89 celica speedo cable leak--help

[tspieker]

I have an 89 celica gt with cruise control. My speedometer cable started leaking a lot of oil. At first I thought it was just degraded grease oozing out but it keeps coming. I also replaced the upper portion (2-piece) of the cable thinking the new packed grease cable would stop any oil movement up the cable. I didn't make it 20 miles before all the grease had been pushed out of the cable and oil is now running out. It also does not look like transmission fluid as I would expect but could just be discolored from moving up the greasy cable. It is more of a dark carmel color. Anyone know what will fix the problem. I am concerned that just replacing both portions of the cable won't work if there is a seal I don't know about that keeps the transmission fluid pressure from pushing the grease out. Is the seal in the bottom portion of the cable? Or is there another seal/component that needs replacing. I have the two cable portions ordered (guess the previous upper portion is waste since all the grease is pushed out--????).

any help appreciated -- do you think only replacing the lower portion will work?

[lloydjv]

Man, i wish i could help you with this. Mine actually snapped, it was so old, and i just replaced it. That sounds kinda strange. Have you checked your Vehicle speed sensor?

[tspieker]

that is kind of what I was wondering. Does anyone know where the actual seal is between the cable and the tranny? Is it incorporatged in the lower cable or where it attaches to the tranny (I believe with the cruise there is an intermediate piece). I have not taken things appart to see the lower cable and how it attaches. This is a daily driver and I was hoping to get a little information prior to tearing into it. Also don't want to waste another cable (each half is $55 and I am in for 3 so far).

[lloydjv]

i don't know if this will help, but try this website:www.2carpros.com. You might find some useful info there, or yotarepair.com. Good luck.

[tspieker]

Just in case anyone else has this problem-- I was afraid of putting another $100 worth of speedo cable in and having it blow the grease out so I was getting a little desperate for information. About a year ago I had the tranny rebuild so I decided to call the shop and ask them what they knew.

It turns out there is a seal at the interface between the traqnny and the speedo cable. I don't know exactly what it looks like or what needs to be taken apart because the shop was nice enough to offer to replace it free of charge. He said it would only take an hour or so, so it can't be too hard. I didn't even need the new cable I bought so I can return them.

Damn good shop by the way -- Week's Transmission in Augusta GA

[ssmith614]

Unfortunately, I can't offer help as I am having the same problem myself and cannot figure out why it continues to leak. I've replaced all seals in the cable driven gear and the lower cable itself (90 Corolla so I'm assuming same assembly). Did anyone find a solution to this yet? I'd rather not take the car to the shop as it's not really worth spending the money on it.

[tspieker]

Did you replace the seal on the transmission. That was the cause of my leak.