Speedometer cable lubrication-76 300D - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

79Mercy · #1 12-07-2010, 07:57 PM

Yesterday morning it was about 25 degrees, very cold for FL. Anyways after a mile or so down the road the speedometer cable starts making a horrible loud screaming noise. So I pull off the road and disconnect it.

I connected it back up that afternoon, temps were in the low 50's and it worked perfectly the the entire night, drove about 40-50 miles and all was well.

This morning it got down to about 25 again and it did the very same thing, loud screeching noise.

I know i will probably end up replacing it, but do you think its possible to lube this one to get a little more life out of it. I don't really like driving around without my odometer counting until i can get my hands on a new one.

Thanks

layback40 · #2 12-07-2010, 10:39 PM

I have lubed a few. The noise is a bit of a worry though. Normally a dry cable shows as a flickering speedo needle at low speed. Unless you are disconnecting it at the gearbox, it sounds like the noise may be in your speedometer.
Normally a tea spoon of gear oil poured down from the top does the trick.

Good luck !!

79Mercy · #3 12-07-2010, 10:58 PM

Well thats what i got to thinking, however, my W115 speedometer cable has to 2 parts to it.

There is a cable going from the tranny up to this little box mounted near the brake pedal, its the speed sensor for the cruise control. Then another cable goes from the speed sensor to the speedometer(im thinking this cable is culprit).

I just disconnected the cable going from the speed sensor to the speedometer down there at the sensor unit.

Tomorrow I will connect the cable back up at the floor sensor and just unplug the cable from the back of the speedometer. If it still makes the noise then i know it a bad cable(the upper cable).

Thanks again

JiveTurkey · #4 12-08-2010, 10:19 AM

Is it making this noise?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1ZhD6T0yVw

Thats the "Blender Noise of Death" If it's the same noise I might be able to help you with it.

andrewjtx · #5 12-08-2010, 10:43 AM

Holy crap! I could NOT drive with that...

Stretch · #6 12-08-2010, 10:52 AM

Classic Utube film! And I thought nothing could be worse than one of those navigation ladies telling me to turn back the way I just drove

JHZR2 · #7 12-08-2010, 12:34 PM

check routing too. The radius of the bends needs to be just right...

snookwhaler · #8 12-09-2010, 08:37 AM

I had this happen to me on a trip to Orlando recently. The noise was so loud it was unbearable. I just cut the damn thing with a pair of shears and ordered a new cable when I got home (200 miles later). Problem solved.

That noise is horrible. If it was anything like mine, it was not possible to drive the car.

When I replaced the cable, I saw there was no way to remove the cable from the housing and lube it. On some older cars you can just remove the cable out of the housing, lube it up and slide it back in there.

IVIuzzy · #9 12-09-2010, 09:00 AM

how difficult is a speedo cable change? im not trying to hijack the thread but i was just wondering, it is a task that i need to do soon. i think the cables are around 50-70 dollars depending on where u go.

charmalu · #10 12-09-2010, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IVIuzzy

how difficult is a speedo cable change? im not trying to hijack the thread but i was just wondering, it is a task that i need to do soon. i think the cables are around 50-70 dollars depending on where u go.

PNP is a good source too, Iam running one on the 85 for a few yrs now. About $14. If the rubber groment on the fire wall is good, I pull it.

Charlie

JiveTurkey · #11 12-09-2010, 04:33 PM

Usually there's a piece inside the speedometer where it meets the cable that needs to be lubed. Sewing machine oil or air compressor oil usually does really well for me. Usually the cable is fine, just the piece inside the speedo that needs the oil. Make sure not to tighten the speedo cable too much as it can cause difficulty too. I can take the cluster out of my w114 and show pics of where to oil if needed.

snookwhaler · #12 12-09-2010, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JiveTurkey

Usually there's a piece inside the speedometer where it meets the cable that needs to be lubed. Sewing machine oil or air compressor oil usually does really well for me. Usually the cable is fine, just the piece inside the speedo that needs the oil. Make sure not to tighten the speedo cable too much as it can cause difficulty too. I can take the cluster out of my w114 and show pics of where to oil if needed.

That is interesting. It makes sense. When I installed my "new" cable it said to "grease" the ends of the cable. I forget exactly what the instructions said. But, it was very specific.

JHZR2 · #13 12-09-2010, 09:33 PM

it would be nice to see the pics. While I have the kickpanel off of my CD, it would make sense to do this (when it warms back up at least).

cook · #14 12-29-2010, 05:15 PM

I would also like seeing the pictures. Yup, my speedo is acting up.. wobble at low speeds, and noisey too. Sounds like a bushing in the speedo itself needs some oil on it. I have already sprayed graphite into both ends of the cable, but that did not help.

JHZR2 · #15 12-29-2010, 05:45 PM

No need for pics. I got a bad whine one 20F morning.

I pulled the cable, then pulled the rod out as far as I could. I put a few drips in the cup at the end, then pushed the rod in and out. Repeated this a number of times, adding more and more lube.

The lube was black and gets everywhere. Not much space to work, so be careful ot to get grease everywhere.

Really solved it.