Saudade

Been a while since another Renix XJ came into a local yard. When one does, I generally go and pick off a few spares that I can't find through the usual parts outlets.

Today was a small haul but an important one. My speedometer has been acting up for a while. If goes from not working at all (zero MPH regardless of speed), to jumping around quite a bit, to working perfectly, sometimes all on the same trip. I've had it apart several times trying to fix it (typically by adding some lube). It then works for a few days and then starts acting up again. During the Renix years, the speedo is mechanical so only a few model years will work. Mine also has cruise control so the speedo cable is in 2 parts with the CC speed sensor joining them. The last "compatible" XJ showed up like 9 months ago but someone had gotten there first and took the cluster. This time I was quick enough.

So I grabbed the cluster, the short speedo cable, the CC sensor, the center console armrest, the power mirror switch and those small trim pieces that fit over the grab handles. Once I got the cluster out, I gave the cable a quick spin by hand and the needle moved smoothly. The ODO shows 40K miles more than mine so I'll just put a small sticker under to indicate the "offset". I have no idea of the other gauges work properly but mine do so I'll swap the speedo out if I have to. Otherwise, I'm just going to swap the cluster.

Corky

Nice score... That's the fun of a boneyard run... You never know what you'll see... And usually I never have the right tool to get it off when I find something...lol....I have a lifetime supply of fuses,relays, etc... But some of the stuff is elusive and worth the trip...

Saudade

The fun and the fury. You either drag 50 lbs of tools into the back of the yard hoping for something and it's not there (never was or already taken). Or you take a small handful of tools, find something cool and decide to come back tomorrow, and it's gone by then.

The XJ on this trip had the factory swing out spare tire carrier. It all worked and appeared to have all the parts and was in good shape. Since I was primarily after the cluster and seat bases (looking for power but it didn't have it), I had only a small handful of tools. As I was finishing up, another guy showed up for the XJ. Nice guy, we chatted a bit. He was looking for a tilt steering column. This XJ didn't have one. Then he spotted the tire carrier. As I left, we was preparing to remove it.

awg

This was brutal

see a dude in a servo with an XJ on a flatbed trailer one evening, good choice I say, $100 he says, its a '96 same as mine, failed rego due to moderate rust

do you want to on sell, $800 he says, I already have a spare was 650, I say no mate but what about some parts?

here is the worst part...off to the crusher next early morning

nothing I could do

****

Saudade

TL;DR

I swapped out the cluster yesterday. Had a few issues (read on if curious). Otherwise done. Slight twitch in needle but reading consistent with GPS (WAZE). Good for now

<Verbose/on>

Well, I swapped out the cluster yesterday. I had checked each bulb first to make sure they were OK, they were. I used the short speedo cable to give the speedo a quick twist with my fingers to make sure the needle moved, it did.

So on with the swap. Generally the hardest part is getting the CC speed sensor connected once the cluster is in place. Seemed the spirits were smiling and got it on the first try. Then with all the dash switches still dangling from the harnesses, off for a quick loop to verify the speedo works OK. Well, it turned out the speedo needle jumped pretty wildly and I never went over 15 mph. Sigh!! So out it comes again.

Now I had this issue with my old one before. It turned out to be all the old grease and dust in the mechanism that causes mine to bounce. So I figured I should dissect the speedo and give it a good internal clean. Before I took it apart, I connected my drill to the cable and gave it a spin. Sure enough, it jumped all over the place. Wish I had done this before installing the cluster. After carefully cleaning the plastic gears and applying some light grease very sparingly, Before putting it back in the cluster, I attached my drill to the speedo cable and gave it a whirl. This time the needle was steady. My drill could crank it up to about 25-17 MPH. As I watched the trip odometer move, I noticed how subdued they appears. so I grabbed a bunch of swabs and some alcohol to clean them up. That made quite a difference.

Well back in the cluster. Those smiling spirits were now laughing, I just couldn't get the large nut on the speedo cable on without cross threading. If you've worked under the dash, you know how cramped it is in there. I was getting ready to remove the front seat when I tried one more time and got it. Whew! Finally, the the cluster goes back in the dash, then another loop with all the switches still dangling. The needle did twitch ever so slightly back and forth but only about the width of the needle. Since the needle was steady on the bench, I'm gonna assume it's the cables or the speed sensor. While the cluster was out, I did clean and regrease the short cable, and sprayed some WD down the long cable. Perhaps it will steady out after a few miles. Anyway, back home and finished buttoning everything up. All the dash lights work, illumination, blinkers etc.

Finally out for a longer run to verify speed against WAZE. Aside from the slight twitch, it was spot on. So I'll run it as is for now and see if the twitch settles down. I had hoped to find a speedo a bit closer in mileage to my old one. This one is Plus 40K. I'll put a small sticked on the dash with the date of the swap and the mileage difference. No plans to sell but will need the numbers for my upcoming smog check and car insurance renewals. After only averaging 2K miles a year for several years now, 40K is a big jump.

<Verbose/off>