I've got a '97 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 3.4L, with a speedo cable, prior to when it went digital. I've replaced the speedo cable twice and still have the same issue. High pitched speed dependent whine when truck is cold. It appears as if the problem has resulted in damage to the gage itself, as the needle now sits below the 0 mph mark and is always off in calibration regardless of whether the truck is whining or not. The needle jumps around when the truck is whining.

My idea is that the gauge has gone bad, which is what is causing the cables to go bad?

Any tips are appreciated. I'm hoping to not have to replace too many good parts before I figure out what the culprit is.

 

Have you tried a cable luber? I havent had issues with toyota cables but a bunch of old chevys with a dancing speedo and this was just what the doctor

ordered

 

Negative, haven't tried this. If the cables were new going in, would lubrication help?

 

Hummm.... I did not know early Tacomas had speedometer cables.

My best guess as to what happened is the old speedometer cable was binding which messed up the gauge. When you installed a new cable, you still had a bad gauge.

Make sure the cable is installed tightly at both connections.

I have never replaced a cable but I would think a new cable would be pre-lubricated.

Are your new cables going bad too? Any tight bends or places where the cable could get pinched?