What to do if speedometer needle jumps up and down?

What to do if speedometer needle jumps up and down?

Reach around behind the speedometer or remove the instrument cluster to gain access and disconnect the speedometer cable from the speedometer. Pull out the inner cable, clean and inspect it, coat it with light grease, or M/C cable lube and put it back together. That should cure it… The speedo cable for those old cars is like a spring.

Is there a Universal Cable for the speedometer?

There used to be a universal cable available from Champ or Help if my memory serves me correctly. Reach around behind the speedometer or remove the instrument cluster to gain access and disconnect the speedometer cable from the speedometer.

How does a speedometer work on a car?

This is a system where you take off both ends of the cable and then attach a “gizmo” to the most accessible end. You attach a pressurized can of lubricant to the gizmo and shoot lubricant all the way until it exits at the other end of the cable.

What kind of lubricant should I use for my speedometer?

In my case the speedometer cable needed to be cleaned and lubricated, and straightened just a tad. Don’t use thin oils like WD-40, and don’t use greases that can dry up such as white lithium grease. Stick with a top quality synthetic lubricant that can handle all temperatures and won’t dry up or cause problems over time.

What to do if your speedometer keeps jumping?

Pull out the inner cable, clean and inspect it, coat it with light grease, or M/C cable lube and put it back together. That should cure it… The speedo cable for those old cars is like a spring.

Why does the needle bounce on the speedometer?

That should cure it… The speedo cable for those old cars is like a spring. If it hangs up somewhere due to poor lubrication when it releases there is pent up energy so it “over releases” and creates the needle bounce you see on the speedo. This is first a lubrication issue.

There used to be a universal cable available from Champ or Help if my memory serves me correctly. Reach around behind the speedometer or remove the instrument cluster to gain access and disconnect the speedometer cable from the speedometer.

Why is it when driving the RPM gauge drops or jumps up?

Somewhere the fuel drop then suddenly rpm decrease better check the complete fuel system from tank to injectors also check the rpm sensor . Was this answer helpful? This could possibly be your output speed sensor, related to the transmission.

Why is my tach jumping at 5000 rpm?

I put my MSD box and my Auto Meter tach and speedo in and mine kinda does the same thing… when first started the needle jumps about 2000 rpms and then goes away when it warms up a bit. Also, at about 3000 rpm it will jump around 500-1000 rpms.

What to do when your engine RPM drops?

Engine have fuel problem . Somewhere the fuel drop then suddenly rpm decrease better check the complete fuel system from tank to injectors also check the rpm sensor . Was this answer helpful? check fuel pressure between fuel pump and injectors. you may have a fuel pump that is about to fail.

Reach around behind the speedometer or remove the instrument cluster to gain access and disconnect the speedometer cable from the speedometer. Pull out the inner cable, clean and inspect it, coat it with light grease, or M/C cable lube and put it back together. That should cure it… The speedo cable for those old cars is like a spring.

Somewhere the fuel drop then suddenly rpm decrease better check the complete fuel system from tank to injectors also check the rpm sensor . Was this answer helpful? This could possibly be your output speed sensor, related to the transmission.

What causes the tachometer needle to bounce while driving?

The bounce of the tachometer needle happens when speed is constant under little to no torque, anywhere between 30-58 km/h, the RPM ranges 1300-1800-ish {if I press or release the accelerator slightly the RPMs stay steady, and the bouncing tach needle stays steady}.

Engine have fuel problem . Somewhere the fuel drop then suddenly rpm decrease better check the complete fuel system from tank to injectors also check the rpm sensor . Was this answer helpful? check fuel pressure between fuel pump and injectors. you may have a fuel pump that is about to fail.

Why is my speedometer hard to read?

Since the cable runs from outside the car to up under the dash it takes a few twists and turns along the way. This can cause a binding situation that slows the cable down. This results in a shaky needle that can make it difficult to read the miles per hour or at least drive you crazy trying to.

Is there a way to replace the speedometer cable?

Replacing the speedometer cable is one option, but there are two methods for lubricating the old cable that’s worth it to try first. For one method, they make a special speedometer cable lubricant that’s installed where the cable attaches to the speedometer head.

Why does the speedometer jump up and down?

Speedometer erratic, needle jumps up and down as I speed up..? First of all i want to thank all o you that provided excellent possible solutions to my carburetor problem starting cold, but then after it was warmed up or hot, not starting again after 5 minutes, 15 or an hour later.

What should I do if my speedometer needle shoots up?

Although it usually takes a mechanic to be able to fix this problem, you can do some simple troubleshooting for the speedometer needle so you have an idea of possible causes and what to expect. Scenario: you are driving at normal speed when suddenly your speedometer needle shoots up by 10, 20, or even 40 miles an hour.

When to see a mechanic about your speedometer?

If you feel you are driving faster or slower than what the speedometer reads, it is a good idea to have your vehicle inspected by Your Mechanic, as this might be a problem with the sensor that can be repaired or an indication that the speedometer sensor needs replacement.

Can a bad speedometer sensor cause your car to lose power?

If you notice that your car starts to lose power; especially when you apply pressure to the throttle, this might be caused by a damaged or malfunctioning speedometer sensor. This problem could be potentially harmful to other mechanical components on your vehicle, so don’t ignore the issue.

Why does my speedometer keep bouncing back and forth?

The cable spins and the faster it spins the more it can fluctuate. The cable spins the gear for the miles and a magnet for the speed. There is a spring on the back (inside) that puts tension on the the spinning magnet to keep the speed steady.

How can I remove the speedometer cable from my car?

Reach around behind the speedometer or remove the instrument cluster to gain access and disconnect the speedometer cable from the speedometer. Pull out the inner cable, clean and inspect it, coat it with light grease, or M/C cable lube and put it back together.

What kind of noise does a speedometer make?

This noise should be similar to a scraping and ringing noise when it momentarily happens with each revolution of the speedometer cable. Each “touch” can make the speedometer needle jump.

Why is my speedometer bouncing on my 96 Powerstroke?

At the rear wheel on the frame rail, drivers side, there was a ground and it was rusty and corroded. I pulled the bolt, cleaned the connector and put in a new bolt, good as new. My speedo is bouncing on my 96 dually powerstroke, they replaced the sensor on top of the rear end housing today as it went bad and transmission would not shift.

How much does it cost to rebuild a speedometer?

Begin by cleaning and lubricating the cable, but you probably have a combination of issues. On average, a speedometer rebuild runs $150. If you can purchase a guaranteed speedo for less than that by all means do so. Just keep in mind that the old lubricants, even in an NOS unit, dry up over time. Sign up for a new account in our community.

How big is the speedometer bracket on a Harley Davidson Sportster?

. PBYMT 39mm Adjustment Side Mount Speedometer Relocation Odometer Mounting Bracket Comatible for Harley Davidson Sportster XL 883 1200 1988-2014. .

This is a system where you take off both ends of the cable and then attach a “gizmo” to the most accessible end. You attach a pressurized can of lubricant to the gizmo and shoot lubricant all the way until it exits at the other end of the cable.

Why does my speedometer keep bouncing between speeds?

Bouncing or jerking of speedometer In cases where the speedometer does not settle on any particular reading but keeps moving between speeds, it is almost always due to bad wiring, in case of a cable system, or a faulty speed sensor. In most cases, only the wiring needs to be changed, or the sensors re-calibrated, to repair the problem.

Can a broken speedometer result in a citation?

Although many of these drivers might claim their speedometer was broken when fighting the ticket, they’d be surprised to learn that this defense would result in another citation for a broken speedometer. A speedometer on any vehicle is an important safety device that is susceptible to breaking or falling out of calibration.

How can I tell if my speedometer is faulty?

The rate at which your tires cover ground changes and if the speedometer is not calibrated accordingly, it can show a faulty reading. ~ Remove the engine cover and take a look at where the cabling enters the main body of the car. You will see a thick black wire leading into the instrument cluster, this is the speedometer cable.

Bouncing or jerking of speedometer In cases where the speedometer does not settle on any particular reading but keeps moving between speeds, it is almost always due to bad wiring, in case of a cable system, or a faulty speed sensor. In most cases, only the wiring needs to be changed, or the sensors re-calibrated, to repair the problem.

The rate at which your tires cover ground changes and if the speedometer is not calibrated accordingly, it can show a faulty reading. ~ Remove the engine cover and take a look at where the cabling enters the main body of the car. You will see a thick black wire leading into the instrument cluster, this is the speedometer cable.

Where is the speedometer located on a car?

Where is the speedometer sensor located? The speedometer sensor is located in the transmission of your vehicle and is designed to register the driveshaft’s rotational speed. The sensor delivers this information through the speedometer cable and to the vehicle’s computer, which converts electrical pulses into a numerical speed.

If you feel you are driving faster or slower than what the speedometer reads, it is a good idea to have your vehicle inspected by Your Mechanic, as this might be a problem with the sensor that can be repaired or an indication that the speedometer sensor needs replacement.

How does the hairspring work on a speedometer?

The speed cup stops rotating as much, and the hairspring moves it back towards its start position–meaning the pointer on the dial moves back towards zero. An electrical speedometer works on a similar principle as the mechanical one, but has a simpler design.

What happens when the Speedo drops to zero?

Summary of problem : speedo drops to zero, for any length of time from a few seconds to a few minutes. This sometimes leads to loss of odometer reading (changes to dashes) and even complete loss of power/engine shutdown on a couple of occasions too. 1. Access to the speed sensor is easiest from below.

Do you need to replace the speedometer in your car?

There can be multiple reasons for the speedometer to malfunction, and replacement need not be the only solution. Here, we have tried to provide likely issues that can occur with the speedometer, along with troubleshooting tips for the same. Did You Know?

Where was the speedometer before the speed gun?

Before the invention of the speed gun, cars in the early 20th century were required to have two speedometers, one on the dashboard and one on the front fender, so that police could see how fast they were going! A speedometer is an instrument which provides the driver with instantaneous readings of speed.