1999 Coachmen Catalina, Ford E350 chassis, V10 motor.
Speedo and cruise don't work, but the odometer does. I looked under and I see a cable from the speedo to the transmission. In older cars, if the speedo goes out so does the odometer, but my odometer still works. There is also a device where the cable hooks into the trans with wires that looks like a combination neutral safety switch/back up light switch. All fuses show good. Anyone have any ideas on this?

 

By a cable are you describing a push-pull type cable or an electrical bundle?

Beginning at least '97 onward the speedo, odo and VSC aka cruise control are actuated by the Vehicle Speed Sensor. I'm assuming your van drives and shifts normally? If so then the VSS is fine but the instrument cluster might have failed---because the odo still works this is strong indication its the cluster.

I think I have a decent used on that worked perfectly last time it was installed. Its yours for a song, assuming you can sing Brandi Carlile's The Story?

Seriously though I have one that's suitable for the cost of shipping---just have to dig it out of where ever I last stored it. PM me.

 

You want me to sing???..The last time I sang, someone called the cops. They said it sounded like someone was sexually molesting a duck. I haven't sung since. By cable I mean a push/pull type. I had another look under the dash. There is a thin cable that goes to the gear selector indicator, that needs fixing too. Seems like a lot of Fords have trouble with that cable coming loose. The heavier cable looks like an old speedometer cable and does go to the trans at the Transmission Range Sensor, but I can't see where it goes under the dash. I don't have speedometer or VSC (Cruise Control), and the shifting is a bit erratic. The more I research, the more I'm thinking VSS. Is there a way to test the VSS?

 

Are you showing any DTC's or is the "check engine" dashboard light illuminated?

I still don't think its the VSS---sounds like the cluster. Because the odo works the VSS is sending a signal.

The little wire to the gear selection indicator just attaches to part of the transmission shifting lever. It can be easily replaced as an assembly or reattached if its simply come disconnected. In order to know for sure the steering column shroud needs to be removed. While this is only three screws one does have to also remove the ignition key cylinder too.

 

JWA,

I'm going to hijack this thread since no resolution was ever posted. I've got a similar issue with one of my vans...'99 E-350, 6.8L w/E4OD. It started with a slight surging of speed with the cruise control engaged. Then I noticed a slight bounce to the speedometer needle. That got worse, and it started shifting hard. I replaced the NSS and everything was back to normal...for about 20 miles. Then it started doing all of the above again just like it had been before I replaced the NSS. If I have a bad VSS, could it "take out" the NSS?? I guess I could have some shorted wiring causing it to fail? Or I just got a bad unit? Any thoughts?