Speedo Cable Removal

[jayro88]

All right guys.....I want to pull my dash cluster to do a couple of little things, but I am having an issue with getting the speedo cable off the back. I can't get the cluster out enough to see how it clips on. Does anyone have a pic or can explain how it is supposed to unclip? I just don't want to brake it and cause more work for myself. Vehicle is an '88 E250. Thanks

 

[riotwarrior]

I can't show...but reaching in behind...ya it's a real pain...for real...whole world of hurt there, and you find the cable run your hand up to cluster, there will be a white plastic clip, one side has a longitudinal part on it no all you have to do is push the plastic clip off to one side and withdraw the cable out of the instrument cluster, I'll see about getting a pic in day just gotta find both the cable and the cluster

I'll do a Tech 101 on it too! but it won't be in the dash just out in plain site for easy viewing!

 

[chris142]

I gave up on mine. No way i can acess it. I was able to pull the clear plastic off the front of the guages and then the guages and bulbs will pull out of their sockets

 

[jayro88]

I gave up on mine. No way i can acess it. I was able to pull the clear plastic off the front of the guages and then the guages and bulbs will pull out of their sockets

I may do this if I cant get the clip off. I can get a hold of it pretty well, especially if I remove the panel next to it.....just didn't want to start yanking on it and break it. I know that 26 year old plastic can be pretty brittle.

I am wanting to clean up the electrical plugs etc in the cluster (gauges acting funny) and am considering replacing the bulbs with LED bulbs if they are available. Less power draw, possibly brighter and would last longer.

 

[icanfixall]

You have to press in on the clip and then pull it off the cluster all with one hand.. Its one of those push me pull you dogs. I actually have found and easy way to make room to get it out. I remove the other end from the cruise control. Then I push it thru the firewall to make more pull room for the dash cluster. Now when you can actually get both hands behind the cluster its an easy job.

 

[riotwarrior]

I should add the white plastic clip...is on/around the cable and holds it onto the cluster

 

[LCAM-01XA]

I gave up on mine. No way i can acess it. I was able to pull the clear plastic off the front of the guages and then the guages and bulbs will pull out of their sockets

IIRC there's at least one cluster illumination bulb that's right behind the speedometer gauge, did you manage to get to it also?

Regardless, the easiest way to deal with speedometer cable is to disconnect it from the transmission (or, if 4x4, the t-case), then unclip it from any clips that may hold it to the underside of the floorpans, then start feeding it back into the cab - if you have the cluster unbolted from the dash as you feed cable in from underneath it will actually push the cluster out of the dash for you. Don't feed blindly tho, check progress "upstairs" frequently, like with every inch or two of cable fed crawl out from under truck and make sure the cluster ain't hanging up on the column or dash edge. Eventually you will max out the slack in the cluster harness, but at this point accessing its connector(s) on the back of the cluster will be pretty easy - disconnect harness and keep feeding the cable in from underneath a few more inches, the cluster will end up pretty much against the back of the steering wheel and the cable retaining clip will be visible and accessible.

Upon reinstalling the cluster don't pull the cable out of the cab from underneath truck as you have no way of controlling the motion of the cluster as it slides back in place, instead find where cable passes thru the floor pan (near the throttle pedal usually) and keep pushing it down from inside the cab with one hand while guiding the cluster in with the other hand. When cluster is properly reinstalled crawl under truck and pull the cable back to transmission or t-case, plug it back in, and finally hook it up to the floorpan clips.

Pics of back of a gauge cluster with harness connectors and speedometer cable attached can be made available if needed.

 

[chris142]

Naw i just did the one or 2 that were burned out

 

[nj_m715]

I need to lube my cable. I hear a noise like a loud heater fan while driving so I'm pretty sure it's the cable. I unhooked it at the trans, but the inner cable doesn't want to slide out and I don't want to force it. Do I have to rip open the dash to lube this thing? Last one I did was an old jeep and it was a quick, easy job to do from the bottom.
'89 7.3 with e4od

 

[79jasper]

I think you have to pull it from the top.

Sent from my SM-G900R4 using Tapatalk

 

[theguruat12]

I pull these clusters all the time at the yard, and it's as easy as unscrew it, then pull out until you can squeeze your hand around the speedo side, press the plastic clip towards the center of the cable housing, and it will pop right off 9/10 times. There are two places you may feel like you should press, the correct one is the rectangular flange that points TOWARDS the speedo head.

I need to lube my cable.

Is it the two piece one that has the speed sensour at the connection on the driver's side fender well? If so, the lower cable will pull out there, as well as the upper cable. As far as one piece cables go, I don't know, I've never had to remove mine now that I'm switched over.


When lubricating, ONLY USE THIS: http://www.amazon.com/Panef-K-81-oz-Penetrating-Graphite/dp/B00GX1DZZC

This is the only thing that is supposed to be used to lubricate speedo cables. I use it in all of the speedo heads that I recondition, as well as my truck. (An equivalent graphite oil from another brand should be fine as well). If you use grease, that white lithium Liquid Wrench crap, 3 in 1 oil, zoom spout, or-god forbid- WD40, you'll be right back where you are now, lubing it in a few weeks/months. Either that, or it simply won't lubricate properly from the beginning, in the case of the grease. Graphite oil is how they come, and lubricants don't like to mix.

/rant.

 

[nj_m715]

I assumed it's one piece. it comes up through the floor just to the left of the throttle peddal, but I'll take a closer look to be sure.

 

[nj_m715]

yup, one piece. I guess it will have to wait until after this weekends road trip.