I have a 1988 xj with the cable driven speedometer.
It unscrewed itself from the connector that connects the speedo/odo cable to the cable off the transfer case. So I screwed it back in and it worked! Awesome! But then the square cable part at the transfer case broke off! It broke off high enough to pull out so I did. I then got a replacement cable, cut it to length, screwed it in both ends and now it will not work. I have tried every witch way of plugging it in and read every thread but it seems no one has had this problem.
The back round connector that connects the needle side to the transfer case side is hollow I noticed. And both ends of the cables are square, so is there possibly a connector inside there that connects both ends? I can turn the speedometer end of the cable and the needle moves, so that's not the problem. Does any body have any idea? Thanks so much, I hate not knowing how far Iv driven on my tanks of gas.
Here's pics

 

Bump

 

Is the new cable to long to properly fit inside the coupler, is the ID of the coupler stripped out?

 

Does cable end turn from transfercase when driving?

 

Didn't think about that one, I'll check. It seems it just turns in there

 

Yessir

 

I have the very same problem with my '86 XJ. It's part of the reason I joined up today. My speedo doesn't work at all. The speed sensor for the cruise control is supposed to have 2 square holes for the cables to slip into. Mine have been rounded out to something a whole lot less than square - more like round. I have a wrecking yard close by and plan to visit it tomorrow, but was toying with the idea of trying to fix mine.
My idea was to use a hot melt glue to fill the void (hole) and then when cool to take a nail hammered square and heat it and insert to form a square hole again. My only reservations on this fix is the glue is going to be a lot softer than the plastic and would wear out quickly.
Has anyone attempted a McGyver repair like this before?