1999 explorer v8 Eddie Bauer xlt awd.

Was all happy out at the pick and pull. Found some center caps for me wheels....get in the car an notice the speedo quit.

Where do I start guys?
Have not started the search on here yet but if you could point me to the likely problem I'd appreciate it.

What a bummer.

 

Is this electric or do I have a speedo cable?

 

Thinking it's the vehicle speed sensor?
Now on this car is ir located on the transmission, transfer case or rear diff?
Drivers or passenger side?

Again
1999 Eddie Bauer explorer xlt v8 awd

Thanks a bunch guys.

 

Alright. Weirdness.
My rpms quit for 10 minutes until I smacked the dash. Sticky needle?
My cruise control does not work.

So questions are this.
Where is the speedo sensor on this model year? Need to know this. Tranny or rear diff?
What would affect cruise? Sensor?
Is this a sensor or cluster issue?

Got to get this sorted tomorrow before an upcoming road trip.

Hey....thanks for your time and help. Still learning these vehicles.

 

On your 1999 Explorer the vehicle speed used by the speedometer is sourced from the ABS module, and ultimately a wheel speed sensor or an average of more than one wheel speed sensor. While I'd suspect a wheel speed sensor as the cause for the speedo and cruise not working, the tachometer issue that was solved by smacking the dash is suspicious, albeit possibly coincidental.

You might need to find someone with a scan tool that can access the ABS system on your truck to find out if there happens to be a diagnostic code for one of the wheel speed sensors.

-Rod

 

Rod. Had it scanned and the right front sensor has been out for awhile but things including the speedo has been fine.
Had my temp gauge stick a couple times but a good smack solved it.
So my speedometer VSS runs off the sensor on the diff?
Dealer suggested this evening the VSS was located on the transmission for the 99 v8 Bauer auto with abs. Same with my Haynes?
Could he be wrong?
Has someone else mention I had 2. The diff and speedo.
Can't get a straight for sure answer on this one.
Bad back is preventing me taking a look.

Need to start here being it's only a $20 part that I'm willing to buy.

 

I would say that either your dealership and the Haynes manual are incorrect, or the factory service manual is incorrect.

The factory service manual only offers 1 choice for a 1999 Explorer, no distinguishing for an Eddie Bauer. I did notice this morning when pulling down the wiring diagrams that there is a separate diagram for the VSS and it shows the VSS being derived from the rear differential wheel speed sensor (see second image below).





-Rod

 

Alright. Another dealer stated for the 99 Bauer the sensor is IN the transmission itself.
I thought they didn't switch to an internal tone ring until 2003?

I have another tech saying it's in the transfer case?
4R70W automatic transmission I think is the model for the v8.

The only sensor on the diff is the ABS

What the hell.

Start with the cluster or transfer case?
Help. No definitive answer.

One person says it's in top of the tranny another inside the tranny one on the transfer, rear pumpkin...Christ.

 

The ABS systems on the Explorers prior to 2002 used a tone ring in the rear differential and a single sensor since they had a solid rear axle. Starting in 2002 the Explorer got independent rear suspension. For 3-channel ABS-only systems the Explorer still had a single sensor mounted to the rear differential. But on 2002 and newer with RSC/AdvanceTrac, the ABS system became a 4-channel system with a tone ring and sensor at each wheel, none in the rear differential.

All I can say is the factory Ford service manual only shows an option for an electronic speedometer that gets the vehicle speed input from the ABS system. The ABS system gets the vehicle speed from the rear differential speed sensor. There is no separation between V6 or V8, 4-speed auto or 5-speed auto, Eddie Bauer or not. The service manual does list "Instrument Cluster (analog)" but does not have an "Instrument Cluster (digital)" option. Does your Eddie Bauer instrument cluster look any different from any other 1999 Explorer? The Eddie Bauer was not the only Explorer trim package available with the V8 and 4-speed transmission.

There are speed sensors in the transmission and transfer case, but they are used for the transmission diagnostics and transfer case diagnostics (to monitor slip, locking torque converter function, etc.). Per the service manual they are not used for vehicle speed indication.

Have you checked parts stores or websites to see if they offer a vehicle speed sensor for your particular vehicle that is not the rear differential sensor? Or does the dealer have one in stock that they claim installs on the transmission that you could get a visual of and see if a similar part is on your transmission?

-Rod

 

Rod you are a blessing.
Ok. Crawled all over under the rig.
There is no sensor on the transfer case.
From what I can see there is no speed sensor on the transmission.
Now.
On the pumpkin in the rear there is a top mounted sensor. Fiddled with it and water poured out of the wire sheath.
I thought this sensor was just abs but now wondering if it controls the speedo as well?

Parts stores have a transmission sensor a transfer case sensor and the rear abs sensor. They keep calling the rear one abs.

It's the only sensor like thing under there really.

Going to go run a quick diagnostic and see what comes up.
Get back atcha here in a bit.

 

Oh and the dash looks like every other dash.

 

Can you tell me what size socket for the rear sensor on top of the pumpkin?
Can't see it.

 

Well replaced the sensor on the rear diff.
Got nothing.
Still a dead speedo.
I'm almost sure it's not an internal transmission sensor. Don't think that started until 02.
Now I'm stumped.
I don't have a fuse diagram but did check some fuses.

Any more ideas?
Damn.

 

Well fixed it.
Fuse 14 I really need an owners manual for the fuses.

 

I can send you a listing of the fuses and the circuits they protect from the factory service manual. It kind of sucks that you ended up finding the bad fuse after replacing the rear sensor. For what it's worth, fuse 14 (10A) is listed as "4 Wheel Anti-Lock Brake System (4WABS) Module". I thought from the diagrams and posts above it was pretty clear that the rear wheel speed sensor IS the source of the vehicle speed, and it IS part of the ABS system.

Thank you for posting what you ultimately found as the source of the problem. If you'd like a PDF of the fuse diagrams you can send me a Private Message with the request AND an e-mail address for you. You can also download a PDF copy of the full owner's manual which would contain the fuse listings from this site.

-Rod