Honda Car Forum

Whenever I get up to speeds above 50 m.p.h. or so in my 1989 Civic LX, I
begin to hear a noise that is apparently coming from the instrument panel
area. The noise is like a cross between an extremely faint rattle and a
crackling/ticking sound. Could this be related to a faulty speedometer--or
speedometer cable alone? It doesn't sound as though anything is lose to me.
But I may be wrong about this.

Thanks in advance!

J. Perry

In article <xxYVb.304$xd5.9383@eagle.america.net>, "J. Perry"
<j_perry@musicians.net> wrote:

> Whenever I get up to speeds above 50 m.p.h. or so in my 1989 Civic LX, I
> begin to hear a noise that is apparently coming from the instrument panel
> area. The noise is like a cross between an extremely faint rattle and a
> crackling/ticking sound. Could this be related to a faulty speedometer--or
> speedometer cable alone? It doesn't sound as though anything is lose to me.
> But I may be wrong about this.
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
> J. Perry

J. Perry,
I agree that it could be the speedometer cable or tach. cable.

"T. Nelson" <tnelson@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:tnelson-1002041119060001@pm4-broad-17.snlo.dialup.fix.net...
> In article <xxYVb.304$xd5.9383@eagle.america.net>, "J. Perry"
> <j_perry@musicians.net> wrote:
>
> > Whenever I get up to speeds above 50 m.p.h. or so in my 1989 Civic LX, I
> > begin to hear a noise that is apparently coming from the instrument
panel
> > area. The noise is like a cross between an extremely faint rattle and a
> > crackling/ticking sound. Could this be related to a faulty
speedometer--or
> > speedometer cable alone? It doesn't sound as though anything is lose to
me.
> > But I may be wrong about this.
> >
> > Thanks in advance!
> >
> > J. Perry
>
> J. Perry,
> I agree that it could be the speedometer cable or tach. cable.

Thanks for the response T. Nelson! I'll start by replacing the speedometer
cable first, because one morning when it was down around 18 degrees F here,
the speedometer needle went crazy on me. It jumped up to about the 90 m.p.h.
mark and started oscillating rapidly while making a loud ticking noise.
After I drove the vehicle a few miles the speedometer needle stopped
oscillating and the speed it was registering appeared to be normal based on
the usual morning traffic flow speeds that I am accustomed to dealing with.
I may even just lubricate the speedometer cable first, and then consider
replacing it only if the noise from the instrument panel doesn't subside. If
this noise isn't stemming from either the speedometer or tachometer
cable(s), I really don't have a clue what may be the root cause of the
problem.

Regards,

J. Perry

> Thanks for the response T. Nelson! I'll start by replacing the speedometer
> cable first, because one morning when it was down around 18 degrees F here,
> the speedometer needle went crazy on me. It jumped up to about the 90 m.p.h.
> mark and started oscillating rapidly while making a loud ticking noise.
> After I drove the vehicle a few miles the speedometer needle stopped
> oscillating and the speed it was registering appeared to be normal based on
> the usual morning traffic flow speeds that I am accustomed to dealing with.
> I may even just lubricate the speedometer cable first, and then consider
> replacing it only if the noise from the instrument panel doesn't subside. If
> this noise isn't stemming from either the speedometer or tachometer
> cable(s), I really don't have a clue what may be the root cause of the
> problem.
>
> Regards,
>
> J. Perry

I think you are on the right track with the speedo cable. Don't spend
too much time looking for a tachometer cable, though. There is none, the
tach. gets its signal through an electrical wire, not a mechanical
cable.

In article <40299E42.17259039@junkmail.com>, Randolph <trash@junkmail.com>
wrote:

> > Thanks for the response T. Nelson! I'll start by replacing the speedometer
> > cable first, because one morning when it was down around 18 degrees F here,
> > the speedometer needle went crazy on me. It jumped up to about the 90 m.p.h.
> > mark and started oscillating rapidly while making a loud ticking noise.
> > After I drove the vehicle a few miles the speedometer needle stopped
> > oscillating and the speed it was registering appeared to be normal based on
> > the usual morning traffic flow speeds that I am accustomed to dealing with.
> > I may even just lubricate the speedometer cable first, and then consider
> > replacing it only if the noise from the instrument panel doesn't subside. If
> > this noise isn't stemming from either the speedometer or tachometer
> > cable(s), I really don't have a clue what may be the root cause of the
> > problem.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > J. Perry
>
> I think you are on the right track with the speedo cable. Don't spend
> too much time looking for a tachometer cable, though. There is none, the
> tach. gets its signal through an electrical wire, not a mechanical
> cable.

Thanks--I was not aware that tach cables are now 100% electrical. I guess
the speedo cables will eventually go that route. I wonder if water has
gotten into his speedo cable--this note is to J. Perry
When you install the new speedo cable--place some electrical tape real
tight around any points where water could get inside the new cable. This
should keep water and grease from getting where you don't want it to go. I
made this comment since you mentioned the 18 degree temperature as having
such a profound effect on the cable.