My '92 Dakota (4x2, Club-cab,V8) has a similar though intermittent problem.
I get the clicking sound and the vibrating needle.
In my case I'm sure it's the speedo. I removed the speedometer and cable
assembly and, by manually turning the cable could see the problem occur.
One of the shafts inside the speedometer unit appears to bind.
But I live with it because it is intermittent and a new speedo is about $270.00.
Sure would be interested in what, if any, solution the dealer comes up with
for your parents truck.
Aaron
Puyallup, WA
>My retired parents in their little trailer pulled by a 1993 Dodge Dakota
>pickup had problem with the Dakota engine stalling.
>Dad took it to a dealership in N.J. The mechanic replaced the AIS motor
>(air speed idle control?) and the "speed sensor".
>It doesn't stall anymore but in replacing this part(s) they temporarily
>removed the speedometer cable. After leaving the dealership
>shop Dad noticed a clicking sound from the speedometer head assembly and
>the speedometer needle was now vibrating.
>It is less apparent at higher speeds but terribly annoying under 30 mph.
>We are concerned that because it sounds like something is now
>"wearing" that the speedometer head is going to fail. I am concerned
>because I've heard rumors in my past that because consumers used to
>illegally disconnect their speedometer cables that they were now designed
>to show a problem after being disconnected. I would assume
>though that since the work my Dad had done was at a dealership that they
>properly reinstalled the speedometer cable.
>Never-the-less, the clicking noise is not tolerable and there IS something
>not right in there now. The dealership was reluctant
>to even look at it when Dad brought it back that same day. They
>disconnected and reconnected the speedometer cable and there is no change.
>It still vibrates and clicks. What to do next?
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