Guest Shaffer Posted May 2, 2001 Share Posted May 2, 2001 When I drive my Buick early in the morning, when it is below 60 degrees (only 2 days this week like that - so hopefully won't have to worry about it until next fall.) But My speedometer makes a "clicking" noise and a scraping sound. When it is about 70 degrees, or it is warm in the car it is quiet. I know that the cable needs oiled, but wanted to know if anyone knew the easiest way to do this. Is there any way I can "spray" some kind of oil into the calbe from the transmission? I know it would be hard to access it from inside the car. The car has set a while and I think this is what caused this. My 1971 Chevrolet Caprice did the exact same thing. Any advice appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 2, 2001 Share Posted May 2, 2001 Not one to answer but a thought if I may. From what I gather, the spedo in the dash is run on a magnet which is under retention from a spring. If it goes away when the interior is warm, would seem like it's the spring not playing nice. Just a thought... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 2, 2001 Share Posted May 2, 2001 If you have a factory cruise control, then oiling the cable should be real easy. My speedo started doing the exact same thing you describe. I have a factory cruise, so access to the cable to the tranny and to the speedo was easy. I just unscrewed them and squirted a good amount of 3-1 Household oil down. Worked like a charm, noise free ever since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 2, 2001 Share Posted May 2, 2001 go to auto store. buy speedo cable lube in a small tube. disconnect the cable from the speedo, put some of the lube in the end. drive with speedo disconnected.<BR>stop and add more lube.<BR>drive more.<BR>reconnect speedo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Shaffer Posted May 2, 2001 Share Posted May 2, 2001 Thanks. 73Electra- I think that is the best way, is there at the cruise. Mine does have cruise. Since you mentioned it, I remember the cable there on the fender. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 3, 2001 Share Posted May 3, 2001 No problem. My pleasure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Shaffer Posted June 5, 2001 Share Posted June 5, 2001 The noise quit since warm weather is here, except on Saturday after a 25 mile drive between 65-70 mph, it started making a "buzzing" noise again. It started after driving over 60 for about 5 minutes. I know I just need to put oil down the cable there at the cruise control, but was wondering how much I should put and what type of oil should I use? 3 in 1 oil?? WD-40?? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 5, 2001 Share Posted June 5, 2001 I used 3-1 Household(the red and white can) when I did it. Speedo still hasn't made any noise since I did it either and its been several months now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Shaffer Posted June 6, 2001 Share Posted June 6, 2001 thanks 73. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Rawling Posted June 7, 2001 Share Posted June 7, 2001 I have always been told to use vasaline on the spedo cables as oil could work its way up to the head and gum things up. Also, a spedo repair shop told me not to use graphite grease because it would wear the drive at the back of the spedo it it got up there. I like the suggestion of buying spedo lube at the store. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Shaffer Posted June 8, 2001 Share Posted June 8, 2001 Well, I went to the local auto parts store and they said use lithium grease. I had already put some 3-in-1 oil down it, but my dad said to wait and let the oil dry up a little, otherwise adding the lithium might "gum" up in there and mess up the cable. Everything has to be complicated..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuickNut Posted June 18, 2001 Share Posted June 18, 2001 It was suggested to me about using liquid graphite (basically the door lock lube in a spray can...)) by an autoparts store (I have a similar problem on a newer vehicle)...still haven't tried it. Has anybody a comment on this type of lube (..in addition to the comment already posted ) ..I also would have thought there should be some special type of lube specifically for speedo's.<P>Thanks.<p>[ 06-18-2001: Message edited by: BuickNut ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Shaffer Posted June 18, 2001 Share Posted June 18, 2001 I put lithium grease in it, but the last time I looked, it never drained down the cable. I can disconnect at the cruise control and put the grease in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Shaffer Posted June 24, 2001 Share Posted June 24, 2001 The lithium grease never went down the cable. I got as much of it out as I could, and put more 3-N-1 oil in it, but it never drained down the cable either. Tonight on the highway at an extended 65-75 MPH 30 minute drive, just as 2 weeks ago, it started making a loud "buzzing", scraping noise. It only seems to make that niose when it warms the cable up, but lately, it has been making a slight "eeking" noise in town. I usually keep the radio up, so I cant hear it, but on the highway at excess speeds, it gets very annoying. I have considered just disconnecting the cable from the cruise, but don't want to mess up my mileage. Why won't the oil drain down the cable? Any thing else I can try? I am going to check tomorrow, just maybe it finally drained down the cable.<p>[ 06-23-2001: Message edited by: Shaffer ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest nailswede Posted June 24, 2001 Share Posted June 24, 2001 The cable is maybe worn out and need to be replaced!?get a new one and have a quiet speedo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Shaffer Posted June 24, 2001 Share Posted June 24, 2001 Possibly, but the car only has 105,000 miles. The cable looks fine where it hooks to the cruise control. I don't think the cable is making the noise, but rather the speedometer itself that is making the noise. If it means repalcing the cable to stop it, I guess I will have to pass, as I know it may be difficult to disconnect from under the dash. Unless, I can just pull out the cable itself out at the cruise control and push a new one in its place, but like I said, I think it is the speedo unit making the noise. The car has 2 speedo cables. One from the transmission to the cruise, then out from the cruise to the dash. Must be gears in the cruise control. I am going to check later today and see if its run down the cable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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