Speedometer - What The Heck Happened - 1969 Dart
- Thread starter 3rdLM23P9
- Start date
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The needle is probably sitting on the rest peg. Have you checked the speedometer cable to see if it's starting to unravel?
By disconnecting and inspecting it
My sad news is....
Your going to have to pull the cluster.
Pull out the front seats.
Pull out the steering column.
Tape up the dash.
And be ready to get your hands cut up
And go easy on the wires and connectors.
Be prepared to replace or repair the cir boards.
After the cluster is out find a reputable repair shop in your area .
My bet is the spring that resists the needle movement is free to move or not adjusted correctly, (should not happen all by itself).
There may also be a 0 stop that may have broken off
I feel your pain.
When I pulled my cluster in late 22 I knew I should send the speedo out to have it repaired. But I did not and now I'll be pulling it this Winter
Your going to have to pull the cluster.
Pull out the front seats.
Pull out the steering column.
Tape up the dash.
And be ready to get your hands cut up
And go easy on the wires and connectors.
Be prepared to replace or repair the cir boards.
After the cluster is out find a reputable repair shop in your area .
My bet is the spring that resists the needle movement is free to move or not adjusted correctly, (should not happen all by itself).
There may also be a 0 stop that may have broken off
I feel your pain.
When I pulled my cluster in late 22 I knew I should send the speedo out to have it repaired. But I did not and now I'll be pulling it this Winter
harrisonm
Well-Known Member
^^^ Listen to what @Dana67Dart says about taking the seat(s) out. It does not take that long and it makes working under the dash SO much easier.
Ugh -thanks for that sad (bad) news! Is the 0 stop a physical "peg" on the cluster that stops the needle at 0 or part of the spring?
This is the speedo head
Side shot
Back
Green is the adjuster to correct the speed and the spring that returns the needle to 0
Red is the 0 stop
Functionality
The part (red arrow) spins with the speedo gear and shaft in the speedo cable.
It causes the part it spins around to move. Since it is attached to the needle the needle moves. The spring resists the movement otherwise it would read 120 when ever the car was moving.
Any contact of the outer piece to the inner piece will cause the needle to be dragged farther than it should and when the contact stops the needle rebounds to where it should be till the next contact.
That's one way you get a bouncy needle.
The other is a speedo cable that is sticking so it winds up a bit like a torsion spring then releases causing a speed increase at the needle.
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Wow, thank you - very helpful. So likely that the 0 stop (red) failed/broke off? Guess I won't know until it gets pulled.
That stands to reason. Buy unless it's been hacked in the past unlikely.
It could also be the needle on the shaft has spun a few degrees
As for 3-5 mph off, unless it just started doing that at the same time the needle went south, I would say that's really good?
It could also be the needle on the shaft has spun a few degrees
As for 3-5 mph off, unless it just started doing that at the same time the needle went south, I would say that's really good?
The 3-5 mph drag started simultaneously with the needle drop.
3-5 slow would be on the right track for the needle having spun in the shaft.
I'm going on a 300 mile trim this weekend, and my speedo has been getting progressively worse (it used to tick and bounce below 50 but recently it was doing it at 65 to 75) so I pulled the cable out and in October (3 more car shows in Aug and Sept) I will pull the cluster. 
trapster
Well-Known Member
CHeck your ODO against the mile markers. If that is ok then it may just be a needle adjustment. There are companies that will rebuild this for you, but you may just want to find another one. There is also someone that sell decals to renew the background.
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