Speedo wierdness?

[coedy]

went for a drive earlier and noticed my speedo was quite 'floaty'.

It would go up to say, 40, then if i held it at 40 it would seem to drift back and fore a bit around the 40 section rather than stay at 40.

and when i decelerate it would drop to say 20, then slowly work back to around 15 before drifting back to 20.

doesn't happen all the time, just now and then, any ideas what it is?

speedo cable on the way out?

[dai9fxey]

Sounds like it .
Check to see if the cable isn't kinked in any way or is "strained", IE has an unobstructed route into the back of the speedo.
The speedo cable on the Beige one broke recently and the symptoms sound the same .

[coedy]

Gaaaay

Im hoping its easy to change?

I think ive got one in my nans shed, dot know if its the right one though.
how long do ou think it will last?

[dai9fxey]

Hard to say really.
Check the route of the cable first, just in case.

[coedy]

Im guessing its the same route its always had... lol. unless.... does it go anywhere near the clutch slave/master cylinder? i was taking off some masking tape from there before the run today and my hand slipped and i busted my knuckles up on something that clicked... i thought it was my hand.... apparently not...



this is the one from the shed by the way. is that the right sort, and will it fit 3 clock dashes aswell?

[ljonez]

quick google of part number =

GSD415 SPEEDO CABLE 48" R/H/D CLASSIC MINI 1976-1989

so that should be right.

[coedy]

*crosses fingers*

should fit my tripple clock as wel then

[taffy1967]

This is what Mini Spares came back with that part no: -

www.minispares.com/Product.aspx?ty=pb&pid=33484&title=SPEEDO%20CABLE%2048

[taffy1967]

Or at least it would if that flaming site was working properly!

[coedy]

it works for me ;D

'This is the longest of the speedo cables made to fit the 2 or 3 cluster clocks mounted in front of the driver'

Fantastic

[coedy]

have to hope now that cable isnt knackered.... lol

[coedy]

Nope, not fiddled with the clocks at all. at the moment their still in their 2 clock cage pod thing...

If the speedo cable is routed near the clutch master/slave cylinder though i may have pulled it taught accidentally...? because i was fiddling around there earlier today before i took it for a run..

[taffy1967]

When you come to remove the speedo pod, be sure to do it the right way and not as described in the Haynes Mini manual (basically, don't pull the cluster pod off it's clips as they damage very easily): -

z11.invisionfree.com/mainstreamcooper/index.php?showtopic=402

[coedy]

yeah..... i did that a while back dont think i damaged it, but think i may have lost a clip.

I have changed the clocks for my 3 clock dash, it seems to be floating all over the place below 40mph. but then settles. think its the cable .

Is it possible to keep the outer of the cable in place, and just take out the inner cable and replace with my new inner cable? would be a lot easier....

also. my temperature on my 3 clocks is dead i think.... anything else i can check to sort that?

[dai9fxey]

If the inner cables are the same length, yes you can, just about.
Not sure on the Temp gauge. Has the cluster been seen working in another car.
Is there a break in the printed circuit on the back of the cluster.??

[coedy]

nope never seen it work, lol, bought ages ago in a mini show.

think the circuits on the back are fine, nothing obvious anyway!

[taffy1967]

The cluster clips are available from Somerford Minis, which is pretty amazing since back in the dim and distant past, Rover didn't supply those clips on their own. Only with a complete new cluster unit.

Anyway my temperature gauge died years ago and if you have Smiths Instruments (pre-1986 clocks) then you can try replacing the voltage regulator on the back.

But if you have Nippon Sieki instruments (generally post 1985 clocks), then most don't have a removable voltage regulator as the regulating is done within the instruments themselves and I don't know if a company like 'Speedy Cables' of Swansea could repair them? (I'd be interested to know anyway).

Although you could try testing the circuit, by removing the spade connector terminal from the thermostat temperature switch (you'll find that connector just beneath the thermostat on the cylinder head), fitting a paper clip into the spade terminal and then shorting it against the engine block. Then with the ignition on, your temperature gauge should then shoot up to 'HOT'.

If it still refuses to move, then it could be a wiring or gauge fault. If the gauge does shoot up to 'HOT', then you probably just need to fit a new temperature sender.

[coedy]

will check that later this week. need to find out why my high beam warning light isnt working as well. could just be a bulb... i hope...

[Amy :)]

sounds like a lot of little problems all fixable tho!

my speedo doesn't tell me the actual speed that im travelling at. up to a point it under estimates and then it goes to being around about normal if your going a lot faster :s

[jjitaljob]

not the best idea to replace just the inner cable though coedy as it could be the outer cable that is kinked causing it to 'stutter' the needle. its easy enough to replace the whole cable just tight at the gearbox end. the cable screws onto the box passenger engine bay side just to the left of the rad (looking at engine bay) facing upwards out of the gearbox. hoep that helps mate.