Speedometer cable noise. Help please

[TCsNicNac]

Hi, I have a 1996 Windstar GL, 3.8. The speedometer cable seems to be noisy when I am almost at a stop. The noise seems to be coming from up near the dash end of the cable.
Is there a way to lubricate this cable without causing a problem with tampering regulations?
Unlike most of the forum users on this vehicle, we have owned this since new, and it has been a wonderful and reliable vehicle, except for a few problems which are to be expected. Thanks for any help and advice! Tom

[LeSabre97mint]

TC

Yes you can pull the dash bezzel and pull the instrment cluster without woring about any legel problem. Most of the newer vehicals do not use speedo calbles any more. Instead the speedo is driven by wire. I don't know what the 96 is using. (You may not have a cable) Just a heads up.

I found that removing the speedo calble on my 95 was the hardest part on getting the instrerment cluster out. There wasn't much slack on the cable.


Regards

Dan

[TCsNicNac]

Thanks for the responce. I feel that there is definately a cable, judging from the sound. I'm hoping that somebody out there has dealt with the problem for that year, 1996. Thanks, Tom

[tartersauce]

Originally Posted by TCsNicNac

Thanks for the responce. I feel that there is definately a cable, judging from the sound. I'm hoping that somebody out there has dealt with the problem for that year, 1996. Thanks, Tom

maybe im wrong, but Under your dash, you should be able to see the cable and the connector. You may be able to undo it and give it some lube without pulling the hole thing.. LITE Grease

[LeSabre97mint]

Originally Posted by tartersauce

maybe im wrong, but Under your dash, you should be able to see the cable and the connector. You may be able to undo it and give it some lube without pulling the hole thing.. LITE Grease

Tarter,

Wishful thinking.... I don't believe that on the Windstar one can access the speedo cable without pulling the cluster. At least not with my hands and I do not have large hands.

Regards

Dan

[tartersauce]

Originally Posted by LeSabre97mint

Tarter,

Wishful thinking.... I don't believe that on the Windstar one can access the speedo cable without pulling the cluster. At least not with my hands and I do not have large hands.

Regards

Dan

Yea, Hand size helps.. Im only 130lbs so I can get my hands in ther, and my fingers been trained to see for me..

A notebook computer and a Webcam can be a big help with things like this HINT..

[wiswind]

My '96 did get noisy for a while....then I was lucky and it settled down.
I suspected that it was the speedometer......you can also get a very small amount of lub in there.

['97ventureowner]

I came across this thread and thought I'd post my on the subject. I'm not familiar with Windstar speedo cables but many years ago I saw an episode of "Motorweek" that airs on PBS. The mechanic covered a similar issue. He removed the cable from the vehicle and placed it in a bottle of motor oil for a short time. He then removed it and replaced it in the vehicle and the problem was solved. From what I read here in this forum previous to my post it seems that this would be difficult to do but it might be an option if you were to get it out. (That episode came out about 15 to 20 years ago when it was easier to access these cables. Also when he pulled the cable out of the oil, he had a rag or paper towel to remove the excess oil and to keep the area fairly clean.)
On some of the vehicles I've owned in the past, no matter what make, I noticed the speedo cable made noise in the winter, but that noise disappeared come Spring. My theory is that the lube that is used from the factory gets old over the years and becomes thin ,( plus all that movement inside the casing removes some of the lube from the cable itself.) When it's cold it doesn't do it's job very well , thus crating the "noise". Once it warms up in the Spring, the noise tends to go away because the lube is more viscous, and gets back it's original properties.

[tartersauce]

Yep I also have done a few oiling on older alfas and vettes doing restores, one end in a bottle, and the other on a drill. The cable will suck up the oil.. Not all cables do, but most are wound crossways and it will push oil up the cable.
These are for the cables that do not pull out of the casing.