boardmanMJ Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 ok my old speedo cable got whacked in half by something (idk what it was by, i bought the mj with it broken) i have a replacement cable, but i have no idea how to change it. all help is greatly appreciated!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akula69 Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 Depending on the type of drivetrain that you have, and whether or not you have cruise control can effect the steps that you have to take; however the general steps are as follows: 1) Remove trim around dash cluster. 2) Remove cluster screws and ease it forward enough to grasp the tab at the back of the speedometer. Depress the tab to release the cable from the speedometer. 3) Carefully trace it back to the firewall and gently remove the rubber grommet from the firewall. This should free up the upper end of your cut speedo cable. 4) Crawling under the truck, locate the other half of the cut cable, and there will be a metal bracket that is pushed over a neaby bolt and secured by a push on style nut. Remove it and then carefully follow the cable back to the transmission and unscrew it. Replacement is the reverse of above, but be sure to feed the new cable down towards the transmission from the top of the engine compartment, ensuring it will not get pinched in the steering system or any other moving parts. Feed the speedometer end into the cab from the engine compartment as well, ensuring that the grommet seals completely against the firewall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 There were two types of speedo cable. The first style, used from 84 (for the XJ) and 86 (for the MJ) either only through 1986 or possibly part way through 187 used a metal retaining clip and a screw to attach the cable to the speedo head. From 1988 (or mid-1987) through 1990, the retainer was a white nylon clip. To remove that, squeeze the outer retainer ring and it should come right off. It takes a bit of experimenting to figure out which orientation to squeeze. When you get it, it's easy. Don't force it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigalpha Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 Better drain some fluid out of trans as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddzz1 Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 Better drain some fluid out of trans as well. Why? When you put the new cable in make sure it slides in enough to engage the speedo gear in the tranny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigalpha Posted November 5, 2009 Share Posted November 5, 2009 Better drain some fluid out of trans as well. Why? When you put the new cable in make sure it slides in enough to engage the speedo gear in the tranny. Only way I could get mine out is to pull the whole assy, down to the speedo gear. When I did so, trans fluid came out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geonovast Posted November 5, 2009 Share Posted November 5, 2009 Better drain some fluid out of trans as well. I'm confused about this as well. Taking the cable off has nothing to do with any tranny fluid. You don't need to pull the sender and gear out. And even if you did, I don't think you'd loose any. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigalpha Posted November 5, 2009 Share Posted November 5, 2009 Better drain some fluid out of trans as well. I'm confused about this as well. Taking the cable off has nothing to do with any tranny fluid. You don't need to pull the sender and gear out. And even if you did, I don't think you'd loose any. Well, mine wouldn't come out unless I took the whole thing out, including the speedo gear. When I did, trans fluid poured out. Of course, I broke the clip that holds it into the back of the speedo, so I have to replace the whole thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akula69 Posted November 5, 2009 Share Posted November 5, 2009 There were two types of speedo cable. The first style, used from 84 (for the XJ) and 86 (for the MJ) either only through 1986 or possibly part way through 187 used a metal retaining clip and a screw to attach the cable to the speedo head. From 1988 (or mid-1987) through 1990, the retainer was a white nylon clip. To remove that, squeeze the outer retainer ring and it should come right off. It takes a bit of experimenting to figure out which orientation to squeeze. When you get it, it's easy. Don't force it. Wow...I did not know that there was another style of retaining clip. Just proves that you learn something new every day! Thanks Eagle! :cheers: Also - Eagle is correct - if you force the disconnection, it will pull the center of the speedo cable out of the sheath and dislodge a very small plastic retainer inside the cable (ask me how I know...LOL) and it is difficult to make it go back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geonovast Posted November 5, 2009 Share Posted November 5, 2009 There are also different lengths of speedo cables. And IIRC, the cruise ones are two-piece with some kind of sensor halfway down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigalpha Posted November 5, 2009 Share Posted November 5, 2009 There are also different lengths of speedo cables. And IIRC, the cruise ones are two-piece with some kind of sensor halfway down. This is true. There is a small module that goes between the two lengths. I don't know, however, the difference between the two lengths. Are 4WD vs. 2WD different lengths? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akula69 Posted November 5, 2009 Share Posted November 5, 2009 No, the 4WD cable length is the same as the 2WD cable when they both have cruise. There is a small oval revolution sensor that attaches to the end of the cable inside the dash and a short 'whip' cable goes from the sensor to the cluster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigalpha Posted November 5, 2009 Share Posted November 5, 2009 No, the 4WD cable length is the same as the 2WD cable when they both have cruise. There is a small oval revolution sensor that attaches to the end of the cable inside the dash and a short 'whip' cable goes from the sensor to the cluster. So without cruise, the two cable lengths are different? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddzz1 Posted November 5, 2009 Share Posted November 5, 2009 Better drain some fluid out of trans as well. I'm confused about this as well. Taking the cable off has nothing to do with any tranny fluid. You don't need to pull the sender and gear out. And even if you did, I don't think you'd loose any. Well, mine wouldn't come out unless I took the whole thing out, including the speedo gear. When I did, trans fluid poured out. Of course, I broke the clip that holds it into the back of the speedo, so I have to replace the whole thing. Thats strange, When i swapped my cluster my speedometer wouldnt work so I pulled my speedo gear to make sure I didnt pull the cable out when i swapped clusters and no tranny fluid came out. Turned out I had somehow got the needle for the speedo stuck under the little stopper when I fixed the odometer setting; so it couldnt move . :doh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akula69 Posted November 6, 2009 Share Posted November 6, 2009 No, the 4WD cable length is the same as the 2WD cable when they both have cruise. There is a small oval revolution sensor that attaches to the end of the cable inside the dash and a short 'whip' cable goes from the sensor to the cluster. So without cruise, the two cable lengths are different? Absolutely. The speedo cable for the cruise control models is no longer avalable either, so if you come across one at the JY you might wanna grab it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boardmanMJ Posted November 6, 2009 Author Share Posted November 6, 2009 ok so i got some new parts to the story...my auto tranny wouldnt shift. took it to a family friend who fixes trannys. he replaced the TPS and it shifts. the speedo never worked since i bought the truck. the family friend said the speedo cable rubbed off somewhere. the speedo cable does go into the tranny and its tight in there. i never had the dash apart yet so i think it is still connected to the cluster. my 89 mj does not have cruise control. the speedo cable i pulled was from a 90 xj. i can't remember if it had cruise control or not. I'm thinking that it didnt since it was a cherokee pioneer. thanks everyone for all your help! it means alot to me and everyone here is very informative and helpful! :banana: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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