I have a 1970 E type I've owned for over a year. Today for the first time the speedometer wasn't working. Both the speed or the mileage aren't working. I assume a cable somewhere decided not to work. Any suggestions as to where to look? Thanks, Frank

Submitted by DavidBarnes71@… on Mon, 10/01/2012 - 20:21

I am able to access the speedo cable and angle drive on my '68 thru the access plate on top of the transmission tunnel after removing the center console. When my speedo quit working years ago the cable inside the angle drive was twisted in two.

George is right about the fuse for the tach also running the fans at least on the '68's. I think it runs the horns too. Mine was hard to find as it was not blown but one of the end caps on the fuse was loose and making internittant contact. Lots of stuff running on that fuse at least in the '68's. Mine would get really hot until I swtiched to the Coolcat fans which I guess draw a lot less current than the originals or my originals were drawing more than they should have. The tach on the '68's is also an inductive type picking up signals off the pulses from the coil I think. I had to send my tach in to be fixed when I first got the car in 2000. When my iginition swtich fried a few years ago it also fried the inductive wires on the back of the tach so you might check the wiring too.

David Barnes
'68 FHC

Submitted by bonnettoboot@e… on Mon, 10/01/2012 - 13:17

A note of warning; many times, when the drive adaptor breaks, the cause is some kind of resistance in the system and often in the speedo head its self, So, when you do the test with a drill etc, also do it by hand, it should turn easily . Then do the same hand test at the speedo to see if the resistance is in the drive or the instrument.

Submitted by pharmon@jcna.com on Mon, 10/01/2012 - 12:10

The speedo in my Series 3 quit a couple of months ago. Turned out to be the right angle drive at the transmission. Crawl under the car and unscrew the cable from the right angle drive. Chuck the cable into a cordless drill and have someone watch the speedometer while you turn the cable with the drill. If the speedometer works then it is the right angle drive at the transmission. If it does not work then it is either the speedometer, right angle drive on the speedometer or the cable. The right angle drives tend to start slipping. If you remove the drive and put a small screwdriver into the cable hole you should not be able to turn the shaft exiting the drive.

Submitted by SE98-32482CJ on Mon, 10/01/2012 - 10:30

Jay the parts manual is the best but you can see the cable in the engine bay as it comes up from the trans to the speedo. The angle drive and cable connection is on the Pass. side and there is an access plug on the side of the trans tunnel.

Blake I suggest you check the fuse--if it is out you also do not have brake lights or cooling fans. If the fuse is good check the fuse holder. Good luck.

Submitted by b8_agnew@hotmail.com on Mon, 10/01/2012 - 09:58

I am having a very similar situation with my RPM gauge. It stopped working on Sat. when I took the car out to stretch her legs. I have not tried to track it down yet but want to look into this week.

Submitted by SE98-32482CJ on Mon, 10/01/2012 - 06:10

Frank the most likely suspects are your drive cable and the angle drive on the transmission. There is a drive in the transmission but they are very robust by design and the speedo. head can fail but not ususl without a bit of mis behaving first followed by a lot of noise. So check the cable first and then the angle drive. Good luck.