My car sat for nearly 20 years before I got it back in the road within the last couple years.

A few hundred miles after recommissioning, I've started to notice a slight squeak coming from the speedometer.  I don't know if it's the cable or the gauge, itself. It's not a constant squeal, but a periodic squeak that increases in frequency with speed, then eventually becomes unnoticeable at higher speeds. 

I'm going with the assumption that it's the cable; and that the squeal is related to the amount of time it sat stationary. With that, I think lubricating the cable might be a good starting point.

Has anyone had to lubricate their speedo cable?  Do I need to remove the cable from the car (I hope not)? Do I need to remove the core wire from the cable? Is there any particular grease that's better than another?

...or am I barking up the wrong tree, and should I be looking inside the speedometer, itself?

Edited August 7, 20222 yr by BrianK

My bet would be on the noise coming from the cable. If you can detach the cable from the back of the speedo and get some oil down the cable if this doesn't cure the squeak it'll just leave the speedo itself.

Remove the trim to the gauges, unscrew the fascia to get access, just, the the back of the speedo. May be able to get access removing the trim above the footwell.

I oil cables by making a little "Blue-tac" funnel around the cable and suspending it with string to something higher.

Pete