Jim Grant's Tech Tips
'86 Chrysler Le
Baron GTS , Speed-O-Meter Problem
Q:
Noisy speedo cable? I have an ‘86 Chrysler Le Baron GTS 2.2 that
has a few people confused; even at the Chrysler dealership. Namely a noise
coming from the dash on the driver's side. It occurs only between 60 -
90km and only in dry weather. The sound is difficult to describe. But
an analogy would be when we as kids would put a piece of light cardboard
on to our bicycle spokes to emulate a motor sound. This sound is not constant
either when it occurs. But it is loud. Some people say it's a speedometer
cable that needs a lube or replacement. But there's no fluctuation in
the needle. The dealership says they'll have to pull out the dash in order
to even diagnose the problem.
A: How
about this approach? The speedometer cable is surprisingly easy to disconnect
on the engine compartment side. How about the next time the noise starts
happening (only in dry weather) you temporarily disconnect the cable to
see if the noise goes away? I believe that the speedometer cable in your
vehicle is a 2 piece cable. The vehicle speed sensor is mounted in between
the 2 cables. If you disconnect the upper cable from the vehicle speed
sensor the computer will not know the difference so the engine will perform
as usual. If the noise goes away then the upper half of the cable or the
speedometer head is the problem. If the noise remains then the lower cable
or the vehicle speed sensor is the problem. If the cable is the problem
don’t waste time trying to lube the cable. Buy a new one and get
it over with, they’re not that much money.
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