This started a couple weeks ago in -10 degree weather, but has been happening since-- even in the decent 40degree weather we have now.

Basicaly, when you start up an take off on a cold start, the speedometer fails to work at all, it just hangs at 0-5mph. Once the car warms up, the speedo will sparadicaly jump to near theh speedo you're going, and then get stuck, say at 60mph, until you come to a complete stop, and start off again, to which it will jump down to 30ish.

The speedo drive however seems fine, as the odometer/trip meter has been turning at-- as far as i can tell-- the correct speed. Its pretty obvious when you're stopped at a stop light, that you're not going 60mph...


Any idea on how to fix this, you can sometimes tap the needle, and it bounces to close to the actual speed... is a new cluster the only way to fix it?

 

I'd take out the speedo cable and clean it. It's probably gunked up from the lube, and in the cold weather, the viscosity of the gunk increases, making it harder for the cable to turn accuratlely.

 

The speedometer is a simple pivot bearing & spring arrangement.
It can be repaired if you're careful.

After you get access to the pivot bearing spray some WD-40 on a small screwdriver tip & apply a small drop the the bearings.

 

and this can cause it to read a mph (say 60 mph) even at a stop?

Ok so I remove the cable from the back and put wd40 there?

 

Let me suggest NOT WD-40. Get some fine machine oil, like sewing machine oil. WD40 is a decent de-greaser, but it's part water, and WILL cause things to rust. Not what you want in your cable (or anywhere else on your car!!)

 

as previously stated this week i agree WD-40 is bad(its a degreaser)..... light lube only