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Wed Apr 30, 2003 3:47 pm

I need to get my speedometer cable out so that I can grease it. If I have to hear that thing screach an more I'm going to go nuts! I was just wondering if the Speedometer just comes out the front of the dash or if I have to go and get at it from inside the trunk. Please help! Thanks everyone.

Wed Apr 30, 2003 3:56 pm

I don't remember how the cable goes on supers because I never owned one.I have had that happen 3 times in my VW life, and it was the speedo head itself and not the cable. Oiling the cable will not hutr but you prob. need to dismantle the speedo and clean the crusty grease off the gears and apply new grease. This is also a good time to replace the nasty discolored plactic for the idiot lights with new. You can find that at a craft store. Good luck!

Wed Apr 30, 2003 4:58 pm

Depending on what year Super you have will depend on how you remove the cable. 71-72, I believe you can get at it from the trunk. 73 and up, you just pry the speedometer out with a flathead screwdriver, and remove the cable from the back of the speedometer. MEANIRISHMOFO is right, the noise is probably coming from inside you speedo. Good news is, the fix is simple. Remove the speedometer cable from the back of the speedometer. Use some all purpose oil, or some spray lithium grease, or even WD40. Either spray or drip (depending on what you use) a generous amount of oil into the hole in the speedometer where the cable attaches. Make sure to hold the speedo at an angle so that the hole is facing upright, so the oil can penetrate the inside components well. This should solve your problem. Good Luck!

Wed Apr 30, 2003 11:18 pm

I'm glad to here that. That screaching noise is going to kill me! I think it is a combination of both. I'll do both just for good measure. What grease do you think is best? I heard tail that a silicon based grease is best for the cable and speedometer. Any Ideas?

Thu May 01, 2003 10:16 am

The same thingt happened on my '73, was going to get around to oiling it, but yesterday, It started screamed REALLY BAD... the Odometer was spinning like crazy (1000 Miles in like 5 mins!) then all of a sudden stopped. The speedometer needle doesn't move, odometer doesn't work, etc. Is it a broken cable or what?

Thu May 01, 2003 10:34 am

Nate_Dog, I like to use Valvoline "SynPower". It's next to the WD40 at any autoparts store. It's a spray lubricant, but it is thicker than WD40, so it stays put. But any lubricant will do.

C.Kometz, either you were in some kind of time warp, or yes, your speedocable broke. Same goes for you, oil inside the hole that the speedo cable attatches to on the speedometer. Otherwise the mechanism inside the speedo can seize up...

Thu May 01, 2003 10:38 am

i was worried that my speedo seized up when it stopped working... Is there a way to check if it is the cable or the speedo seized?

Thu May 01, 2003 10:38 am

That happened to me first. I just replaced the cable and it work find for about 2000 miles and then it started singing again. My theory is that when the cable gets dry it doesn't turn smoothly (obviously) and thus fibrates. This in turn make the Speedometer make noise. If it goes on long enough the cable wears down and snaps. I'm going to try what aircooled_mechanic suggested. I'll let you know how it works out. Make sure you oil your new cable well before you put it in. I'm still not entirely sure on what is the best kind of lube for the speedo and cable. I hope someone does.

Thu May 01, 2003 11:43 am

The cable typically breaks where it connects to the front brake drum. If it isn't broken there, then it broke up around the speedometer. If you think the mechanism inside the speedometer is seized, remove the speedometer cable. Then take a small flathead screwdriver and insert it into the hole on the speedo where the cable goes. You should be able to turn it. If you can't then the mechanism is probably siezed up.