GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk2 => Topic started by: Mongoose on 12 February 2011, 17:50
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Hi,
a few weeks ago, I posted a thread about my "clicking" speedo. Having fitted a new cable and a replacement head unit, the situation has improved, though I now get a resonance type noise, especially on the engine braking of hard deceleration - it's even noticable on a floating throttle (I suppose one solution would be to try to keep hard on the gas at all times LOL).
Perhaps of greater concern, it seems that the speedo cable has started to draw up gearbox oil, creating one heck of a mess behind the dash, in the footwell and on the pedals (it smells pretty obnoxious as well). I know that the guys who did the work were finding it difficult to get the noise level down and applied the cable with grease - perhaps this has in some way created a capillary action that is pulling the oil out of the gearbox at the other end of the cable? Or is there a gasket/seal that needs to be fitted that has been overlooked.
Any help on this would be much appreciated as this speedo problem appears to be snowballing.
Many thanks.
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Finally someone else with the same prob. When I did my 16v conv I put a new (pattern) speedo cable in. It did the same, started spewing oil all over the clocks. I smelt it for a while, but it wasn't until it was all over my pedals that I really noticed it.. After a nice clean, tidy wired 16v install its taken so long to clean the oil up, its all in the foam round the column etc. I've still got rags stuffed up there catching the remnants.. All I could find on a search was that someone had 'heard' of this before, but never witnessed it themselves. I removed my cable months ago, so lucky I know what rpm in 5th is equal to what speed. What make was your cable? Mine was in a green and yellow bag, still got it in the shed, jus can't remember make off top of head
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Hi mk2bal,
I bought the cable from Eurocarparts (ref 648440240).
I suspect that the cable itself is not "self lubed" as well as the original VW parts and can certainly start out a bit noisy until they have worn themselves in. I know that the guys who installed it were having problems with noise after fitting it to the replacement head unit. I am going to speak to them next week to try to find the root cause, I will also ask them to fit a new cable with a light application of lubricating oil.
I am wondering whether, in trying to suppresss the noise, they went further than greasing the head end of the cable and also increased the amount of gearbox oil by topping up via the speedo hole (presumably this would increase the lube on the plastic speedo drive at the gearbox end of things?). If this is infact the case, it may be a case of them draining the excess by removing the plug from the side filler hole and allowing it to drain to this level. Perhaps there is an expansion/breather area that has become blocked ( I have done some forum seaching that suggests that this might be the case), forcing the oil up the only way out (the cable) a little like the way the rocker cover gasket sometimes starts to weep where the breather system becomes clogged.
I will let you know how I get on. :smiley:
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Next time try and get a proper VW part...
That magic fairy dust makes all the difference with some parts...
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Hi X4MGS,
do you know if you can still get VW speedo cables; the dealer that I asked told me that they had been obsoleted? :sad:
PS, thanks again for all your guidance on my original thread of a few weeks ago - much appreciated :smiley:
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vw do still sell the cables, theyre about £50 though,so i thought id leave it for now... i think its more down to the way the cable is twisted, it could be the fact mine looks reversed is maybe why its sucking up instead of forcing away. though i still think its a bit odd. the donor car had no sign of oil when i took it all out, so the gearbox breather etc isnt blocked, its just my particular cable. mine came from a local parts place, but could be manufactured by the same people euros get theres from. will check next time i go to the shed. damn expensive for what they are, even pattern one was nearly £30 if i recall
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Didn't some guy called Archimedes suss this out some time ago? :laugh:
(http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x450/Goose1967/Arch_screw.jpg)
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yeah id say thats whats happening... god damn moody cable
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If VW UK don't have any, try VW classic parts in Germany. £50.00 sounds a lot but when you have had to buy 2 after market ones that dont work and cause all this agro... It seem's a cheaper option to me in the long run...
Mongoose... No Worries M8!!
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Ok,
I have done a general search on cars that have experienced this sort of problem...
http://www.teamswift.net/viewtopic.php?t=11929
It sounds as if there is may well be some sort of seal or "O" ring that is needed at the gearbox end of the cable, and when this goes the cable siphons up the oil. A search on this site has yielded up the following as a possbile part number (courtesy of rubjonny).
"171 957 861 B - 020 gearbox speedo seal - 80p+VAT"
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=33909.msg1581429#msg1581429
Hopefully:
1. This part will cure things.
2. It has not been discontinued by VW.
Fingers crossed.
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Yes they should have a seal fitted but it is only to stop oil leaking arround the cable or failing that your issues lie with the pattern cable or gearbox oil level.
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that seal just stops oil leaking out from around the cable :(
i would say this problem could be either poor quality part, box oil is overfilled or the box breathers are blocked. the oil should be level with the filler plug on the end of the box near the green cap. there are 2 breathers, one on top with a plastic cap and another at the front above the massive hex plug behind the clutch cable. its a small slot machined into the housing, tricky to see it
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Will double check my 2nd breather before I try a new cable.. Admittedly I did refill with fresh oil when I did it all, but with the 14mm upper plug out to fill it through, I couldn't have overfilled it cos it comes bk out when upto level.. Reckon it had done a fair bit of oil aswell, it waseverywhere, so if it was 10ml overfiled it shouldn't have taken half a litre out.. Prob gonna do it when I get a recon'd box, as mine seems pretty shagged anyway
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that seal just stops oil leaking out from around the cable :(
i would say this problem could be either poor quality part, box oil is overfilled or the box breathers are blocked. the oil should be level with the filler plug on the end of the box near the green cap. there are 2 breathers, one on top with a plastic cap and another at the front above the massive hex plug behind the clutch cable. its a small slot machined into the housing, tricky to see it
Thanks very much rubjonny. :smiley:
Assuming that the breather is clogged, I was wondering whether the act of unblocking would necessarily deliver the solution without also replacing the cable. My reasoning here is that, even with the pressures reduced, the cable being "loaded" with gearbox oil will mean capillary action taking over and the problem will remain. :undecided:
I've pretty much decided to try to step back from this and go back in with replacement parts where I can: speedo cable, speedo drive, breather sleeve and cap. I will also make sure that the gearbox oil is at the right level and that the vent behind the clutch cable is free.
The parts that I have on order are:
Cable: 192 957 803 B (ex Heritage - you can only get the LHD part via VW classic parts which is 191 957 803 B, I nearly made that mistake :embarassed:)
Speedo drive: (ex GPC I reckon it's the white one that I need for my 140mph clock, but got I also ordered a red one just in case)
Breather cap: 014 301 485 (what the heck - they are pennies)
Breather sleeve: 012 301 474 A (ditto).
Speaking to the parts department at a VAG dealership, we noticed another part that may come into play - an "O" ring (part number 001 301 131). I'm not sure whether this will help or not, but for the pence they cost, I thought there would be no harm in acquiring one. Apparently the assembly explosion does not clearly depict where this "O" ring sits - or whether it will help to suppress the migration of oil. If not it may be the case that a serious clump of grease at the gearbox end of the cable (or indeed at the other end) may be needed to act as a barrier preventing oil from getting in? :undecided:
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not sure what that oring is for (its 001 301 131 btw) but i think its only for the 084 smallblock gearboxes.
dont forget you need the speedo gear circlip: n 900 154 01
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not sure what that oring is for (its 001 301 131 btw) but i think its only for the 084 smallblock gearboxes.
dont forget you need the speedo gear circlip: n 900 154 01
Thanks rubjonny. I've modified my post for the incorrect part number I posted (I hope that this may prevent confusion if anyone does a search).
I've got the circlip on order too. Hopefully, if I replace everything in sight and de-clog the breathers this will solve it. :smiley:
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Well....
hopefully this little adventure is over. The noisiness of the speedo cable is all but gone and it no longer appears to be pulling gearbox oil up into the clocks. :smiley:
I just hope that I have not spoken too soon.
Thanks to all.
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just goes to show, buy cheap, buy twice!
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just goes to show, buy cheap, buy twice!
Why I'm a VAG parts Snob!!
:wink: