Well, I finally got under there and changed out the speedometer cable today.I bought this car for my wife in January almost 2 years ago, and the PO told me it had broken one cold, frigid morning when his wife took off for work. I bought the new cable over a year ago. I'm ashamed to say that I have put it off for this long. Everytime I'd get under the car to do something else, I'd look around and all I could see was a tube going up somewhere that I didn't want to get. Plus, I was afraid that I would, once again, do a bunch of work just to find out it was something else, like the speedo or odo gears. Well. After reading a few of the posts on this problem over the last few days, and having everyone tell how it wasn't a pain in the ass to get the dash out, (I was absolutely shocked when I barely touched the inst. panel and it just popped out), and also how the bushing removal was as simple as loosening up a bolt, I went ahead and went for it. Geez, I could kick myself in the butt for procrastinating on this job!!! I got the warm fuzzies when I pulled out and headed down the street and the needle started rising. And after a little while, I saw the odometer turning, and the trip meter changing. Ahhh... Anyway, thanks for the positive (and informative) posts and comments to all who have written about the subject. I'm putting a couple of pics down to show the broken tranny end of the cable, and the bushing in the tranny, which is kind of grainy, since I was way too close. I'd like to know, since the rubber grommet in the tranny looked deformed, where can I find a new rubber to replace the old one. One thing I noticed when I dropped the tube covering the back end of the cable is that it was full of water. This seems like a bad thing to happen in freezing weather. Is there a way to keep the water out of that cover hose?? Does anybody know how many miles these cables ordinarily last? There was 203,332 miles on the car when we bought it. I imagine we've put 5k or less. Anyway, is a dealer the only one that would have a rubber grommet like that? Whatever the case, I am a happy, smiley dude this Thanksgiving weekend. (And for the record, I did thank Him first.)

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__________________
"Knowing is not enough, we must apply.
Willing is not enough, we must do." Goethe

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1951 Chevy 3100

2003 Indian Chief Roadmaster

1983 GMC 1 ton Dually

1982 Chevy 1 ton Dually, service body (sold)

'90 GMC Suburban 6.2 "SS Veg-Burban"
(single tank WVO\diesel conversion) SOLD

'81 300D ~ Mama's car...my job (now my car)(but still my job) SOLD

'83 300sd ~ rescue car SOLD

2005 Ford Taurus (Mama's new car)(NOT my job!)

The hardest part of the whole job is the groment through the firewall. using some silicone spray makes it easier to get in.

where did you get the cable? there should be one on the new cable when you bought it.

I had one break off at the spedo. the spedo head jamed.

Charlie

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

I got the cable from ********az. It was OE. It wasn't the firewall grommet that I was talking about, it was the rubber seal part in the tranny. The firewall rubber came with the cable. I used a pick that I use to clean slag from tested welds to get it in. A little 3in1 oil and then just walked the rubber in around the hole's edge with that. Pulled on the cable to keep it in. Almost had to go get the wife to hold it, then found pulling a little worked just as well. I did find that the previous installer used zip-ties to hold it to 2 spots on the frame and one place going up the firewall. (They were marked CHINA, so I know it's been done at least once before) But all in all, it went pretty well. I've developed another problem, though. I'll post on it next. I've got a brake warning light coming on now.

__________________
"Knowing is not enough, we must apply.
Willing is not enough, we must do." Goethe

***********************************


1951 Chevy 3100

2003 Indian Chief Roadmaster

1983 GMC 1 ton Dually

1982 Chevy 1 ton Dually, service body (sold)

'90 GMC Suburban 6.2 "SS Veg-Burban"
(single tank WVO\diesel conversion) SOLD

'81 300D ~ Mama's car...my job (now my car)(but still my job) SOLD

'83 300sd ~ rescue car SOLD

2005 Ford Taurus (Mama's new car)(NOT my job!)

HMMMM, what I typed and what I was thinking didn`t come out right.

what I ment was, there should have been a rubber piece on the end of the cable that goes into the transmission. that seals out the water and road grime.

I have purchased 2 new ones in the past, and both had the rubber in the end as well as the firewall groment.

my last one is a PNP cable for $7 . was in good shape or I wouldn`t have used it. going on 2 + yrs.

brake warning is either the pads have warn down to the sensor, or low fluid in the master cylinder.

notice my disclamer in my sig..

Charlie

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works