I have a 97 sidekick and my speedometer revs really high and makes a loud noise, especially within the first 5 to 10 minutes of driving.  Anyone have an idea what the problem might be?  Thanks,  kp7

Probably a bad cable. Try oiling it and see if it makes any difference.

Don't know a whole lot about it, but where do I oil the cable at.  I looked under the steering column and it is almost impossible to get to anything that way.  Thanks,

One way that you can lubricate the speedometer cable is to disconnect it at the transfer case, pull it out, apply liberal amounts of lubricant (lithium grease?  SylGlide from NAPA?) then slide it back in.  The problem with this technique is that you end up rubbing off the lubricant as you install the cable - Plus, you may need to wiggle the cable a bit until it seats into the back of the speedometer.

Another method would be to remove the gage cluster, disconnect the cable, remove the cable from the transfer case end, use the cable to poke lubricant down the cable tube then re-install the speedometer cable dabbing lubricant on it as you insert it, connect it to the back of the speedometer and then re-install the gage cluster.

I don't think that you can pull the cable from the dash end because there is a fitting on the transfer case end of the cable.

For more information on gage cluster disassembly, go the the local library and check out a copy of a Chilton's service manual for the Sidekick/Geo Tracker.  Haynes will also work as a poor second...

Hope that this helps!

Thanks, guys, I think I will make a trip to the library.  This is a great website, I will be coming back for more help.

My speedo cable is very noisy.  Has anyone ever greased theirs before?  Please share the process!

One way that you can lubricate the speedometer cable is to disconnect it at the transfer case, pull it out, apply liberal amounts of lubricant (lithium grease?  SylGlide from NAPA?) then slide it back in.  The problem with this technique is that you end up rubbing off the lubricant as you install the cable - Plus, you may need to wiggle the cable a bit until it seats into the back of the speedometer.

I looked into this on my 96.  The cable is super long (easily over 4 feet)
and kinda wraps snake-like around the engine bay.  It would be difficult to feed it back thru.

Another method would be to remove the gage cluster, disconnect the cable, remove the cable from the transfer case end, use the cable to poke lubricant down the cable tube then re-install the speedometer cable dabbing lubricant on it as you insert it, connect it to the back of the speedometer and then re-install the gage cluster.

I don't think that you can pull the cable from the dash end because there is a fitting on the transfer case end of the cable.

Its a huge pain because you have to take off the steering wheel.  (I have a 96 w airbags)

For more information on gage cluster disassembly, go the the local library and check out a copy of a Chilton's service manual for the Sidekick/Geo Tracker.  Haynes will also work as a poor second...

I looked at the manual.  It basically says you have to take off the steering wheel.

You can pull the cluster out without dropping the steering wheel.  You have to use a really short driver, but there is just enough room to sneak it out.  I've pulled mine off a couple of times to check out the cable.

On mine it ended up being a problem in the speedometer, not the cable itself.  Which reminds me, I need to get a new speedo for a 96... 

You can pull the cluster out without dropping the steering wheel.  You have to use a really short driver, but there is just enough room to sneak it out.  I've pulled mine off a couple of times to check out the cable.

On mine it ended up being a problem in the speedometer, not the cable itself.  Which reminds me, I need to get a new speedo for a 96... 

im leery about that.  thats the sort of thing where i try to pull it off too hard and i crack the dash or surround.  (ive done it before)  but if you give me some directions i could try it.

4 Screws holding the black anti-glare bit around the cluster.  That is the only difficult part to slip past the steering wheel.  Once that is off it pulls just like in the instructions.  If I had a tool set down here I would pull it apart and take some pictures.

I thought Acks Faq had some...

4 Screws holding the black anti-glare bit around the cluster.  That is the only difficult part to slip past the steering wheel.  Once that is off it pulls just like in the instructions.  If I had a tool set down here I would pull it apart and take some pictures.

I thought Acks Faq had some...

on my 96 there are two screws holding the cluster glass on

with those two screws out there is one (maybe two) more screws
kinda underneath that i can clearly see holding it on

i cant seem to access those screws without removing the steering wheel

ive had a speedometer tech look at it and he agrees about the screws
(he did voice the fact that other cars have an access point in the line to allow added grease
which the tracker clearly lacks)


-
i think i looked in acks but didnt find anything

4 Screws holding the black anti-glare bit around the cluster.  That is the only difficult part to slip past the steering wheel.  Once that is off it pulls just like in the instructions.  If I had a tool set down here I would pull it apart and take some pictures.

I thought Acks Faq had some...

Okay, I guess I need to get back to completing the '96 Tracker FSM...

Quote from: Drone637 on October 14, 2008, 03:22:26 PM

4 Screws holding the black anti-glare bit around the cluster.  That is the only difficult part to slip past the steering wheel.  Once that is off it pulls just like in the instructions.  If I had a tool set down here I would pull it apart and take some pictures.

I thought Acks Faq had some...

Okay, I guess I need to get back to completing the '96 Tracker FSM...

if you got something on the speedo cable Ack, let me know if i missed it

your FAQ is pretty good

I managed to pull it off, I'll have to look at how this weekend when I have access to my tool bag.  Once I do I'll post some pictures.  I think I used a really long screw driver and just turned the steering wheel to the correct position.  Could be wrong though.

I managed to pull it off, I'll have to look at how this weekend when I have access to my tool bag.  Once I do I'll post some pictures.  I think I used a really long screw driver and just turned the steering wheel to the correct position.  Could be wrong though.

thank you.  its been driving me crazy for months 

I've got a 96 Tracker and went through the problems of getting the gauge cluster out and yes I was able to do it without removing the steering wheel. I have done this twice,....once to lubricate. The lubricating worked for about a week and then slowly but shurly the noice came back. I lubricated the cable where it fits into the cluster and then pulled the cable off of the tranny and lubricated there too. I  used lithium grease in a pressured can and blew it through until I could see it coming out of where it fits into the tranny - nasty job because the clearance between the cable and the insulated sleve that it goes through would blow grease back at me. Can be done though. The second time I bought a new cable and it's been working great for the past 3 years. Strongly suggest changing the cable, It kind of pissed me off when I had to go back through pulling the cluster after about a week!

Keep Wheel'n!