1984 cherokee

Hello, Everyone, I have a 1984 Cherokee, And the speedometer dosent work. Could someone tell me what i need to do to fix it? do i Need to get a new cable, or a new speedometer, or if it is something in the transfercase? if anyone can help me that would be great. Thanks

Kyle

First I would take apart your dash and put some di electric grease on all of the cables connected to all of the gages. That should fix the problem. If not come back and let us know.

whowey

Okay... an 84 is completely cable driven. What generally happens here is either A. the gear in the back of the speedometer housing cracks and stops working, or B. The gear in the transfer case cracks and stops working.

Generally the cable doesn't fail.. But you can drive it with a drill if you want to check.

Does it still make a clicking noise in the dash?

1984 cherokee

To reply to whowey, reply, no it dosent make a clicking noise. it dosent do anything at all. It dosent even bounce while driving.

BlueXJ

Whowey was refering to making a clicking while using a drill to attempt to turn the speedo. Can you check the speedo gear where it goes into the tranny? See if that end will turn and what it does at the speedo end (may need two people here) if the speedo is moving then it is the tranny end if not then the dash pod may need to be replaced. They can be repaired but that would require a shop to do so.(expensive) A JY speedo would be cheaper and quicker.

1984 cherokee

Ok, i just checked the to see if the the guage works when i turn the cable with drill, and it dose. dose this mean it needs a new paart in the t-case? or what? thanks

BlueXJ

Yes the speedo gear is held in by a 10mm bolt IIRC and you should mark the location of that part before removal as it is an adjustment. You can then see if it is the speedo gear or the drive for that gear. Both are nylon so either can be bad or stripped. The gear on the end of the cable is easy to replace but the drive gear in the tc is a little more complicated. Cross your fingers and hope it is the speedo cable gear. They are a dealer item but cheap ($10) Let us know what you find. Don't forget to mark the position of that part before removing it from the tc.

1984 cherokee

ok, I will have to check it later, as it was just driven, and is hot. So, I just take off the cable and then there is a bolt that i need to mark and take out?

Where do i get tthe new part?

BlueXJ

The bolt is a hold down you need to mark the part it holds down before removing it. The gear that comes out is a nylon gear and it is a dealer item. They come in different numbers of teeth. The number of teeth coresponds to the gear ratio and tire size to correct the speedo readings.

1984 cherokee

so, where is the bolt? is it under the cable nut?
Could i get the gear at a parts store, like auto zone, shucks, or napa?

1984 cherokee

I just checked it, and the gear, looks good. And i looked in the t-case, and so did the other one, but i didnt get a good look. What next?

BlueXJ

Mine was a little hold down like on a distributor that is adjustable. As for the gear I had to get mine from a dealer. No parts store around me had a clue about where to source that part.

BlueXJ

Thats all I know about it. If they are not bad and the cable moves the speedo then I'm stumped.

xj4life2

possably the drive and the drivin' gear are mal adjusted from the start. If both gears look good and the cable turns this is really the only possability. its sounds to me as if the drivin' gear is not contacting the drive gear in the case.

BlueXJ

Thats what I was thinking but can't see how that is ever gonna happen. Thanks for that, now I feel less stupid for having that thought.