Replacing the speedometer cable on a 1985 Chevrolet Caprice Classic

[@whoevertf]

This is the kinda car tutorial content we all need. Well done!

[@hansalpers7692]

Thanks for the video. The speedometer cable on my 1980 Wagon also makes slight noises sometimes. In some time I will certainly have to change the speedometer cable. Good to see how to do that. Greetings from Germany.

[@87Regul8t0r]

This is a SUPER GREAT tutorial

[@turkeyssr]

Great job and, as usual, great video! Thanks!

[@The_Hollywood_Mission]

QUESTION HERE. ????? I have an 85 Caprice Classic like yours but it's white, no vinyl top,how do I remove the Caprice logo, it is on the lower part or the roof back by the passengers door on each side. Is it just held on with double-sided tape ?????

[@LongologoProductions]

Likely some strong double-sided automotive tape. Try working a long string of dental floss back and forth behind the logo to remove it. Then comes the fun part: removing the adhesive residue without damaging your paint. Maybe some goo-gone or other gentle adhesive remover that you can use by wiping with a paper towel?

[@l.a.w.g1360]

Can you do me a big favor? Can you do a video of a walk through on the engine bay? I bought a project 1984 caprice and cannot figure out where some wires go your video would be very helpful ! If you have time .

[@LongologoProductions]

@l.a.w.g1360: That's a good idea - I will try to do one of those. Are there particular wires or wiring harnesses that you are concerned about, or do you just want an pan through and overview of the engine bay?

[@l.a.w.g1360]

@@LongologoProductions basically I cannot find any wiring diagram online . So I kind of need everything lol maybe I can send you pics and you can let me know what’s up

[@LongologoProductions]

@@l.a.w.g1360 pick up a copy of the shop manual from eBay or a scanned version on Amazon. It will be very helpful for wiring.

[@l.a.w.g1360]

@@LongologoProductions I was I just don’t trust eBay . But if you don’t mind maybe just a walk through of just engine bay bubba would appreciate it!

[@LongologoProductions]

@@l.a.w.g1360 I am uploading one now. Look for it tonight. I hope it helps.

[@boerenbrommer]

Great video, but man, how did get to that speedo cable? I followed all the steps for my '86, I can see the speedo cable from underneath but no idea how to reach the clip for unhooking it. The instrument feels loose but i cant reach around it. Its held back by the speedo cable / wiring harness. Thanks!

[@LongologoProductions]

Yeah there isn’t a lot of space to squeeze in your hands back there. Once you’ve done it once you can get to it by “feel” to press in to release the clip holding the speedo cable in place. The bigger problem for me the first time was that other sensor that is screwed in behind the speedo gauge. That’s a pain to access and remove. Another thought would be to find where the speedo cable goes through the firewall from the engine side and push some of the cable in towards the interior of the car. If you can push the cable in a couple of inches or so that might give you some slack when you are trying to pull the instrument cluster out far enough to get your hands back there.

[@quinterrusbenson9286]

QUESTION my speedometer only works in neutral how do i fix that??

[@LongologoProductions]

@@quinterrusbenson9286 wow that is strange. Do you mean that the speedometer shows the speed only while the car is rolling down the road and you shifted into neutral, or when the car is parked, and you shifted into neutral and press the gas and the speedometer jumps? Either way, my only guess would be a problem at the connection point from the speedometer to the side of the transmission. Is it the original transmission and original speedometer cable and original speedometer?

[@quinterrusbenson9286]

@@LongologoProductions when im rolling down the road n shift in to neutral and yes all original this didn’t happen until i had my transmission rebuilt

[@LongologoProductions]

@@quinterrusbenson9286 Bingo. Most likely an issue where the speedo cable connects at the side of the transmission. At minimum, disconnect the cable from the side of the transmission and inspect that little plastic gear inside. Make sure the gear is inserted properly and then reconnect the cable. That seems like the most likely source of the problem. Good luck.

[@stonix1992]

So as i figure out, in the end only replacing the cable really helped? Greetings, Luke

[@LongologoProductions]

Yes. Lubing the cable as in my other video was only a temporary fix. Eventually had to just replace the cable.

[@stonix1992]

@@LongologoProductions This is fascinating for me. On my '78 the speedo makes noises like yours. Due to cruise control, i was able to fill in motoroil into the cable from the engines bay side without removing the tach. It was my first idea for a fast fix. It did absolutely nothing. Maybe the transducer is also frecked. Cruise control is deactivated by pre-owner. He stated its a self-murder-thing which suddenly totally accelerates on the highway. So my idea is to replace the cable by a new 80" one, completely skipping the transducer, and disassembling it.

[@ajose223w3]

Hey I have a 77 impala and the speedo don’t work is this similar fix?

[@LongologoProductions]

@Ajose223w: It should be similar, but the instrument cluster may be a bit different. Good luck

[@doctordoom1337]

My '84 LeSabre yields drastically different part numbers for the cable from GM. I'm very apprehensive about ordering because I don't want to be knee deep and have the wrong part. I'm assuming your car does not have a 200-4r transmission, maybe a TH350? Apparently the cable for the TH400 is the same as the 200-4r.

[@LongologoProductions]

@doctordoom1337: Definitely confirm the part #s before diving in. If concerned you could always start at the transmission end and test that connection before ripping out the old cable. Good luck!

[@doctordoom1337]

@LongologoProductions the only "vague" confirmation I can find is that the cable is 80 inches for the LeSabre. The part you used is also 80 inches. I happened to find a NOS gm genuine cable on ebay for under 20$ so I took a gamble. I'll do my best to confirm before tackling this project. I dont believe I have to remove as much on the LeSabre as you had to on the Caprice.

[@Nicholas-ik4wb]

I’m trying to also add the stress about needing a video of the engine bay. I have an 85 two door I could eventually show one of mine but not untill I’ve got the majority of everything correct. But could you please show ALL THE BRAIDED GROUND STRAP CONNECTIONS. I have the factory shop manual just like you do and it does not show a legit diagram of the straps locations. It also specifically states to check the chassis/body service manual….ok I can’t find one for 1985 online from any source lol. I’ve seen possibly two braided straps (one of the back of both heads…mine is missing one on driver side) One from the heater core or water valve (either to accumulator or firewall I’m not sure at all which one it grounds to. Shop manual displays a braided ground strap from engine to body but does not specify from where….I will not trust my car is properly grounded untill I can figure these factory ground locations. If you could do a video showing yours that would be awesome.

[@LongologoProductions]

@Nicholas-ik4wb: I already have a video of the engine bay here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kIKpk6Swrp10ftU I hope this helps.

[@Ihatemushrooms77]

Cool video. 😎 just noticed that my speedometer on my 78 Coupe deVille is off by 5mph. It'll read 60 mph while my GPS maps app will say I'm going 65...

[@LongologoProductions]

@Edgar Herrera: I’m not sure how accurate the app is. I would check it against highway mile markers by setting your speed to 60mph and starting a stopwatch the moment you cross the first marker. 60 seconds later you should be crossing the next marker. If that’s off too then you have two sets of data that hopefully point in the same direction. Another thought is to check your tire size. If it is not the same as the originals for that car then your Speedo will be off.

[@Ihatemushrooms77]

@Longologo Productions I'll do that highway marker thing, set my cruise control and see what i get.. And my tire size are all the same size and original size too. No aftermarket wheels here. Stock 15s all the way. 21575r15s with the 1.3" WW