SIII Speedometer Problem

fenby1976 said:

Try pulling the speedo cable off the clock, then drive the vehicle. If the flexible shaft in the cable is not turning then there must be a problem with either speedo drive mechanism or the connection between that and the speedo cable. Is the end of the speedo cable to the gearbox correctly shaped compared to the old one. With the cable removed from the clock but connected to the gearbox, can you turn the flexible shaft with your fingers (you should not be able to). Disconnect the cable from the gearbox. You should be able to turn the flexible shaft now.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice.

I know the clock end is OK - if I attach a cordless drill to the gearbox end of the cable the speedometer starts registering a speed up to about '50MPH'

The old cable had a square section at the gearbox end whereas the new Britpart one is oval (fanny shaped anyway!)... but the speedo pinion is oval shaped (the new one and the old one).

Although the mail order advert for the new cable just listed it as "88' series III" the part number on the packet corresponds to LHD in my LR parts catalogue book. Might this be the reason?? What is the difference between a LHD and RHD speedo cable for an 88' anyway ????

Cheers
Mark

If anyone is curious to know what the speedo housing looks like removed:


And the original speedo housing (on the right) looks quite different from the one Craddock sent me (it was too big to fit and lacks the O ring seal groove):

don't worry about it. but remember to add a percentage for the fuel consumption. it will stop you fainting.

LHD cable is a bit longer, which makes it easier to fit.

My s3 has different diffs, the speedo reads just under 20 when doing 30, etc etc, bit of a bodge but the way i got round it was to take the gps in the car then mark with luminous paint a wee line where all the important speeds are. works a treat ;-)

arnottben said:

My s3 has different diffs, the speedo reads just under 20 when doing 30, etc etc, bit of a bodge but the way i got round it was to take the gps in the car then mark with luminous paint a wee line where all the important speeds are. works a treat ;-)

Click to expand...

Thanks.. but unfortunately since I fitted a new cable, pinion gear and oil seals the speedometer needle doesn't even move !!

GingerPuss said:

Thanks.. but unfortunately since I fitted a new cable, pinion gear and oil seals the speedometer needle doesn't even move !!

Click to expand...

did you check your new speedo cable to see that it's not snapped? i replaced mine cos it was reading way under only for the new fookin cable to snap a couple of weeks later!! had to fit the old dodgy one again, then it snapped to!! joy!!

doobie said:

did you check your new speedo cable to see that it's not snapped? i replaced mine cos it was reading way under only for the new fookin cable to snap a couple of weeks later!! had to fit the old dodgy one again, then it snapped to!! joy!!

Click to expand...

Well.. like the stupid fat glutton for punishment I am.. today I purchased another speedometer cable from LR Supermarket. This one seemed better quality, had the square cable end at the gearbox end of the cable and was slightly longer than my previous BritPart version (purchased just 2 weeks ago).

I painstakingly routed it correctly though the unerside and connected it up before taking it out for a test drive.

Guess what! the needle on the speedo still doesn't move at all!! This is in spite of the fact I made sure the cable was turning freely and pushed home into the gearbox speedo housing and speedo clock etc.

Maybe it would work if I doused the whole car it petrol and lit a match .. eh?

GingerPuss said:

Maybe it would work if I doused the whole car it petrol and lit a match .. eh?

Click to expand...

steady on, thats "standard landrover repair method" number 5, yer need to carry out all the other repair methods first like hitting said broken bit with a big hammer first!!


have you tried removing the cable drive bit frum the transfer box, attatching the cable and speedo and driving the whole lot with the drill??



does yer landy actually move?? maybe thats the problem........





or is the cable getting trapped/squashed somewhere? mines got stuck at the top of the bellhousing, or does it work with the dash panel pulled out?

After sobering up I decided not to torch it !!

In fact I double-checked the connection at the clock end... and found that it wasn't pushed right in.... the good news is that the speedometer is working again !

The bad news is that in spite of replacing the cable, pinion gear, housing and seals.. it still under-reads... so at 30MPH (according to my satnav) it shows 26MPH and similar inaccuracy at all other speeds. I guess it must be the speedo inteslf that is worn

GingerPuss said:

After sobering up I decided not to torch it !!

In fact I double-checked the connection at the clock end... and found that it wasn't pushed right in.... the good news is that the speedometer is working again !

The bad news is that in spite of replacing the cable, pinion gear, housing and seals.. it still under-reads... so at 30MPH (according to my satnav) it shows 26MPH and similar inaccuracy at all other speeds. I guess it must be the speedo inteslf that is worn

Click to expand...

did yer not say earlier that yer put bigger tyres on? that would be the sauce of your problem! as long as it gives a vauge indication of speed its better than nowt!

Aye, wiv the gearing & tyres on my III when me speedo reads 50, I'm doing 70!

Print off a strip of paper with the conversions for 30, 40, 50mph etc & stick it on yer dash. I have & you soon get to know what speed is what

Off the top of me 'ed - 20 is 30, 30 is 44, 35 is 51, 40 is 58, 50 is 73, 60 is farkin scary. See!

Wow!.. your tyres must be huge!

I have standard 88' LR steel 16' wheels with 235 R70 16 (Maxxis) tyres on.

The only benefit since all my component changing is that the speedo needle is rock solid and doesn't dance around like it sometimes did before!!

Nah, 235/85s & Range Rover diffs. Wiv me V8 & an overdrive it gives pretty much perfect gearing.