Thread: “Ticking” behind dash

I have a similar noise in my 1988 RRC. It is worse in the cold weather but usually goes away after about 10 minutes. In warm weather doesn't do it at all. Been doing it for a few years. I have always assumed it's something to do with the speedo.

If the speedo on these is driven by a cable AFAIR there is a right angle gear just inside the firewall which can dry out and or lose gears.

Also the odometer drive is a nylon arm which pushes the numbers around and it can get dry and also lose its gears . You could rebuild it with UV dried epoxy and a very small file or it may be that the grease on the shaft running under the cable has dried out..
You could also pull the cable out from the transfer case end and add some moly grease of similar but that will not help the first 2 issues..
Regards PhilipA

Sounds like speedo drive...could have come loose or be dry. You could verify tightness by removing the back of the instrument cluster (a sort of clam shell) then put your hand around the back to check it's threaded on tight.

Thanks gentlemen, this confirms my suspicions. I will see if it’s loose or dry, I will replace a bit later on but need to quiet it down for now.

does it sound like the cable or the trip meter stuck? the trip meter is a distinct "click".