> Thanks, Gary.
>
> I "thought" the speedo operation was something like you describe, but with
>all the
> recent advances (though 1986 *isn't recent), maybe some electrical link (which
> could have intermittence) had been introduced. (the car has some other
>electrical
> intermittencies, like the radio which comes on at random).
>
> While the needle was static the odometer did not move as well.
>
> It boggles my mind. I hate things like this where I can't think of any
>rational
> explanation.
>
> Dave
>
> "Gary K. McCormick" wrote:
>
> > Speedos work by magnetic "drag" between a magnet spun by the cable and the
> > spring-loaded needle (what you see on the dial) via a metal plate. The
>faster
> > the magnet spins, the more force is exerted on the needle, the further the
> > spring is deflected and the more the needle rotates. Could be that a little
>bit
> > of crud or something blocked the needle's movement, and then worked itself
>loose
> > a few miles later.
> >
> > Gary McCormick
> > San Jose, CA
> > SRL311-13291 ? whose speedometer functionality is a moot point at the
>present
> > time ;^)
> >
> > "David R. Conrad" wrote:
> >
> > > > List:
> > > >
> > > > This is *very* OT, and I apologize, but I'm puzzled, and perhaps
> > > > someone can answer this.
> > > >
> > > > My speedometer/odometer suddenly stopped working yesterday, and
> > > > just as suddenly, about 10 miles later started working normally
> > > > again.
> > > >
> > > > If it is, as I've always thought, a strictly mechanical matter, I
> > > > don't understand how that could happen.
> > > >
> > > > The speedometer has been noisy for the last two years or so. I
> > > > went so far as to buy some lubricant, but crawling under the
> > > > dash, couldn't figure out any way to get at the cable. Gave up
> > > > on that and just lived with the noise, figuring i'd take it to a
> > > > GM dealer for repair when it finally gave out.
> > > >
> > > > The car has "cruise control", and I thought that might use an
> > > > independent speed input than the speedometer. Apparently not,
> > > > because, during that period of outage, it wouldn't work either.
> > > > It now does, again
> > > >
> > > > The noise also seems to have gone away.
> > > >
> > > > Can anyone explain how this could happen. A broken cable
> > > > certainly can't repair itself.
> > > >
> > > > Dave
> > > > '68 1600
> > > > Kailua-Kona
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