Speedometer broken - how to fix?

oport

oport

Member
Hello fellow rover drivers,

i recently drove my P6 3500 LHD (1971, round gauges) when i heard some squeaking from the dashboard. Sure enough an hour later i heard a screeching noise and since then the speedometer is dead. I assume it is a mechanical failure of either the speedo cable or the angle drive. What would be the correct way to repair it? I have already a replacement speedo cable, but i want to avoid the hassle to replace it if possible. So my plan is to remove the instrument panel covers and check the angle drive first. If i see a mechanical problem with the angle drive, would you recommend to replace the cable as well?
And the final question: Where do i get a new angle drive if needed? Does anybody have a part number?

Greetings from Germany
Olaf
 
Normally the angle drive at the gearbox end is the one that fails, so I'd always check that one first as it's a lot easier than pulling the dash out. While it's out you can check the speedo head by spinning the cable from the bottom. If the speedo doesn't move you know that there is a problem with the cable, or thetop end.
 
Thanks for your help so far, i ordered a new angle drive on grims ebay-Link. But one more question: To my knowledge the 3500 with the BW35 box has only one angle drive behind the speedo and none on the gearbox itself. Am i right on this one?

CU Olaf
 
Hello Olaf
If you CAREFULLY pull back the carpet and insulating material on the left side of the transmission tunnel, you'll find a large round rubber bung, behind which you can reach into the tunnel and unscrew the gearbox end of the speedometer cable from the angle drive going into the autobox. I don't know if you can disconnect this by reaching up from underneath the car, I reckon the gearbox sump pan would restrict your access.
 
Both BW35 and 65 autoboxes have the angle drive,if you havent got one on the box then that will,could make the cable too tight and possibly is the reason its broken.
 
oport said:
But one more question: To my knowledge the 3500 with the BW35 box has only one angle drive behind the speedo and none on the gearbox itself. Am i right on this one?
Click to expand...

No, you're wrong, all autos have an angle drive at the gearbox end, and most of the time it's that one that fails, if fact I can't ever remember fitting a top one because that one was not working. I may have done, but certainly don't remember it.
 
Hello Harvey,

thank you for the information. I will then check the angle drive on the gearbox first. Should be much easier to change that. But the sqeaking sound i heard when the speedo failed certainly came from close behind the dashboard. Therefore i am not totally positive about the position of the failed angle drive, i suspect the faulty part more in the dashboard region. But i will have to check that at the car....

CU Olaf
 
Hello Olaf,

Back in 1987 my speedo began making strange noises and then not long after failed completely. As it turned out the speedo had seized and as a result the right angle drive on the back of the speedo was broken. In my case the right angle drive on the transmission was undamaged.

I removed the speedo and had it repaired by an instrument repairman, while in the mean time I acquired a new right angle drive for the rear of the speedo. When ready I refitted my repaired speedo along with new right angle drive, the speedo cable having been removed from the transmission so as to clean and re-grease was reattached and instruments pushed back. It is a fiddle as the location of the speedo drive has a direct bearing on how neatly the speedo needle will sit, and acccess for your hand behind the instruments is extremely limited. I am happy to say that it all worked perfectly and to date not a problem since.

Ron.
 
I've changed plenty of the top angle drives, infact it was 'my' job when I worked for my Dad as my hands were smaller :roll: Maybe he just wasn't as patient :LOL:
Best to check which one you need before ordering, done both over the years, I prefer doing the top ones myself as you don't need to get dirty or under the motor :wink:
 
Hello Grim,

since the creaking sound came from right behind the dashboard, the speedo angle drive is my primary suspect. That is the one i ordered right away. If the culprit is the one on the bottom end, i will tuck that away for spares....
I will post the result of the verdict of the technical jury after i have dismantled the dashboard and found the reason.

Have a happy easter everyone!

CU Olaf
 
Hello fellow Rover drivers,

here is the next chapter of my seemingly endless "broken speedo" story.
I checked everything and found the angle drive behind the speedo broken as suspected. I changed it and reattached everything, making sure to clean and check the speedo cable. Still no working speedo. I removed the angle drive again and checked it while driving if it turns. It did, so the next possible culprit was the speedo itself. I found it had seized, so i mounted a working replacement speedo. I was happy again, but.....
After approx. 20 kms the speedo stopped working again, this time without making any screeching noises. Since i know this time that the speedo is working fine and seizing after only 20 kms is very uncommon, i am scratching my head here. My suspicion now is that while attaching the new angle drive to the first seized speedo i might have damaged it right away. I ordered replacement angle drives already.

Any other suggestions what may be wrong? Speedo is ok, cable is ok and turning :roll: :roll:

CU Olaf
 
Has the new speedo seized ?
I would have thought attaching the new angle drive to the seized speed would break the angle drive
 
Hello fellow Rover drivers,

it took some time but it is finally done - my speedo is working again. The former speedo seized and took both angle drives with him. I replaced the lower one today and everything is perfect again. There was hardly anything left of the lower one, it was more or less shred to very little pieces.

Thank you all for your help in dealing with this problem. A special thank you goes to harveyP6, who sent me a lower used angle drive from his stock which did the trick.

CU Olaf
 
Hi
I have a 1977 2200 P6 SC. The speedo is ribbon type and is making a real row when driving. It is occasionally OK but mostly jumps about the scale and makes a loud whining noise - low speeds are usually fine but anything over about 20mph it starts off. Its like its just not connecting all the time and the ribbon then bounces up and down the mph range like crazy or just sits at the left end not indicating any mph. I assume I need to replace or re-attach the cable. Haynes is a bit obscure on this and anyway, in my manual it only covers TC models to 1974. Can anyone enlighten me on how I can check this out and fix / replace the cable or re-attach it.
Thanks
Barry
 
If it's an auto I'd check the lower angle drive to make sure it's nice and free, then (or if it's a manual) disconnect the speedo cable from the upper angle drive and check that angle drive is free also, and if so use the inner cable to spin the upper angle drive while it's attached to the speedo itself to see if it's the instrument that's causing the problem. You can also disconnect the outer cable at the gearbox end and make sure the inner cable is nice and free in the outer. If so lubricate the inner and refit. Somewhere along the line you should find what's causing the problem.
 
Thanks - I'll hopefully get to check this out over the next week or so while I'm doing the service. Will keep you posted - dont want it to be a long job as I need the motor as a daily driver, almost!!
Cheers
Barry
 
I also have this problem intermittently (when Bruiser's on the road) & despite changing the upper drive it persisted so I suspect the unit itself is the culprit. Luckily it's fine most of the time although it seems to do it mostly when the weather is cold which may just be co-incidental.
 
Right then - today I've tried to get this speedo apart. This is a 1977 2200SC with the ribbon speedo. All the noise seems to be coming from behind the speedo itself so I'm assuming that the top drive is the culprit. Now, I got the unit unscrewed but for the life of me can't get in behind to disconnect the speedo or even get a decent look as the unit will only pull out a couple of inches max. Even if I were to disconnect all the lamp connections I'd be no further forward because there is a thick black cable which is pretty rigid and won't give much - I'm assuming this is the speedo cable. Haynes is NO help as it doesn't even mention the speedometer so I'm kinda working from the cars handbook which is simplistic to a tee. I can see where I need to be but there is simply no chance of me getting at it without, I fear, breaking something else. I'm sorry if I appear a bit thick here but maybe I just can't see the wood for the trees. Can anyone tell me how to get this bloody unit out so I can at least get at the back of it - before I take a hammer to it.
Cheers
Barry
 
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