My speedometer stopped working a while ago. I found out that the mechanism in the speedometer got tight and over time the plastic tip inside the cable wore out and broke off.

I replaced the gauge cluster with one of those fancy ones that came with a tach. Everything seems to operate fine on it and it's not tight in the back like the old speedo.

I replaced my speedo cable with one from a 1988 Wrangler, as they don't seem to make one for the XJ anymore. It's longer so it has a little more slack when coming up into the engine compartment but I routed if such a way as to minimize any bends/curves in the cable.

Now with everything all in place, my speedo is jumping around when I drive with like a 15 mph deviation back and forth.

At first I wanted to blame it on the longer cable and cluster, but I am wondering if the speedometer gear might have something to do with it?

Thanks!

 

Nah. Did you grease the cable first?

Play with the cable routing a bit after greasing it with a moly grease.