Hi Joel:

Thanks for the tip, but you misunderstood what I'm saying. When I was
removing the original speedometer cable, the outer plastic sheeting tore
inside the spindle hole and is still in there. The rest of the cable came
out (the metal helical looking outer covering) and the cable itself. It's
the plastic sheeting that was left stuck in the hole. Does that make more
sense? I will attempt to remove the dust cover and see if I can get at it
from the outside of the wheel. Certainly much easier than going at it from
the other direction. The fact that it's buried inside there  is going to
make life real interesting. Sometimes these simple little projects turn into
nightmares. Thanks for the response. By the way, my original speedometer
cable had a cotter pin through its end, the new one is set up for a C or E
clip. I really didn't need to hear that they are a pain to find. I guess a
call to Go Westy or the Bus Depot is in order. Here I thought I can just
grab one at the local hardware store. This is just getting more fun by the
moment!

Troy

----- Original Message -----
From: "joel walker" <jwalker17@earthlink.net>
To: "Troy" <colorworks@gci.net>
Sent: Monday, February 05, 2007 5:45 PM
Subject: Re: [VANAGON] speedometer cable installation question

> suggestions on the best way to go about getting the old cable out of
> there? I'm assuming that removing the dust cap is in order, and pulling it
> through the outside instead of trying to push it through. Does the dust
> cap just pop off or how is it attached? Any suggestions here how to
> proceed would be appreciated.
>
> the dust cap just pries off (and rubber-mallet taps back on).
>
> but the speedo cable end is stuck through the left front dust cap, so you
> don't really need to take the dust cap off. there should be a blob of
> grease in the middle of the dust cap, on that left front wheel, and under
> the grease is the little end of the cable, secured by a c-clip. be extra
> careful to NOT lose that c-clip!!! it's a pain to find another one that
> fits right. :(
>
> anyway, you wipe most of the grease off, remove the c-clip with pliers,
> and then the speedo cable pulls through to the INside (toward the
> middle/spare tire).
>
> now, if it's a Syncro vanagon, the speedo goes into the front
> differential, i think. has nothing to do with the front wheels at all
> (cause the front wheels of a syncro have driveshafts in the middle).
>
> note that there are TWO cables ... on u.s. models, anyway. there's a
> little black box in between the two cables. the box is located on the big
> frame member, on the left side of the spare tire. it's a counter-box to
> turn on the OXS light on your dash console. just run off the odometer ...
> has absolutely NOTHING to do with anything on the engine. it was
> originally designed to alert the driver to take the bus in to the dealer
> service dept to have the oxygen sensor (OXS) checked. vw thought the
> sensors would last only 60,000 miles, so that's what the box counts. but
> the sensors lasted a LOT longer, and people got kinda mad at the light
> coming on, so dealers started cutting the wires to the box to permanently
> keep the light off. otherwise, you have to locate and press a reset button
> on that little box.
>
> hope it helps. good luck!
> joel
>