Speedometer cable - Is this bad? (LOL!!)

[Drake69]

Got lucky. The speedometer stopped working a few days ago and I dreadded the thought of taking apart the tranny to replace the gear, when I decided to actually SEARCH the forum like I tout in all my messages. After reading, I got underneath the car, discon'ned the long cable from the short one, and got it to move the needle without fail. I then started taking out the "L"-bracket and short cable when I heard a "plink!" on the housing right above me. Pulling out the L-piece, the bracket basically fell apart in my fingers! Pretty funny stuff.

Now, I'm not saying the speedo gear couldn't still be bad, but from what I've read here the common failpoint is the short cable/L-bracket, which the stealership will have in stock tomorrow for me to pick up. I also decided to pick up another short speedo cable, figured for $13 it couldn't hurt, but the L-bracket piece was something like $80. Typical Toyota markups. :3d_frown:

 

[suprarx7nut]

My speedo just gave out yesterday. I haven't bothered to check under the car, but I really hope it's not the $80 piece.

I'll just drive with surrounding traffic until Colorado weather decides to warm up past freezing point...

 

[spiller]

i just picked up my long and short from elmhurst toyota the other day, was something like 100 for both - figured i'd take advantage while im in Chicago because the same parts are over 200 dollars in Australia :O. Im not even sure which section was stuffed, thought I may as well just put all ew shit in there while ive got the chance - nothing more annoying than a bouncy speedo.

 

[Drake69]

Trust me. If you can get a clear view under the car, start there. The speedo cable is real easy to get at along the muffler piping, and a few turns with someone in the cab will show if the needle moves or not, telling you where your malfunction is. Also, snaking the long cable behind the engine and through the firewall takes time and delicacy, so don't rush that (if that is the problem). The L-bracket and short cable are actually pretty easy to pull but a bear to get at flat on your back. It's better to do them when the car is lifted, like for an oil change or tire rotation, because of the... what I call a "brace-plate"... in the way of the tranny area where the L-bracket is. You have to snake your hand behind the plate to get at the bracket attached to the tranny and still be able to clear the short cable along the muffler piping. Fun stuff.

Should've gone with a longer speedo cable and ditched the short one. At least it'll be safe for a few 100k miles now.

 

[spiller]

yeah thats why im just replacing both the long and short sections. im just going to rip the old shit out and put the new assembly in. does the instrument cluster need to be pulled out to hook up the short section?

 

[Drake69]

No, you got that backwards. The short cable is under the car and connects to the L-bracket at the tranny area to the speedo gear inside. The LONG cable goes from the short cable along the muffler, behind the engine into the firewall, then behind the instrument cluster. That's the one that requires the cluster to be pulled.

Ohh, something to think about. If you plan on replacing the long cable, think about your gauges in the cluster. If you want to trick out any of your gauges with new faces or lighting, might as well do that then when the dash is out as well. :icon_bigg

 

[spiller]

yeah definitley, maybe ill replace all the lights with super white LED's or something, i need to get my fuel gauge wired up properly anyway.

 

[CRE]

My speedo just gave out yesterday. I haven't bothered to check under the car, but I really hope it's not the $80 piece.

I'll just drive with surrounding traffic until Colorado weather decides to warm up past freezing point...

Andy, give me a call when you're in. I've still got the new short cable and the long one we pulled at the yard......


And I could use a hand swapping that rear trim.