Speedometer jumping normal?[200/81]

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Speedometer jumping normal?[200/81] posted by Logan on
Wednesday, 5 January 2000, at 10:04 p.m.

My speedometer jumps around a bit at low speeds, fluctuating between 0 and 20 mph as the car begins to roll, and then swings back and forth in decreasing amounts as you approach 25 mph, then stabilizes above 25, and is solid as a rock above 40. I've tried oiling the cable, but haven't noticed much difference.

I was wondering if Volvo's normally do this, or if I have a problem. Thanks. --
81 242t 152kmi

Re: Speedometer jumping normal?[200/81] posted by Robert Abel on
Wednesday, 5 January 2000, at 11:39 p.m.

Logan, my dad rebuilds domestic speedos. There is a bushing or bearing on the speedo shaft that wears over time and miles and contributes to this problem. If you don't want to swap for one with less miles, you might consider looking around for a reputable auto electric shop to get yours refurbished. Shouldn't cost a heck of a lot.

Bouncing needle at low speeds is common among GM truck speedos, even when rebuilt. Gets much worse with age, however.

Good luck.

Re: Speedometer jumping normal?[200/81] posted by Don Foster on
Thursday, 6 January 2000, at 6:46 a.m.

That symptom is common with dry or binding speedo cables, or a cable that has a slight bend or kink. The core tends to "wind up" slightly (causing the apparent speed to drop) then "unwind" (causing the apparent speed increase).

It can do this each revolution of the cable, causing the speedo needle to wabulate.

"Oiling the cable", as you said, may not help unless you completely remove the cable, pull the core, remove the old grease, clean the core, and relube with grease. Again, it might be a kinked cable rather than a dry cable.

Or it might be the speedo head, as others suggested. --

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