I have a 1996 F150 and I'm looking for the part number for a motorcraft speed sensor for the rear differential. I ordered what was supposed to be correct but it looks like the one I got is for the transmission output and not the differential. The truck has never wanted to shift and the speedometer doesn't work 3/4 of the time. I do know the TPS is throwing codes and causing the truck to be fine one day and the next it wants to stall because the trans won't shift. Fun stuff. But the TPS should trigger the ABS light to come on. The local Ford dealer said the sensor I need is obsolete but figured if I could get a part number maybe I could find one online.

 

I don't see how you could have ordered a speed sensor for a 1996 truck that goes into the transmission. The last year for that setup was 1991.

This is the one you want:

 

If the OP has a 4R70W transmission it has an Output Shaft Speed (OSS) sensor on the (edit main case output shaft. 5L trucks came with the 4R70W or an E4OD from mid-1994 and up. I do not believe it is used for the speedometer function. Only transmission shifting.

 

A faulty TPS will not typically trigger an ABS code. Never seen one do it to be honest. A faulty rear axle VSS...yes it can. But since you know you have a bad TPS I suggest you replace it with a Motorcraft brand.

 

will that sensor work with it not being Motorcraft? And this is the sensor I was sent that looks too long for the rear differential.

 

like this one?

 

Yep. Wrong sensor for the rear differential. If you saw the picture I’m not sure why you ordered that part. That one has a place to connect a speedometer cable. There are other choices on RockAuto that state “differential mounted”.

That is indeed a throttle position sensor.

 

The one in post #5 would be the right one if you had a 1996 F53.
I need to get one of those for my 1994 F53 for the speedometer and my E4OD.
It goes into the Emergency Brake housing.

You need the one in the link in post #2.

 

That sensor didn't come from rockauto. I just ordered the correct one this morning. The description where I ordered it from did indeed say rear differential.. so they must have it wrong..

 

I'll sell you this one haha.

 

That is news to me. I just sold a 4R70W out of a 1995 F150 with 302 as I converted it to 4x4. It did not have a sensor in the tailshaft - the place where the hole would go was not there. This is the best pic I have. I took one of the side but it was the wrong side, so you just have to take my word for it. If it had a sensor, it would be hanging out of the trans as I did not need it for the 4x4 trans which was an M5OD.

 

My 1995 4R70W has a OSS.




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I stand corrected...pre-2003 4R70W transmissions the OSS is on the main body. Looks like later versions use a second speed sensor.

 

Probably to detect input shaft versus output shaft speeds, not only for shift timing but slippage I believe.

GM did similar with the late 4L80E/85E and the late 4L65E/70E.

 

You havent even ATTEMPTED TO PULL ANY CODES OR DO DIAGNOSTICS but you are DETERMINED you have a FAILED rear sensor.

If I seem passionate, its because I care, not because Im upset.

Go get a darn oBD2 scanner for 40 bucks or so that lets you view live data. Then go drive down the road. tell us what your TPS reading and your VSS readings say.
Then also tell us what OBD2 codes you get as well

What engine? What trans? 4x4?

Then your ABS. You have a connector under the dash on the passengerside which you short to ground with key on and it flashes the ABS for codes. Go find your codes.