So I was driving my truck today.. Temp at startup was a balmy -8*F and I'm driving to work when all of the sudden the speedo goes looney on me suddenly 60MPH now registers as 100MPh and it's making all kinds of racket..


Once the outside temps got to 10-15* F during the day it seemed to be all better.

Anyone else experience this in the cold?


Oh yeah I have never had any other speedo trouble with this truck ever!


Greg[/list]

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http://www.youtube.com/hyperpack

Sounds like the speedometer needs to be cleaned and lubricated.

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Joshua

Yup common problem with old dried up cable lube. Has happend to every old heep I have had. After a while you will brake the cable. I think the cable fetches up than lets go along in there somewhere changing the rpm at the head.

Also the guts of the speedometer may have contracted due to the coefficient of liner expansion from the cold causing the bits in the head to come in contact with each other.

Let the cabin warm up a bit before taking off, if no crazy motion & noise it was the Speedo, if it keeps up it is the cable.

We will be out of this little cold snap in a day or two, and wouldn't worry about it down in PA.

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67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC

Pretty typical cold weather behaviour.

My EFI 73 Suburban has the Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) in the speedometer......60 km/hr swings in what it reads can have some effect .....

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

Was there any unaccounted time on you way to work? Did your wrist watch go crazy? What about the radio? any interference? Sorry Greg maybe I have been watching too much UFO Hunters on TV!

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66 Lil' Red Piggie Valiant (Mater Crusher) - Thanks Zilla!!!!! 72 Demon (Number 1 Son's)

Naw, all of this was good.


The cab just wont heat with the temps so low..

But Maybe when it's warmer I will check the cable and lube it / clean it.


Greg

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http://www.youtube.com/hyperpack

i have a old 83 f150 and the speedo goes 80mph then broke lol

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87 d150 2bbl carb 225
79 f250 300 v8
97 cavalier z24
83 f150 straight 6
89 f450 diseal 4x4 dually 5sp

wvenable:
Safty First, here, help is only a click away:
http://zapatopi.net/afdb/

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67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC

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66 Lil' Red Piggie Valiant (Mater Crusher) - Thanks Zilla!!!!! 72 Demon (Number 1 Son's)

Found this info in a "Dan" hot link on gage voltage limiters that addresses Speedometer problems:
here

More info on speedo and tach needles
Reason 1 why speedo needles break: If the speedometer cable is dry and needs to be lubed, sometimes the cable will bind and then jump forward, causing the speedo needle to swing wildly and break.
Reason 2 why speedo needles break: If the nylon bushing inside the speedometer is worn out and it allows the aluminum cup to touch the rotating magnet then the speedo needle can break. Another possible cause of trouble here is if the metal shaft in the speedometer gets rusty, then it takes a lot more force to move it, which can cause the the speedometer cable to twist up, then unspool quickly.
Reason 3 why speedo needles break: If there are metal shavings or rust pieces stuck to the magnet which allow friction with the aluminum cup, then the speedo needle can be broken.
Reason 4 why speedo needles break: If there is a problem with the gear inside the transmission it can cause the needle to break. Thanks to the tachman for this bit of info: http://www.tachman.com

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67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC