If the needle is sticking, the speedometer head in the cluster is bad. There's no
cable on this car, but it is analog.

On Jun 28, 11:12 pm, kb1...@gmail.com wrote:

I think that a 1996 *does* have a speedo cable and mechanical
speedometer.  In any case, the cable will not cause the speedo to
stick in place.  I have had this era Escort speedo head apart before
and found the head to be the cause of the chattering noise, not the
cable.  The head is extremely expensive, so I carefully sprayed a lube
product from Wurth into the drive bushing.  I don't recall the name of
the lube, but it is designed to spray out thin, then set up thicker
within a minute.  THis particular speedo head has been noise-free for
years now.  Unfortunately, that won't cure the needle sticking.  If
the pointer is actually rubbing on the gauge face, you could take out
the gauge cluster, remove the front lens, and attempt to pull up on
the pointer to lift it somewhat on its shaft.  Use exteme caution
doing this.  You could also attempt to straighten the pointer, but
that would likely end in a bent shaft no matter how careful you are.

Toyota MDT in MO

I don't think you're supposed to lube speedo cables as the lube works it's
way up to the friction drive in the head and makes it slip and read zero!
ISTR that speedo cables are 'dry', i.e. teflon coated cores. I could be
wrong ;-)

Al.

fords rule