Broken Speedometer and Odometer - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

tschepplmasta · #1 08-14-2003, 09:03 AM

Hi there!
Yesterday, the speedo- and odometer of my 300D (1980) broke
at the same time.

Does this mean, the speedo cable broke or
could it be something else?
If I change the cable, do I have to remove the panel cluster or
not?
Any help would be greatliy apprechiated!
Thanks in advance,
Tschepplmasta.

stevebfl · #2 08-14-2003, 09:06 AM

Probably the cable but not necessarily. I have had the drive screw up in the trans (vary rare) and I've had the shaft break off the speed cup (also very rare).

The inst cluster does not need to be removed.

tschepplmasta · #3 08-14-2003, 11:40 AM

thank you!
i will try to take a look at it.
thanks for your help!
t.

#4 08-14-2003, 01:03 PM

Also, the cable may have not been tight in the back of the speedometer and worked itself loose.

It is very easy and quick to check it. Just push out the instrument cluster and see that it is tight. If it is, then remove the 10MM bolt at the trans, pull out the cable and spin the cable with your fingers clockwise while an assistant observes the speedo. Spinning should result in speedo needle movement. If not, remove the cable from the back of the speedo and put a kitchen match in. Spin the kitchen match clockwise with your fingers and see if the speedo needle moves.

Good luck,

Richard Wooldridge · #5 08-14-2003, 11:45 PM

Hi Larry,
You are assuming a lot there! How many people have kitchen matches anymore? We do, as we have a 120 yr old farmhouse with the original wood stove and kitchen queen with matches in the match holder, but not many people on this board do, I'll bet!
Good idea, though, and probably what I'd do myself...

Regards,
Richard Wooldridge
'82 300D/4.3L V6
Etc...

tschepplmasta · #6 08-15-2003, 02:45 AM

Hi Larry,

your posting is exactly what i needed!
will follow your suggestions and keep you updated!
thanks so much!

t.

tschepplmasta · #7 09-06-2003, 01:52 PM

Hi Larry & all other helpers out there,

still working on the odo/speedo problem.
Here's what I did:

1.) pulled out the instrument cluster and checked if the cable in the back was tight - it was!
2.) pulled out the cable to be able to see the end of it.
3.) removed the 10MM bolt at the trans and pulled out the cable down there, too.
4.) spinned the cable with my fingers (down at the trans) which I could do without any effort
at all while my friend checked the other end of the cable (behind the speedo)
--> but the other end didn't spin at all!

This makes me think that the cable must be broken somewhere in the middle of the guide hose.

What confirms this suspicion is the fact, that I COULDN'T FEEL ANY RESTISTANCE
while spinning the cable with my fingers down there at the trans. When I tried to spin the other
end of the cable (behind the speedo) with my fingers (as a sort of cross-check), it took a great
effort to make it spin even just a little bit (there was a pretty strong resistance!)

*Do you also think the cable is broken, or is it normal what I described above?

*Would you change the entire cable including housing or just the inner cable?

Thanks so much in advance!

Best,

Tschepplmasta.

tschepplmasta · #8 09-06-2003, 01:53 PM

Hi Larry & all other helpers out there,

still working on the odo/speedo problem.
Here's what I did:

1.) pulled out the instrument cluster and checked if the cable in the back was tight - it was!
2.) pulled out the cable to be able to see the end of it.
3.) removed the 10MM bolt at the trans and pulled out the cable down there, too.
4.) spinned the cable with my fingers (down at the trans) which I could do without any effort
at all while my friend checked the other end of the cable (behind the speedo)
--> but the other end didn't spin at all!

This makes me think that the cable must be broken somewhere in the middle of the guide hose.

What confirms this suspicion is the fact, that I COULDN'T FEEL ANY RESTISTANCE
while spinning the cable with my fingers down there at the trans. When I tried to spin the other
end of the cable (behind the speedo) with my fingers (as a sort of cross-check), it took a great
effort to make it spin even just a little bit (there was a pretty strong resistance!)

*Do you also think the cable is broken, or is it normal what I described above?

*Would you change the entire cable including housing or just the inner cable?

Thanks so much in advance!

Best,

Tschepplmasta.

Richard Wooldridge · #9 09-06-2003, 02:22 PM

Hi there,
Yup, it sounds like your cable is indeed broken somewhere in the housing. You should be able to pull the cable out of the housing, and it shouldn't have any kinks or worn spots in it. If it has broken, chances are good it has damaged the housing at that point, but you could check the outer portion of the housing to see - just measure in as far as the broken piece would go and see if there's any signs of a problem showing on the outer cover. Probably the easiest and cheapest fix would be to go to a wrecking yard and get another cable and housing to replace yours with, or order one from the source on this board.

Good luck with it!

Richard Wooldridge
'82 300D/4.3L V6

tschepplmasta · #10 09-07-2003, 04:59 AM

Thanks, Richard!
Getting a second hand cable from the
junkyard is a good idea!
Your advice was very valuable for me!

T.

stevebfl · #11 09-07-2003, 11:05 AM

Getting a used cable is a terrible idea. Speedo cables are cheap. Unless one went an pulled it themselves the cable wound cost more than new if the junkyard paid the person removing it.

Cables get a set from their bends and reinstalling one from another car is likely to cause a bouncing needlle and a quick demise.

tschepplmasta · #12 09-18-2003, 05:21 AM

Hi there,

got a new speedo cable (not pricy at all) and put it in -
everybody who got the same problem: it's really easy
to fix it!
Without this forum I wouldn't have thought how easy
this job can be done!
Thanks to all helpers out there!

Have a great day!

T.

Ali_legend · #13 01-03-2015, 10:39 AM

Just took cluster off and stuck a match stick in the speedo and spun it clockwise and the needle was jumping up above 0mph to like 20mph depending on how rigorously I spun.. Does this narrow it down to being the cable?

Skippy · #14 01-03-2015, 04:33 PM

Holy old thread! It's likely the cable, but before you go buying a new one I suggest you disconnect it at the other end and spin it from there to see if the cluster end moves. If not, it's cable time.