Replacement with a good used or NOS unit is often the simplest fix,
but if you like to tinker with small mechanisms, the speedometers of
most vehicles can be opened by carefully prying back the bezel ring all
the way around with small pliers or Channel locks, removing the glass
and bezel, then taking out the innards, usually by unscrewing one or two
screws on the back of the case. Try not to touch the face, needle or
odometer cylinders with your fingers. This can damage the paint.
For speedometers full of dust or grease, I’ve had success with gently
squirting the whole thing with brake or electric motor cleaner until
spotless. Then I put a tiny drop of something like Three-In-One or gun
oil on anything that looks like it needs oil, and finally spray some WD-40
on the whole assembly. Then I reinstall it in the cleaned case, bend back
the bezel into place and hope for the best.
The speedometer in my Nissan L-60 is still working fine 10 years and
tens of thousands of miles after performing this simple “service” in a
Haitian forest.
Generally speaking, for a vehicle in average daily use, cleaning and
lubricating the speedometer drive cable about every two years, and
adding a drop of engine oil on the speedometer head drive shaft, will
keep everything fully operational. Speedometer noises, howls or whines
not corrected by cleaning and lubricating the head and drive cable are
usually caused by a worn-out speedometer, which will simply have to be
replaced.
singke
(singke)
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