AMC Eagle Den Forum

The Mighty 258 => General Service and Diagnosis => Topic started by: MIPS on November 02, 2020, 09:31:39 PM

Title: Speedometer chatter AFTER dash work
Post by: MIPS on November 02, 2020, 09:31:39 PM
I had the honor of pulling my cluster and dash trim out this weekend int he cold to replace a headlamp switch that went into meltdown and had to disconnect the cluster from the speedometer cable. Didn't break anything and it was already quiet but what had been bugging me for over was a slow "sque......eek" that kept coming and going so I put a few drops of oil into the bushing on the back of the cluster and sprayed some lithium grease into the receiving end of the cable. The result is it still squeaks and now it chatters when you get above 50km/h. I can't see any kinks or weird bends between the cluster and the firewall so I have no idea what I did but this is going to drive me crazy pretty fast.
Title: Re: Speedometer chatter AFTER dash work
Post by: rmick on November 02, 2020, 11:31:31 PM
Try lubing cable from transmission with one of these https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dorman-Speedometer-Cable-Lube-Adapter-for-Ford-Trucks-F100-F150-F250-5-8-18/152610316174?epid=1730001896&hash=item2388489f8e:g:9GAAAOSwySVaOsta
Title: Re: Speedometer chatter AFTER dash work
Post by: vangremlin on November 03, 2020, 11:27:19 AM
I had a similar problem, the needle would fluctuate wildly above a certain speed.  Turns out I did not have the cable fully tightened at the back of the speedometer, easy fix.  Good luck.
Title: Re: Speedometer chatter AFTER dash work
Post by: MIPS on November 06, 2020, 07:56:41 PM
Okay it turned out to just want a bit of oil.
I didn't want to pull the dash apart again so I was able to reach behind, unscrew and pull it out, down and J-curve it so I could add a few drops of 3 in 1. Aside from breaking my hood release bracket in a lasers-shooting-from-eyes two hours of frustration as I had to build a steel bracket to repair it the cable has stopped chattering and has continued to remain quiet for the last three days.

By the way this is something you can do if you are (un?)lucky enough to not have air conditioning or the tray package.

(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a166/ballsandy/CGS_10219.JPG) (https://app.photobucket.com/u/ballsandy/a/1a5de693-3e31-4771-bb04-eae7a718980a/p/7a49256d-455c-4857-898a-edab6c0f2e1c)