Technical Speedo cable

[tobywood13]

Trying the new cable, I’ve got the plastic bit at the speedo end now. I’ve inserted it into the separate plastic bit that goes into the back of the speedo, but with the two bits together there’s too much cable poking out to allow the white connector to reach the back of the speedo properly. Have I done this the right way?

 

[the green vanper]

But that's exactly the same element:

I'm pretty sure you need only one of them.

 

[tobywood13]

But that's exactly the same element:

View attachment 458348

I'm pretty sure you need only one of them.

One of them is plastic tipped and goes into the back of the speedo. The other has a metal tip (the cable) and is permanently attached to the cable.

If you take the plastic one away and just insert the metal one, there isn’t enough length to reach the connector at the gearbox end.

 

[the green vanper]

So the cable is too short or too long?

 

[tobywood13]

So the cable is too short or too long?

With the plastic thing attached, it sticks out too much for the connector to grab the back of the speedo.

With the plastic thing detached, there isn’t enough cable to reach the gearbox.

Perhaps the plastic thing is meant to go at the gearbox end? Here’s a photo of it connected at the bottom. This was not how it was when I got the car, but the speedo wasn’t working so maybe the previous owner had it backwards?

Can anyone confirm if the removable plastic piece is supposed to go into the gearbox or the speedo?

 

[the green vanper]

In my opinion the idea of the plastic red / black part is to position / center the cable in the gear and block any potential grease from getting into the speedo.

It looks like the grey plastic part is the same, but has this extra cable shaped end which also goes into the gear. I'd leave it on the speedo side.

If the cable is too short without the grey plastic on it, it is too short.

Nevermind on which side of the cable you will put the grey part, the cable will be too long.

I assume the cable has an incorrect length.

If there are no leftovers of the old cable in the gear on the gearbox side (I remember you were taking them out), I'd cut the cable first by pieces to adjust the length keeping the grey part on the speedo side and the black / red on the gearbox side. Several tries could be necessary, you can start with less than half of the length of the grey part.

 

[tobywood13]

In my opinion the idea of the plastic red / black part is to position / center the cable in the gear and block any potential grease from getting into the speedo.

It looks like the grey plastic part is the same, but has this extra cable shaped end which also goes into the gear. I'd leave it on the speedo side.

If the cable is too short without the grey plastic on it, it is too short.

Nevermind on which side of the cable you will put the grey part, the cable will be too long.

I assume the cable has an incorrect length.

If there are no leftovers of the old cable in the gear on the gearbox side (I remember you were taking them out), I'd cut the cable first by pieces to adjust the length keeping the grey part on the speedo side and the black / red on the gearbox side. Several tries could be necessary, you can start with less than half of the length of the grey part.

Ok, I’ll put the red/black bit in the gearbox end, and the grey plastic bit in the back of the speedo.
That’s the way round I had it last time, which didn’t last very long and doesn’t seem to match the pictures I’ve seen, but at least it works.

The cable is the correct length, but when the plastic bit is attached to the red/black bit they stick out of the connector too much, because the hole in the bottom of the connector is smaller than the red/black bit.

 

[the green vanper]

Hold on. The wire should move freely in the housing. You should also be able to take it out of the housing.

That's why I assumed it is a little bit too long.

But if it was working in this setup before we should find out what made it pop out of the speedo. Could again be the length...

But I can be mistaken.

 

[tobywood13]

I can remove the entire cable and it moves freely. When inserted through the white connector that attaches to the back of the Speedo, the black/red bit stops it from going all the way through. When inserted at the threaded end which goes into the gearbox, the black/red bit stops it again. So you can have the black/red bit with its bit of cable sticking out at either end.

When connected to the separate plastic part at the speedo end, the two of them are stick out of the connector, preventing it from attaching to the back of the speedo.

Second photo is the red black bit inserted at the gearbox end. It doesn’t go all the way in, there must be a blockage. Not sure how I’ll clear that.

 

[tobywood13]

My attempts to get the cable to fit properly have caused it to become damaged beyond usage. So now I need to buy ANOTHER one and try again. Frustrating. I wish there was a proper guide for this, it really shouldn’t be this hard.

 

[tobywood13]

New plan, replace this part (as it’s now full of metal shavings and won’t hold the cable properly). What’s the part number or name for this component?

I think it’s held in place with a small hex bolt just below and to the right in the photo, but I won’t remove it until I have a replacement.

Then, I’ll have to get another speedo cable and try to definitively work out which way round it’s supposed to go before attempting another installation. Then finally I’ll check/change the gearbox oil to hopefully keep the speedo cable under the least possible stress.

 

[the green vanper]

Are familiar with ePER? There's a link on the bottom of the forum banner.

The search window is on the top left corner of the screen. You can browse by models and categories, or search with the VIN number. I've looked quickly, there are two Panda models that were produced in 1993, so I cannot be sure which is the correct one:

21200/00 - TRANSMISSION

FIAT PANDA DS (1986-1993)

eper.fiatforum.com

21233/00 - SPEEDOMETER AND DRIVE

FIAT PANDA 4X2 MAQ 91 (1991-2003)

eper.fiatforum.com

I'd propose to start the check with the VIN number, as ePER should then limit the displayed parts to the correct ones only.

 

[tobywood13]

Are familiar with ePER? There's a link on the bottom of the forum banner.

The search window is on the top left corner of the screen. You can browse by models and categories, or search with the VIN number. I've looked quickly, there are two Panda models that were produced in 1993, so I cannot be sure which is the correct one:

21200/00 - TRANSMISSION

FIAT PANDA DS (1986-1993)

eper.fiatforum.com

21233/00 - SPEEDOMETER AND DRIVE

FIAT PANDA 4X2 MAQ 91 (1991-2003)

eper.fiatforum.com

I'd propose to start the check with the VIN number, as ePER should then limit the displayed parts to the correct ones only.

Thanks, I’ve been looking around ePER but can’t find that part anywhere.

Ricambio, a UK based parts supplier, has this drawing on their site.

I think I need number 2 in this drawing, but I can’t find the FIAT part number for this or the original location of this drawing in ePER.

 

[tobywood13]

Part number for the speedo drive gear is 7637702, as far as I can see it can only be ordered non-OEM in Italy. My local FIAT dealer was unable to source one from direct from FIAT anymore.

Does anyone have a spare one of these lying around that I could buy from you?

 

[the green vanper]

The part is very common in FIATs:

It seems it is available on the Italian ebay here:

Ingranaggio Conta KM Segnalatore Velocita' per FIAT Panda/uno 7637702 | Acquisti Online su eBay

Le migliori offerte per Ingranaggio Conta KM Segnalatore Velocita' per FIAT Panda/uno 7637702 sono su eBay â Confronta prezzi e caratteristiche di prodotti nuovi e usati â Molti articoli con consegna gratis!

www.ebay.it

I'd also try there in Bulgaria:

AXM-AUTO.COM - FIAT, CINQUECENTO, 0.9 (903), Привод километраж, Привод за километража, Оригинален номер 7637702, 4230518

Авточасти AXM-AUTO.COM - FIAT, CINQUECENTO, 0.9 (903), Привод километраж, Привод за километража, Оригинален номер 7637702, 4230518

www.axm-auto.com

This one does not mention the part name, but some of the models:

Ingranaggio contachilometri Fiat 127, 128, Uno, Panda, 4x4, Cinquecento, Y10 | eBay

Le migliori offerte per Ingranaggio contachilometri Fiat 127, 128, Uno, Panda, 4x4, Cinquecento, Y10 sono su eBay â Confronta prezzi e caratteristiche di prodotti nuovi e usati â Molti articoli con consegna gratis!

www.ebay.it

This one is an aftermarket one, but lists another FIAT part number:

Ci scusiamo per l'interruzione.

And worst case scenario, a used one:

https://allegro.pl/oferta/przekladnia-napedu-licznika-fiat-cinquecento-seicento-uno-900-7637702-15451212061

 

[tobywood13]

The part is very common in FIATs:

View attachment 458640

It seems it is available on the Italian ebay here:

Ingranaggio Conta KM Segnalatore Velocita' per FIAT Panda/uno 7637702 | Acquisti Online su eBay

Le migliori offerte per Ingranaggio Conta KM Segnalatore Velocita' per FIAT Panda/uno 7637702 sono su eBay â Confronta prezzi e caratteristiche di prodotti nuovi e usati â Molti articoli con consegna gratis!

www.ebay.it

I'd also try there in Bulgaria:

AXM-AUTO.COM - FIAT, CINQUECENTO, 0.9 (903), Привод километраж, Привод за километража, Оригинален номер 7637702, 4230518

Авточасти AXM-AUTO.COM - FIAT, CINQUECENTO, 0.9 (903), Привод километраж, Привод за километража, Оригинален номер 7637702, 4230518

www.axm-auto.com

This one does not mention the part name, but some of the models:

Ingranaggio contachilometri Fiat 127, 128, Uno, Panda, 4x4, Cinquecento, Y10 | eBay

Le migliori offerte per Ingranaggio contachilometri Fiat 127, 128, Uno, Panda, 4x4, Cinquecento, Y10 sono su eBay â Confronta prezzi e caratteristiche di prodotti nuovi e usati â Molti articoli con consegna gratis!

www.ebay.it

This one is an aftermarket one, but lists another FIAT part number:

Ci scusiamo per l'interruzione.

And worst case scenario, a used one:

https://allegro.pl/oferta/przekladnia-napedu-licznika-fiat-cinquecento-seicento-uno-900-7637702-15451212061

Thanks, I’m currently dusting off my Italian skills to negotiate the shipping of one from Italy! It’s good practice haha

 

[tobywood13]

I had a go at removing the speedo drive today. I undid the 5mm screw that supposedly holds the speedo drive in place, but I couldn't seem to get the gear to come out. The screw hole then started leaking a lot of gear oil, so I put it back in. I had the car in gear, does this make a difference?

I don't want to take the screw out again until I know how to do it properly, to prevent me losing any more oil.

 

[tobywood13]

Ordered a drive gear from a nice chap in Italy, but I couldn't get the old one out. Instead, I cleaned it up as best as I could using a magnet to get some shavings out, then refitted a new cable. I put the end with the stopper into the back of the gauges, then the 'naked' end of the cable into the gearbox, without using the separate plastic piece anywhere. This is the reverse of how the original one came off the car when I bought it, and the reverse of how I've been trying to fit the previous ones that didn't last.

This seems to have worked, and I no longer have a wobble at low speeds either, so it seems more rigid than it was before. Hopefully this one lasts longer than a month. I also took this opportunity to change the gear box oil, hopefully minimising the resistance on the speedo drive gear to prevent any further cable breakages.

 

[TMITS]

Thanks for confirming, will put the new one in the right way round this time!

Out of interest, does anyone have a diagram of the route the cable is supposed to take in the engine bay? Perhaps I routed it incorrectly and it's going round too tight of a corner, which would stress the cable a bit more. I have it coming straight up out of the gearbox between a few pipes/hoses that are in that area, under the spare wheel, then turning left to go round the back of the cabin air box, then right through the bulkhead into the speedo.

Hey Toby,
I wondered if you found the answer to this?
Any advise or instructions, as I think I may need to replace mine.

Thank you!

 

[tobywood13]

Hey Toby,
I wondered if you found the answer to this?
Any advise or instructions, as I think I may need to replace mine.

Thank you!

Hi, I didn’t find a diagram or any specific guide on routing the cable, but the way I’ve got it now appears to be working. It’s difficult to photograph, but I’ve included one for you to look at.

Basically, it comes straight up behind the brake booster, then underneath where the jack sits, then left and under the bottom of the big air box, before going through the firewall to the speedo cluster. From the air box on the route is pretty much determined by corners, it’s only the first bit immediately out of the gearbox that can be changed a bit.