Topic: Speedo cable died?

[slickrock209]

My 88 fi s/b 4x4 toyota, speedo took a crap on me? I pulled the speedo cable frome the t-case ends and everything seems to be fine. Does the gauge just got bad, or wireing, or just the cable. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks jeff

[79coyotefrg]

do you have a cable  that runs from the tcase to the cab??  cause  most efi trucks dont have a cable  they have a  speed sensor, and the sensor goes bad all at once sometimes, and um yea they are like $250 at a dealer

[Rocksurfer]

Mine has quit too, think the cable snapped, don't think I could speed in it anyways.

[Tallchevy]

Remove the speedometer cable at the t-case & hook up a drill to it. Have someone watch the dash to see if the needle moves. If the needle doesn't move, try the reverse on the drill & see if the needle moves. If it still doesn't work then remove the gauge cluster & disconnect the cable from the back or the speedometer. Use the drill to spin the cable from the t-case & have someone watch the cable in the cab. If it spins then your cable is good & your gauge is bad. If the cable doesn't spin then replace the cable. Hope this helps.


By the way, I voted 3 but I don't know why 

[slickrock209 [OP]]

do you have a cable  that runs from the tcase to the cab??  cause  most efi trucks dont have a cable  they have a  speed sensor, and the sensor goes bad all at once sometimes, and um yea they are like $250 at a dealer

Yah theres a cable running from t-case to gauge cluster

Remove the speedometer cable at the t-case & hook up a drill to it. Have someone watch the dash to see if the needle moves. If the needle doesn't move, try the reverse on the drill & see if the needle moves. If it still doesn't work then remove the gauge cluster & disconnect the cable from the back or the speedometer. Use the drill to spin the cable from the t-case & have someone watch the cable in the cab. If it spins then your cable is good & your gauge is bad. If the cable doesn't spin then replace the cable. Hope this helps.


By the way, I voted 3 but I don't know why 

ill try your steps n track down the problem. i didnt know what the hell to put there so 1 2 3 worked

Thanks guys

[slickrock209 [OP]]

I unhooked the speedo cable at t-case and spun it with the drill and it worked counter clockwise but not clockwise, it said we  were doing 110 in the driveway lol. I drove it but it still didnt work?

[Tallchevy]

With the able off at the t-case, make a mark to reference where the cable lines up. Remove the driveshaft from the back of the t-case & rotate the yoke & see if the drive in the t-case moves.

[Rocksurfer]

I unhooked the speedo cable at t-case and spun it with the drill and it worked counter clockwise but not clockwise, it said we  were doing 110 in the driveway lol. I drove it but it still didnt work?

That sounds like the gear broke then.

[79coyotefrg]

I unhooked the speedo cable at t-case and spun it with the drill and it worked counter clockwise but not clockwise, it said we  were doing 110 in the driveway lol. I drove it but it still didnt work?

just remove the gear, theres a 12mm head  bolt  right next to it,  remove that  and wiggle  the  gear holder (what the cable screws onto)till it pops right out,  the  gear is plastic

[Rocksurfer]

Dang you guys, now you made curious I went and checked mine and the cable is broke, actually it broke at the tip and the cable by the tcase. That makes me think it siezed somewhere along the cable especially since I can't pull the cable out.

[slickrock209 [OP]]

Yep it was the plastic speedo gear teath wore worn out, i had a spare t-case lying there so i swaped the speedo gears out and it worked. Thanks Guys im legal again  

[BUDDERS]

I've had speedo cables try to stick - you can tell, cause they start to make a clicking sound and the needle bounces around.  You can fix these before they break if by spraying penatrating lube in the cable housing from the gauge side while someone is spinning the trans side of the cable with a drill.  Just my