Expert: Roger J.M. Warrington - 3/17/2007

Question
QUESTION: I have just bought a 1977 Monte Carlo to give to my son as a first car. The speedometer does not work. What do I need to look for to troubleshoot. Also, the Shift indicator is not showing any indicator, but the transmission is just fine. How is that replaced & fixed? I had one of these cars as my first "new" showroom car I bought, and I want to get this one as a project car we can work on together.

Thanks in advance for your help!
ANSWER: Don
You might just have a broken cable. and the shift indicator lamp might just be burnt out. the cable is in back of the speedometer it unscrews and the other end is at the driver side of the transmission remove and see if the cable is broken. as far as the shift lamp, you will have to reach in back of the dash and remove the bulb.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: On the Shift Indicator, it is the actual orange indicator that shows the gear selected. The indicator is actually not showing, it is missing.

Thanks

Answer
Don;
HI  if it is missing , you might be lucky and find in  on the bottom of the shift Handel , you will have to take it apart to do this, but first check for a place that sells the part, it might be even easy to make it , a piece of wire-i.e. coat hanger painted orange,etc. what ever will fit in the application. If you look in a tech  book at the library you should find a step by step instruction on how to remove  the part. ok