Shakey speedometer....whats the fix? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ps2cho · #1 03-15-2008, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvpierce

I'm not a tech... but are you sure about that?

Here's the cable for it:

http://catalog.worldpac.com/mercedesshop/sophio/wizard.jsp?partner=mercedesshop&clientid=catalog.mercedesshop&baseurl=http://catalog.peachparts.com/&cookieid=2781CGTPO2BN0GUNZO&year=1988&make=MB&model=300-TE-001&category=P&part=Speedometer+Cable

I have a shaky speedo on my 201, and my reseach on this site indicates that it's a common problem on these cars. Some have corrected it temporarily by lubing the cable, but the consensus seems to be that replacing the cable is worth the reasonably small expense for the permanent fix.

Again, I'm not tech, and have no first had experience in this particular matter -- (I haven't done anything about mine -- I just haven't got around to it.) -- so please correct me if I'm wrong.

jp

I may have found it in my Mercedes Bible in the back:

Q: Shakey needle vibrates or jumps.
A: Route speedo cable correctly. NOTE: Lubricating a speedo or cable will always result in failure of the unit.

I guess I gotta remove the instrument cluster for this right?
http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/W124InstCluster

iwrock · #2 04-23-2008, 03:07 PM

Tighten the cable.

G-Benz · #3 04-24-2008, 11:31 AM

My W124 speedo needle bounces a little at low (< 30 mph) speeds...did so when I bought it at around 72K miles. Never bothered it, and it hasn't gotten any worse.

But with my VW, I found that the culprit was always a bent or kinked cable...

Kieran1 · #4 01-21-2009, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by khooper

Sounds like a dry bearing in the speedometer where the cable attaches to the meter. If it makes noise especially when it is cold this could be your problem.

_________________________________
Mercedes Benz Power Steering Pump
are great in ***********************

Hi,

I just purchased a 1988 300CE (65K) from the original owner. It has been very cold out & the car was kept (since new) in a heated garage.
NOW the Speedo has completely stopped (only the Speedo).

* I also hear a rattle/clicking noise as I accelerate with speed while driving. I can hear this sound from within the dash / underneath the guage cluster area.

A "bearing" is mentioned as a problem. Can someone please expand on that?

J.HIDALGO · #5 01-21-2009, 11:55 PM

Check behind the cluster. Not difficult to removed the cluster. There is a DIY.

amg280 · #6 01-23-2009, 01:14 PM

FYI, all V8 W124's have electronic speedo's, no cable.

pawoSD · #7 01-25-2009, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amg280

FYI, all V8 W124's have electronic speedo's, no cable.

Why would they put an electronic speedo on the V8 models but mechanical on the 6 cylinder models...? Makes no sense......you would think it would save them $$ to leave it the same across the board like on the W126....

skiier3_9 · #8 04-26-2008, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ps2cho

I may have found it in my Mercedes Bible in the back:

Q: Shakey needle vibrates or jumps.
A: Route speedo cable correctly. NOTE: Lubricating a speedo or cable will always result in failure of the unit.

In my experience this is not true. If you lubricate put some lithium grease on the end of the speedometer cable it will not result in failure of 'the unit'. I have lubricated the speedometer cable on multiple w201 and w124 cars over the past 5 years and have yet to see any failures.

Additionally, spraying some white lithium grease on the end of the cable will often correct the high pitched noise that cable driven speedometers sometimes make.

pawoSD · #9 04-26-2008, 11:31 PM

Wow....I assumed the 124 had more advancements...I guess it does have a cable.

Weird. My "older" 126 is electronic....

blueeagle289 · #10 04-27-2008, 09:07 AM

Just want to be included in this post activity for my reference. Ben Carter