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Jittery speedo

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2025 6:52 am
by BennSport
Hey everyone, the speedometer in my 1983 944 has been acting up. At any speed under 30-40 mph the speedo needle jumps up and down erratically. At any speed above that the speedo acts consistent and accurately. Would this be an issue with the gearing in the speedo itself or the cable? For more information my odometer is also broken at the moment which I plan on fixing alongside the speedometer. Thanks again!

Re: Jittery speedo

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2025 8:14 am
by gb951
A kink in the cable is the most likely cause. Replace the cable with a new one...

Re: Jittery speedo

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2025 9:35 pm
by 944er
Remove the dash cluster (includes unscrewing the cable from the speedometer.) Pull the inner cable and slather it with lubricant, like white lithium grease. Slip inner cable back in, rotating at the end to engage wheel hub, and reinstall cluster.

Re: Jittery speedo

Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2025 4:26 am
by BennSport
Will I need to remove my front driver side wheel to pull the inner cable? I don’t know if there’s any circlips or something similar holding it on. Sorry to bump an old thread

Re: Jittery speedo

Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2025 5:54 am
by gb951
There is a small e-clip on the outside of the front wheel bearing cover. Usually sealed with a bit of RTV (or something like that). Once the clip is removed, the cable (and sheath) can be pulled out of the steering knuckle.

Re: Jittery speedo

Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2025 2:08 pm
by BennSport
If I’m only pulling the inner cable like 944er suggests, do I still need to follow the procedure regarding the front drivers side wheel? I gave a tug on the inner cable with the hub side untampered with out of curiosity, but it didn’t budge.

Re: Jittery speedo

Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2025 2:58 pm
by gb951
the e clip is attached to the inner cable, and must be removed. Removing the wheel to access the e clip makes it a bunch easier.

Re: Jittery speedo

Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2025 2:59 pm
by BennSport
Sounds good, when removing the inner cable from the sheath should I pull it out from the hub side or the cluster side?

Re: Jittery speedo

Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2025 3:33 pm
by gb951
Poorsche44 wrote: Fri Jun 06, 2025 2:59 pm Sounds good, when removing the inner cable from the sheath should I pull it out from the hub side or the cluster side?
Six of one, half dozen of the other.

Re: Jittery speedo

Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2025 3:34 pm
by BennSport
Taking a closer look, I’m unable to remove the inner cable from the sheath. Both ends of the cable have collars that stop them from sliding inside the sheath, so it looks like a new cable is necessary