The speedometer on my wife's 98 jeep wrangler acts erratic?

Question

The speedometer on my wife's 98 jeep wrangler acts erratic when she turns either left or right, what do I check??

Answer 1

Sounds odd but lube the cable first.
Then if still a problem.
Look under Jeep to see if debris is pressing on cable to trans. Check motor mounts to see if loose.

Answer 2

A 98 wrangler does not have a cable. It's an electronic speedometer. It's run by a little gear driven sensor on the rear output shaft of the transfer case. It could be loose or have a broken gear (plastic). Check to make sure it's tight because fluid could leak if it's not. You'll find it on the left hand side of the transfer case right where the rear drive shaft comes out.

Answer 3

There was an issue with the instrument cluster on early TJ's (i.e., 98 Wrangler). There is an electrical connector (lots of flat metal pins in a plastic frame) that the instrument cluster "plugs" into, then four screws hold the cluster in place. The pins were slightly too small and would intermittently stop making contact with the "female" part of the connector on the back of the instrument cluster.

The fix is to remove the instrument cluster:
• start with the plastic trim piece along the base of the windshield, with the defroster opening in it. Gently pry the plastic trim piece up with a screwdriver or (better) a wooden tongue depressor. It is held in with simple clips.
• remove two screws at the top of the instrument cluster bezel (black plastic "frame" around the instrument cluster), and two more screws on the plastic below the instrument cluster bezel (1 is near the headlight switch).
• remove the instrument cluster bezel, and you'll see four screws holding the instrument cluster in place. Remove those four screws.

Now gently pull out the instrument cluster, and look for the electrical connector with a array of metal pins in it.

Take a pair of needle nose pliers and gently give each pin a very slight twist, maybe 10 degrees.

Plug the instrument cluster back in, screw it back in, reinstall the bezel, and the trim piece along the bottom of the windshield.

Answer 4

Check to see if there is an external speedometer cable going from the tranny or transfer case to the dash. If so, lube the heck out of it! It might be binding up.

Answer 5

I think the speedo cable needs lube.

Answer 6

if you went to a bigger size tire the speedo will not be rite again