(need help) can't remove speedo surround
Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2017 4:12 pm
Hi folks, I have a 1986 registered (but 1984 according to Honda's parts computer), non-turbo convertible. Imported from Japan into NZ in 1990.
The kmilage is huge, can only guess how many times the 5 digit odo has been around the clock. I'm assuming it's about 250,000 kms or 350,000 kms . The main engine block and 5 speed gearbox are all original as far as I know. I've had the car almost 9 years and had the clutch and timing belt replaced soon after I bought it.
Speedo and odo suddenly crapped out about 8 months ago. Having replaced speedo cables on other cars before I thought it'd be an easy fix. I first had a go and tried wrestling the plastic surround off of the speedo/tacho about Nov 2016 , but alas no success. So I gave up.
Fortunately when in January 2017, I went for the accursed 6-monthly "WOF" (aka Gestapo of fitness) the technician inspecting it did not notice the speedo NOT working as he drove it up and down off the hoist. So it passed inspection then.
My 6-monthly inspection is coming around again, and when they fill in the paperwork and website they'll become suspicious if I have done exactly 000 kms over 6 months ! 500kms is believable ("I only drive it on warm sunny Sunday afternoons, officer"). 000 kms recorded since last inspection is going to bring up red flags.
There is a City workshop manual pdf eslewhere on this forum, which shows removing 4 screws which I have done. NOYE that the picture shows the earlier 1983 model which has a single large speedo dial. My model has the paired smaller dials of a speedo and tacho. Note these are both mechanical gauges driven by rotating cables (NOT a digital display which some turbo models may have had).
I still cannot even remove the plastic surround (depicted on the manual's pdf as removing by pulling rearwards, towards the steering wheel).
Therefore I cannot wiggle the gauges and the plate they mount to rearward enough to unclip the speedo outer cable from the back of the speedo.
NOTE also I notice that whereas other cars' speedo cables usually run between 1 and 2 metres long, the Honda City's is probably less than half a metre as it connects into the top of the gearbox housing, visible looking from above under the bonnet.
Although new cables are NOT available to buy in NZ , from Honda, or Repco, or Supercheap Auto, but those Automotive demi-gods at PARROTT AUTOMOTIVE INSTRUMENTS can make up new cables for anything if you supply the old broken one for them to copy. They said the price usually about NZ $ 45 for just a new inner cable, or $90 if it needs a new outer as well. Not sure if mine would be cheaper if it's shorter than average. I expect to pay for a new outer for mine. Since the earthquake they moved to 124a Wordsworth Street, Christchurch, but they've been in continuous business for over 40 years and they're pretty much legendary amongst motoring enthusiasts hereabouts.
However they only deal with gauges/cables once YOU have extracted them from the car.
If anyone has any clue as to what I'm doing wrong, please post a reply here or message me. I'll try to film a short video showing things tomorrow and upload it and put a link here.
Please hurry, I need the speedo fixed so I can (run up a few kms and then...) take it for inspection again soon (and with enough time remaining on the old "WOF" to get fixed, any new things they reckon are wrong with it. This car is my daily driver.
cheerio from Catherine in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The kmilage is huge, can only guess how many times the 5 digit odo has been around the clock. I'm assuming it's about 250,000 kms or 350,000 kms . The main engine block and 5 speed gearbox are all original as far as I know. I've had the car almost 9 years and had the clutch and timing belt replaced soon after I bought it.
Speedo and odo suddenly crapped out about 8 months ago. Having replaced speedo cables on other cars before I thought it'd be an easy fix. I first had a go and tried wrestling the plastic surround off of the speedo/tacho about Nov 2016 , but alas no success. So I gave up.
Fortunately when in January 2017, I went for the accursed 6-monthly "WOF" (aka Gestapo of fitness) the technician inspecting it did not notice the speedo NOT working as he drove it up and down off the hoist. So it passed inspection then.
My 6-monthly inspection is coming around again, and when they fill in the paperwork and website they'll become suspicious if I have done exactly 000 kms over 6 months ! 500kms is believable ("I only drive it on warm sunny Sunday afternoons, officer"). 000 kms recorded since last inspection is going to bring up red flags.
There is a City workshop manual pdf eslewhere on this forum, which shows removing 4 screws which I have done. NOYE that the picture shows the earlier 1983 model which has a single large speedo dial. My model has the paired smaller dials of a speedo and tacho. Note these are both mechanical gauges driven by rotating cables (NOT a digital display which some turbo models may have had).
I still cannot even remove the plastic surround (depicted on the manual's pdf as removing by pulling rearwards, towards the steering wheel).
Therefore I cannot wiggle the gauges and the plate they mount to rearward enough to unclip the speedo outer cable from the back of the speedo.
NOTE also I notice that whereas other cars' speedo cables usually run between 1 and 2 metres long, the Honda City's is probably less than half a metre as it connects into the top of the gearbox housing, visible looking from above under the bonnet.
Although new cables are NOT available to buy in NZ , from Honda, or Repco, or Supercheap Auto, but those Automotive demi-gods at PARROTT AUTOMOTIVE INSTRUMENTS can make up new cables for anything if you supply the old broken one for them to copy. They said the price usually about NZ $ 45 for just a new inner cable, or $90 if it needs a new outer as well. Not sure if mine would be cheaper if it's shorter than average. I expect to pay for a new outer for mine. Since the earthquake they moved to 124a Wordsworth Street, Christchurch, but they've been in continuous business for over 40 years and they're pretty much legendary amongst motoring enthusiasts hereabouts.
However they only deal with gauges/cables once YOU have extracted them from the car.
If anyone has any clue as to what I'm doing wrong, please post a reply here or message me. I'll try to film a short video showing things tomorrow and upload it and put a link here.
Please hurry, I need the speedo fixed so I can (run up a few kms and then...) take it for inspection again soon (and with enough time remaining on the old "WOF" to get fixed, any new things they reckon are wrong with it. This car is my daily driver.
cheerio from Catherine in Christchurch, New Zealand.