Strangely my speedo has stopped working. I disconnected the angle drive form the transmission and connected a drill in reverse and the speedo does work. I checked, cleaned and lubricated the cable. When driving in reverse I noticed that the trip part of the gauge is actually going backwards ever so slightly. After I noticed it I drive the car around the block a few times in reverse to equal 1km and sure enough the trip reversed. I'm very confused....

Anyone have any good ideas? FYI my car speedo is cable driven not electric.m

Cheers,
Adam

 

Not sure if your 1979 model is like mine, but the earlier cars do have an angle drive, behind the speedometer. Had to replace mine, with same symtoms.

 

I removed the speedo and checked the angle drive behind. It was turning while in reverse but not while driving forward. I disconnected the angel drive and held the cable as I drove. It did not turn while driving forward. It did work while in reverse.

So as far as I can tell from speedo to transmission angle drive the car is working as it should. I removed the gear from the transmission and inspected. It looks looks fine. If I turn the gear it rotates as it should going to the angle drive. Could there be an issue inside the transmission?

Thanks Adam

 

Are you positively sure that the cable is good?
If it is good, then something wrong on the trans.

 

I attached my drill to the end of the angle drive that connects to the transmission. The speedo worked normally. I'm wondering if the gear inside the transmission could have slipped.

Looks like this could be a great excuse to upgrade to the T700 overdrive...

 

Great suggestion!
Heck! Put a 5-speed stick!

 

If it was a coupe I would believe me....

 

It isn't all that unusual for the speedo gears at/in the transmission to wear out.

Google 'speedo gear apple core'.

Cheers
DD