Speedometer bouncing

[MrBib2000]

1994 Tempo, auto, 141K miles. Speedometer needs to "warm up". Stays bottomed on zero until driven a mile or more, then it starts bouncing from zero to what is probably my actual speed. During this time there is slight pulsing from the transmission that is in time with the needle jumping. Cruise control doesn't work during this time. No noise from cable (my 68 LeSabre did this and made a god-awful screeching until it smoothed out). Eventually it smooths out, the transmission stops surging and cruise works.
My questions are:
1. Is this caused by the speedometer cable or the drive gear?
2. Are there two speedometer cables (one to a speed sensor for the cruise/engine management) and one from there to the speedometer?
3. How hard is to change the drive gear?

Thanks for your time.

[theoldwizard]

Originally Posted by MrBib2000

My questions are:
1. Is this caused by the speedometer cable or the drive gear?

Probably cable.

2. Are there two speedometer cables (one to a speed sensor for the cruise/engine management) and one from there to the speedometer?

One cable. 2 pieces. I believe there is location in the middle where the cruise control pickup is located.

3. How hard is it to change the drive gear?

Usually pretty easy. It is right under the location where the cable plugs into the trans. Those gears almost never go bad. They are made out of some indestructible nylon material.

Best place for Contour questions is contour.org

[mark v]

NAPA sells Cable lubricant. Pull the cable off the back of the speedometer and squirt some down the cable, it will work its way down to the transmission. This should stop your bouncing cause it has always worked for me.

P.S. do not squirt this into the speedometer housing, it is only for cables.

[MrBib2000]

Thanks for the quick replies. I figured it was probably the cable. Used to have to pull and lube the Buick's yearly. I'll try it next week.

[ajpletcher]

Originally Posted by theoldwizard

Usually pretty easy. It is right under the location where the cable plugs into the trans. Those gears almost never go bad. They are made out of some indestructible nylon material.

I wodent say never, my 73 chevy eat one pretty bad once ... twice then i replaced the gear and all was well