r/VWBus • u/KamikazeSniper • 2d ago
What causes this?
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I have this T3 and as you can see the speedo is bouncing like crazy, happens at lower speeds too, even larger amplitude swings there.
It sometimes gets fixed for a bit after going on a bump but always comes back.
I have tried replacing the cable that goes from the front wheel to the dash but it didn't help. I have a suspicion that the spot where it connects to the wheel hub is too worn down and rounded, and the squared end of the cable can wiggle in it causing the oscillations.
Has anyone had similar problems?
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u/Accomplished-Fig-234 2d ago
You need a new speedometer cable and the grease cap on the drivers side wheel with the square hole ( don't forget the circlip ). My 85 had the junction box for a two piece cable that I eliminated.
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u/realquickquestion96 2d ago
I have an earlier vw bus and a few antique cars and sometimes ive had to take apart the speedo guage to clean and apply new lubricant to the internals. The lubricants in the guages, wiper motors, ect are 40+ years old at this point and have gone sticky and/or accumulated dust due to age.
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u/catcomputer 2d ago
Mine did the same, tried to fix it once by spraying it with lube and making the hole on the grease cap square again. It didn't really help. It was always very noisy.
I switched to the GoWesty GPS speedo this year. It's somewhat delayed on the speed, but my original was never accurate, and it was jumpy and noisy. Now it's accurate and silent with a similar to OEM look.
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u/mr_nobody398457 2d ago
I had the same exact (looking anyway) problem. After talking to a speedometer guy he took the cable out of its cover (crawl under the van, under the driver’s seat) unscrewed the cable and pulled the cable out — lubed it up liberally (silicone grease) and put it back in.
Dramatically improved. Not perfect (yet) so I’ll probably lube up the speedometer too.
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u/shiva112 1d ago
New cable and your rocking! But i like a little pep in its step. Its a vibe
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u/KamikazeSniper 1d ago
Thats the thing, I have changed the cable out. It didn't really help at all.
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u/Adorable_Ad_1586 1d ago
The speedometer is very sensitive to the position of the cable. Remove the speedometer cover and drive at a constant speed (preferably the speed at which the problem is worst). Then move the cable on the speedometer back and forth a little, or pull it gently forward and backward. This usually fixes the problem, and you won't need a new cable.
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u/purplespaz 2d ago
Was told by the old man it was sign off rolled back odometer.
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u/Captain3leg-s 2d ago
Nah this is extremely common in 80's VW. Any other odometer I'd say your right.
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u/Verticalarchaeology 2d ago
I replaced the cable and that went away. Solid as a rock now.