speedo odo oh no

[86vert]

so my speedometer and odometer dont work i dont have much idea about electric any ideas of what or where to check its an 86 nissan pickup (720)

Edited November 10, 2008 by 86vert

[datzenmike]

The only thing electric about your speedometer is the bulb that lights up the dash at night. The speedometer is mechanically driven by a cable connected to the transmission. It's likely the speedometer cable is broken.

 

Inspect the cable where it travels under the passenger side. If it is kinked or broken or the outer plastic covering is torn off, just replace it. If you can get at the transmission on your '86, the speedo cable is at the back on the passenger side. Use a pair of pliers to loosen the connection and unscrew by hand. Inside the thick outer sheath is a small cable that looks like a tightly coiled spring and is very slippery and flexible. The transmission end of the cable will have an end crimped onto it that locks it to the speedometer drive cog in the transmission. Just disengage from the transmission and then pull it gently out of the outer sheath. The cable is about 4-6 feet long so be ready for it and keep it clean. If the cable is frayed or rusty replace it. If it looks OK the dash end of the cable will be square shape to fit into the gauge. The dash end of the cable has a small plastic clip that you squeeze to release, you might want to check that it's connected and hasen't fallen off. It's hard to get your hand in there so you may have to unscrew the dash instrument cluster and pull toward the steering wheel a bit.

 

Replacement speedo cables come complete with outer sheath and inner cable and ar about $20. If you have a 4X4 get one for a 4X4 it's much longer than the 2wd.

Edited November 10, 2008 by datzenmike

[86vert]

alright thanks when i get some time this week ill check it out

[datzenmike]

720 convertible? how cool is that! Post a picture of it. Did you get TBI in yours or carb?

[86vert]

thanks i posted it in the pictures of your truck thread on page 22 its carb this is my first nissan so i dont kow a whole lot about it i believe the engine is a z24 but do you know why it has 8 spark plugs

[Nissan_Boy85]

If i remember right it was something about reduced emissions. The dual plugs in each cylinder was to burn off any access fuel...I think.

[datzenmike]

Two plugs will reduce the time needed to burn the fuel, thus there is less time at high cylinder temperatures when oxides of nitrogen are formed. The shorter burn time is reflected in the initial timing advance. A single plug L20Bs timing is 12 degrees BTDC The Z24s timing is 3-5 degrees. A second benefit of dual plugs is that it can consume large amounts of EGR and run very lean mixtures without a poor idle.

 

If your 'carb' air filter has a single wing nut holding it on then you do have a carburetor, if it has two wing nuts then your truck was built close to mid 1986 and received the new TBI fuel injection that went into the next generation D-21 Hardbody truck that replaced the 720. An '86.5 720 with TBI is not very common and many books don't list it.

Edited November 10, 2008 by datzenmike