Speedo noise
 

I just bought a 1982 240D. LOVE IT. I bought it in Texas and in the drive home to Oregon the speedometer started making a horrible noise at low temperature. It goes away when it's warm and hasn't been a problem since I returned.

The odometer was fixed in Texas and when I called the person who worked on it he said the noise was not surprising and would eventually be there at all temps. He offered to fix it at cost ($100) provided I remove it and carefully ship it to him.

I saw the thread about removing the instrument cluster. The question I have is whether I should take the time, trouble and money to do it. Will the noise eventually get worse. The guy who repaired the odometer says it will be cheaper to deal with it now than when it finally goes. True?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Peter

I can't comment on the noise, but removing the speedo from a 240D is not a big deal. The easy method is to remove the under-dash plastic piece and push it out from the back. The only part that can be a pain is unscrewing the cable. If you have an 85 mph speedo in your 82 you can also replace it with a 100 mph speedo from an 83. It may be cheaper to buy a used speedo than to repair yours.

I had a 1977 240D and it made that same annoying sound when the car was cold. However, I have to say that in the two years I drove the car, the noise never got worse. If you dont' mind the noise, I would not worry about it.
Just to make sure, the noise you hear is like a very very loud angry bee in your instrument cluster and your speedo needle starts going nuts, right?
For some reason I still have this noise once in a while in my 1992 300E when the car is really cold. But since the 240D prepared me well, I don't mind it too much.

Leo

Along with that noise if your speedo needle hand is bouncing than all you have to do to get rid of that sound and bounce is tighten the cable. The cable is hand tightened.

they will
 

also make that noise or a similar one when the cable needs lube or is about to go out.

tom w

My guess would be the cable too so just try lubing it before you condemn the speedometer itself.

I don't remember if the W123 is a PITA to remove the speedo from the cluster or not or if you would have to send out the entire cluster for service...maybe others can tell you if this is feasible.

If you can't easily remove the speedo from the cluster then your oil pressure line will be open and you'll need to cap the oil pressure line if you want to be able to start the car with the cluster removed...otherwise oil will be pumped out of the line.

It's easy to remove the speedo from the cluster on a w123. I've driven mine with just the oil pressure/temp/fuel gauge in place. I agree, do not start the engine eith the oil line open or you will have a huge mess.

Thanks everyone.
 

I know the speedo will come out on its own. When it was serviced in Houston they took it out. I'm assuming that when it was put back it was tightened and lubed. The speedo repair guy (It was sent from the garage to this person who specializes in them) said the speedo itself needed some work. Of course he wants he work.

If I did remove the cluster, would I just tighten the cable with a pair of pliers? What kind of lubricatant would I use and where - on the cable? The noise hasn't come back in 8 days now that I'm in a warmer climate. Should I just wait and see if it just doesn't come back at all and if I do that would I be inflicting a bigger problem for me down the road?

THANKS EVERYONE. YOU'RE GREAT!!

Peter

I've never used pliers on mine (I was afraid of breaking something). I just get them as tight as possible with my fingers. Mine seem to stay tight. Maybe other have different experiences.

You might give these guys a try! Did a great job on a bad odo in a 91 300E I had!:)

Smokie

http://speedometer.com/