Please could you give me the benefit of your decades (collectively!) of wisdom.
My 360 has a snapped speedo cable, plus I've just swapped the wheels for ones with a slightly larger rolling radius (pics soon). I emailed Speedy Cables for advice on what to do, and the answer came back:
"Volvo used different manufacturers for speedos so it depends on which type you have to determine whether it can be re-calibrated. If it cannot be re-calibrated you would need to fit a corrector box within the cable. We would need to see the cable to see what end fittings are required. Suggest you send us both items so we can see what is required. You will need the cable to enable you to do the calculations for the revised speedo calibration."
I'm not a spanner-head, but I could probably get someone to give me a hand & get the old cable out if needed. Would like to have an accurate speedo - too many cameras around here for my liking
If I'm right in thinking (could be wrong!) that the larger the rolling diameter, the speedo should over read rather than under read, meaning at speed cameras you'll more than likely slow down a little too much rather than be going too fast. It's an exaggerated effect too, so the faster you're going the more out it will be. On my 360 I'm running tyres and rims that have a larger rolling diameter than standard, but not by much, and with GPS Sat Nav I found it to be only a couple of mph out at 70 mph, not forgetting that you must allow for some degree of inaccuracy in a speedo anyway, they are more inclined to over read normally anyway.
My bet would be to get a new standard cable for your car, firstly what year is it? It's a pretty simple task to swap the cable over, trace if from the wheel back and you can put it onto the back of the instrument cluster without removing it if you lay in the footwell of the car and reach up with the lower guard panel removed. It's a screw bayonet fitting on the VDO clusters for sure. Then, I'd see if you can borrow a GPS sat nav from someone and just see how far out it actually is. If they aren't silly sizes too big compared to standard size rolling diameter, then I doubt it will be much to worry about! If it is enough to be a pain, then I'd try the recalibration route. Anything after around 85ish, is a VDO cluster if it's got red marks on the rev gauge for the redline, and the top speed is 120 on the speedo it's VDO, if it's all white marking on the rev gauge and the speedo markings are odd numbers only and 110 is the highest speed shown then it's a Smiths.
I notice you're in the South East, I'm between Aylesbury and Oxford if you need a hand.
Pete
G reg 360 GLT, G reg 340 GL Variomatic, plus many more..........
I believe larger (overall) diameter wheel will give a lower-than-true reading...the speedo makes a certain reading per rotation per second, so if the car is covering more distance per rotation, will it not be going faster than it 'thinks' it is?
I totally agree that checking the degree of error using a GPS-type device is the way forward.
Ahhh, yes, very true James, thinking cap wasn't on after the long day I'd had. Yes, I was getting confused, the drifters on the smaller than standard rolling diameters will experience over read. Simple gearing principles.
Pete
G reg 360 GLT, G reg 340 GL Variomatic, plus many more..........
As to increasing the roling radius dont worry at all about the spedo. From experiance 300 series spedos normany dispaly between 5 - 10% fast. Increasing the r/r should help to correct the problem.
I'd decided that the speedo would under-read, too, based on bigger wheel = further with each revolution. Wheels aren't that much bigger (forget off hand the tyre size, but they're 14"), so you're right - it probably isn't worth going the recalibration route. Will try to 'borrow' someone with GPS to sort out the speeds - didn't know GPS systems did that.
Current cable is snapped, so can't see how far out the speedo might be at present - have been driving using revs for speed (as per other thread), but slightly bigger wheels have thrown out all my workings, and it's MOT time soon!
Will report back on VDO/Smiths speedo. Believe it's a VDO - 1989 360 hatch.
Here's a useful website. Put in the tyre details of you old tyres and your new ones, and it'll tell you by how much the spedo is out http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html
Thanks to Mick for finding the link in the first place
hello to all!!
i allso have a prob. with the speedometer cable on my 340 dl,it snaped!
i've changed it,(i have an identical car for spare parts ,so i took the cable from it ) and it snaped again!
was it because it was old or because i have other problem on the mechanism for speed measuring situated in the wheel or because i haven't fited it properly?
and bigger prob!!!!! i can't seem to find a new cable ,i went to every shop in town!!!! can u tell me if the cable from other car than volvo fits? cause i badly need it, and one dealer said it can bring it but will cost a fortune cause it's original from nederlands and the shipping costs will be extreme!
Dai put me onto a guy in North Wales who is great. He really pulls out the stops to find the parts you need and will post them out to where ever you are. I'm sure he can help you. All genuine Volvo parts so not the cheapest, but you tend to get what you pay for.
Classicswede wrote:If you call Slaters on 01745 828251 and speak to John in the parts department he will be able to help you.
Depending on the age of the car, you might need to fit an adaptor on the wheel end of the cable, I forget the details, but it's pretty straight forward.
Cheers
'85 360GLT Mk2 3 Door B19E - SOLD
'94 L400 Mitsubishi Delica LWB
If it's the plastic piece which connects the cable to the hub cover/cap, you're quite right - there are two versions to suit the two different profiles of speedo cable. If your existing plastic clip doesn't fit your new cable...get the new clip to match...job done
Is Slaters a dealership Dai / Aaron? If so, it's good that they're putting some effort in!
