I searched and searched but if I missed a similar thread please redirect me.

I have a 1998 e-250. The speedometer quit working and with that came hard shifts. This happened previously (only with a blinking O/D light that time) and I replaced the VSS and then the shift solenoid and filter in the transmission pan. That fixed the issue for about 3 days. There were no codes in the computer.

For a couple days the speedometer would not work until about 15-20 mph, then it would work and shift normally. Now there is no speedo action and the shifts are hard at high RPMs.

In the days leading up to this problem I heard a clicking in the dash, seemingly behind the cluster. Kind of like a turn signal but a bit fainter. Before I go and order a cluster...is there anything else I should be checking for? I have no warning lights, and as I said earlier the O/D light is not blinking.

Thanks for any help. We're converting the van to a camper for our upcoming honeymoon and tracing this down is cutting into the buildout.

 

Is there continuity in the wiring from the computer to the VSS? If you have an open or short in that wiring you'll get this problem.

What caused you to replace the shift solenoid?

 

Thanks for the input. I am testing the continuity tomorrow morning. Will report back.

When I had the last problem, when the O/D light was blinking, most of the solutions I was finding pointed to the solenoid. That couple with my ignorance pushed me into replacing it. I had no idea how old the transmission fluid was, so at the minimum at least that and the filter were changed.

 

when i had the same problem in my 02 diesel, it ended up being a broken wire to the headlights fell down and was shorting out the ABS module.
fixed the headlight wire and replaced the abs module and have not had any issues since. and that was about 14 months ago.

 

FIXED. There were no shorts in the VSS wiring.

What I left out of the previous question is that my van's been converted to four wheel drive by Advanced 4x4 in Utah. Those dudes were nice enough to put another VSS in the transfer case and tie it in to the van's wiring. That one had failed. A little parts store guessing and we're back in business. Thanks for the help.