Hello, 83-240D - about 155K Miles. When the car is cold, the spedometer flips out and makes a terrible noise once you get over 45 MPH or so. Durring this time the needle kind of jumps all around. Once the car warms up, it seems to go away. Banging the dash sometimes helps. I am guessing the spedometer may may be the problem. Anyone have any other suggestions? Thanks.

I sometimes have a similar problem with my 79 300SD.

Here's the weird thing: my cruise control doesn't usually work. When the terrible buzzing starts, it works.

Usually the only way for me to stop the noise is to slip the instrument cluster out (it can be easily pulled with no tools), push some of the wires around, and it won't resurface for a while.

You may be able to lube the cable by removing, and spray in a lubricant.

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83 SD

84 CD

I had the same problem with my 230CE a few winters ago. It sounded like the dash was full of angry bees. Lubing the cable didn't help. I ended up removing the speedometer and lubing and adjusting the tightness at the end of the main shaft that the pointer is attached to. The shaft is plastic and ends up wearing over the years.
No noises or wild pointing episodes ever since.

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

I tried lubing the cable and a little around the end of the Spedo and so far - so good. I used the lock type graphite lube. No noise today, and no abnormal operation! I also forgot how easy that cluster pops out!