:34 pm Post subject:

Hi 85cieraholiday, All,
Quote: My speedo bounces and such at all speeds
Yours is probably the cable.
Ask for speedo cable lube at your favorite parts supplier. If they don't know what you are talking about, go somewhere else.

Speedometer lube is a light grease and graphite mix. Any other lube causes what you are trying to cure.

The only exception I know is white lithium but it doesn't last as long.

Pull the cable out from the bottom, and grease it as you put it back in.

Merry Christmas, Norm

Bassboy53 · Joined: 25 Apr 2004 Posts: 75

Hey i had a situation where when i would accelerate the speedometer woudl drop & the harder i'd accelerate the lower the speed would read, then when i let off, it would resume speed.

I found a bare wire that was grounding out on the tranny, fixed it up and the circuit was just fine.. look around for the wires that go to the tranny and makesure there not a lil bare..

88 Coupe · Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2004 9:47 pm Post subject:

Hi Bassboy53, All

Both of the above are mechanical setups, my guess is, yours is electronic.

Sounds like the best place to start, if troubleshooting a later speedo.

Regards, Norm

88delta88 · Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 2409 Location: Canada

my speedo is electronic. I was actually VERY surprised to learn this when I was taking my dash apart to install my stereo way back when... I'd never seen a digital needle speedo before (or knew I was looking at one). Neat stuff.

Brando · Joined: 06 Jun 2003 Posts: 3069 Location: Michigan, USA

88delta88 wrote: my speedo is electronic. I was actually VERY surprised to learn this when I was taking my dash apart to install my stereo way back when... I'd never seen a digital needle speedo before (or knew I was looking at one). Neat stuff.

Hey, if your speedo is electronic, mine must be too....right? (Haven't ever actually taken the instrument panel apart on that car)

TOC Admin
Brando

Brando · Joined: 06 Jun 2003 Posts: 3069 Location: Michigan, USA

Just checked wiring diagram and yes it is....cool. Easier to swap in a 3800... :D

TOC Admin
Brando

Turbocharged400sbc · Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Posts: 318

:wink:
you know ya want to brando..........
L27 baby! :lol:

James

88delta88 · Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 2409 Location: Canada

hey! I want to aswelL!

bobshow · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Posts: 51

bought a new cable...did not fix the problem...speed shop said that the speed sensor in dash could be bad....i get a code 24 VSS ...COULD IT CAUSE IT TOO JUMP.......hope you can help...thanks

speedy266 · Joined: 25 Jun 2003 Posts: 347 Location: Ontario, Canada

My speedo bounces alot at low speeds and bounces less and less as the speed increases and stops bouncing after 60km/h. The VSS is original, i think my speedo cable broke once, because the speedo wasnt work nor was the odemeter working took it to a shop, pretty sure they put a new one in, cant remember, it bounced alot less than before at the time, but now it bounces like it used to. It was repalced like 4 years ago.

Um im not sure which cable is my speedo cable, could someone tell me its location?

88 Coupe · Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2005 4:50 pm Post subject: Re: speedometer

Hi bobshow, Speedy266, all

Quote: bought a new cable...did not fix the problem .......... I take it you didn't read my first post.
Quote: ......... speed shop ......... Speedo shop?
Quote: ......... now it bounces like it used to ........... It was repalced like 4 years ago .........not sure which cable is my speedo cable .......... Sounds like they didn't lube the cable when they installed it.
There is a lube made specifically for speedo cables and it should be available at your local parts supplier.

One end of the cable housing is plugged into the back of the speedo head, and the other, to the tailshaft housing of the trans, or on the case of the new stuff, to the transaxle or to a front wheel.

Disconnect the housing from the head, pull the cable out, and coat it with lube as you put it back in.
If it's done properly it will last longer than the car.

Regards, Norm