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Automotive/2001 Dodge Caravan speedometer cable

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Expert: - 12/31/2007


Question
My speedometer cable on my 2001 Caravan Sport broke! I am wondering what kind of labour I should be expecting to fix it. As a woman,I haven't always had the most honest repairman. I was told they could just come up under the steering column and I was also warned they may have to remove the whole dash. Could you give me an idea as to what to expect?

Answer
I understand your situation, and wish I could offer more specific help in this case.  

Generally, the replacement of a speedo cable is fairly straight-forward, although it does involve some getting into awkward positions for some in order to get the needed access.  Some of the cars of the fifties required one to drape their legs over the seat backs in order to have a view and access from the footwell so as to carry out whatever was needed in removing or servicing the instrument cluster.  It generally is much easier on more modern vehicles, my Ford van for example requiring only the removal of five screws and a simple pull to bring out and remove the cluster if required.

That is generally but not universally true.  Many vehicles of the eighties and since have been designed to be put together sequentially by computer-aided manufacturing lines using pick-and-place robotic insertion machines to do most, if not all, the assembly.  The innermost items are assembled first, and the rest of the vehicle put together is succeeding "layers" as more parts are added, until one comes to the outer shell.

This should not preclude thoughtful designers from making sure that access is provided for anticipated servicing and repairs and, for the most routine things, it usually is.  In some cases, however, a disassembly that is a virtual reversal of the assembly process must be performed to access those parts that went on early in the production process.

Such apparently was the case with my wife's 1995 Dodge Grand Caravan when it became necessary to replace the air-conditioning evapourator, and she was quoted eight hours of labour, much of it due to dash and console removal and replacement.  (Having had other issues with this vehicle anyway, she passed on that job and moved on to a Kia Sedona!)

Not having any specific information to the contrary on your Caravan, I can only suggest that it is possible that the labour involved in changing your speedo cable may be higher than it would have been with earlier designs.  On the other hand, a less-than-honest repairman could use the "have to pull the whole dash" story as an excuse for charging a lot more for jobs where the problem just does not apply.

At least one repair shop told you that the cable simply passes through the firewall (as they generally do); presumably, that shop wouldn't expect to charge you any unreasonable amount.

Your best bet is to get more than one quote, and not just from the dealers.  Look for the independent shops of long-standing, that have bee a part of the community over the long term.

Hope this works out for you as simply as it really should!  Regards ... EGK

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Ernest (Ernie) Kenward

Expertise

The challenges I most enjoy are thoughtful technical questions of a trouble-shooting nature in both electrical, power electronic and mechanical systems, mainly automotive but also machine control and small-machine PLC applications. Please note, however, that I am NOT a walking shop manual! I DO, however, make it a point to have those manuals and other service literature for those vehicles I DO own, and highly recommend that anyone serious about maintenance or modification of their vehicles do the same; MOST of your answers WILL be found there. For that matter, I do NOT go out of my way to acquire shop manuals for any vehicle I do NOT own! That being the case, any general query to me along the lines of "What is the meaning of this code read from the ECU of my 2015 XYZ?" or "Where is the fuse for the windshield washer pump found?" (try your car's electrical distribution panel for a start!) will not go far. What I do offer is a pretty good collection of literature, insights and hands-on experience with 1950s to 1980's Ford products (plus a developing database of information and practice with the Mercedes diesel cars), along with an engineering perspective and the ability to design and implement custom control, electrical and mechanical subsystems for vehicles. For that reason, I am happy to make my thoughts and efforts available to those who are of like mind and/or are seriously making a point of learning about their vehicles. Use the Opportunity to Learn!

Experience

A key skill in my work and hobby pursuits both is STRATEGIC TROUBLESHOOTING. I am a senior instructor in Electrical Engineering Technology at a leading Canadian polytechnic, my areas being Electrical Power and Industrial Control, electrical and electronics design and manufacturing, and AutoCAD and related CAD/CAE software - plus equipment problem-solving and new equipment design and prototyping. Hobby-wise, I have 30-plus years of experience in auto restoration, mostly in electrical and mechanical systems. Ongoing projects include a 1959 Edsel Corsair, my 1978 Ford E250 class-B motorhome conversion, and the care and upkeep of my Mercedes 300CD. My vehicles become engineering test beds for electrical and mechanical upgrades as ideas present themselves. This includes the design and production of circuit boards to restore or enhance features for which no OEM replacement parts are obtainable, or where better specifications or reliability can be had via newer concepts. Regarding the E250 RV conversion, I designed and continue to revise a custom power distribution system, managed by a Programmable Controller (PLC); this has made most revisions as easy as uploading new firmware as I develop it. The "mini" PLC is a powerful device for custom automotive control systems. One good example (there are many) would be the Moeller "Easy Relay"; these offer a wealth of control, monitoring and variable-and-status display options for such projects. A good example project which has worked well is that one for my RV noted above, which has been on the job - revised in firmware only - for a decade now. It is a load management and charging control system to avoid the sulfation-induced early failure that often befalls deep-cycle batteries used in RV power applications. The battery installed in 2003 lasted long enough to more tnan pay for the PLC that contributed to its longer life ... and the PLC will be there for the next battery as well!

Organizations
IEEE - senior member ... past WCC Student Activities; SME - senior member ... past chair, greater Vancouver chapter chair 318; Edsel Owners' Club - have served in various capacities on chapter executive during seventies; have been Power and Driveline resource on the Edsel Owners' Club "E-team" for more than a decade.

Education/Credentials
Graduate of UBC

Awards and Honors
Certificates of appreciation from IEEE and SME for work in student and chapter activities

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