Speedometer stops working. Help plz
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From: Aurora canada
Speedometer stops working. Help plz
I have a 98 Explorer sport 4L SOHC. My speedo keeps quitting after about 20 mins of driving. Its only came back on once while driving but its doing it everyday now and really getting on my nerves. Would it be the vss. Everything else on the cluster works right. Theres no weird shifting going on with the tranny and no lights going on , on the dash.. Anyone know anything about this problem. Thanks for any help.. Great website. 
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From: Virginia
It's hard to diagnose the later models without the scan tool the dealers have. Like you said, I would have expected some other things going on if it were the vss. The only thing I can think that you could do is take the cluster apart, clean up what connections you can, and put it back together. Otherwise, you might have to take it to a dealer so they can pinpoint the problem.
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From: Aurora canada
It just started doing this in the last week. I have no idea why, but i think i'll take the vss out and clean it and the connections when it gets warm enough outside. I've had the cluster part way out before to change bulbs. I just don't understand why it will work for 30 mins and die. Maybe they sliced a wire putting on my new exhaust( magna flow) which sounds really nice when you punch it... Thanks for your input guys..
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From: Easton,Ks
Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS)
The VSS has been deleted for 1998. The vehicle speed signal is generated by the rear anti-lock brake sensor and sent to the 4-wheel anti-lock brake system (4WABS) module. The 4WABS module sends the vehicle speed signal via circuit 679 (GY/BK) to all systems which require a vehicle speed signal input.
Speedometer
The electronic speedometer receives a speed signal from the 4WABS module.
Diagram of the cluster:
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g9...8Excluster.gif
The VSS has been deleted for 1998. The vehicle speed signal is generated by the rear anti-lock brake sensor and sent to the 4-wheel anti-lock brake system (4WABS) module. The 4WABS module sends the vehicle speed signal via circuit 679 (GY/BK) to all systems which require a vehicle speed signal input.
Speedometer
The electronic speedometer receives a speed signal from the 4WABS module.
Diagram of the cluster:
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g9...8Excluster.gif
Last edited by subford; Apr 7, 2007 at 12:10 PM.
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Junior User
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From: Aurora canada
Its weird cause last summer i pulled the fuse for the abs, cause one of my abs sensors in the front wasn't working right. I had the speedo stop once all summer,, I put the fuse back in after the first snow storm cause the front was locking up all the time.. now the fuse is still in and my speedo is causing my problems. I'm pretty sure my vehicle has the vss at the end of the tranny....
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From: Easton,Ks
If you read my post above you would know that you do not have a VSS sensor. The one on the transmission is the OSS sensor. The speedometer gets its information from the Rear Axle Sensor byway of the 4WABS Control Module. Be sure you look at the diagram I posted above also.
And here are two more diagrams for you.
VSS system:
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g91/subford/Electrical/1998VSSEX.gif
ABS System:
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g91/subford/Electrical/1998EXABS.gif
And here are two more diagrams for you.
VSS system:
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g91/subford/Electrical/1998VSSEX.gif
ABS System:
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g91/subford/Electrical/1998EXABS.gif
Last edited by subford; Apr 7, 2007 at 04:31 PM.
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From: Aurora canada
I called the Ford dealer and indeed there is a VSS either on the tranny or the rear axle. Depending on the model. I believe mine is on the tranny since i dont see anything else on the rear end.( 2 door sport, auto 4x4)
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From: Easton,Ks
Originally Posted by jaystersj
I called the Ford dealer and indeed there is a VSS either on the tranny or the rear axle. Depending on the model. I believe mine is on the tranny since i dont see anything else on the rear end.( 2 door sport, auto 4x4)
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From: Easton,Ks
Originally Posted by jaystersj
So there should be something on the rear end.. Should be...Its funny ,, i drove it today and nothing happened. I'll have to look for it sometime soon... thanks
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g9...AxleSensor.gif
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From: Easton,Ks
Originally Posted by Franklin2
Subford
Do you happen to know if the vss delete was in 1998 only, and only on Explorers? Don't go to any special trouble looking it up, just thought you may have some info in your head.
Do you happen to know if the vss delete was in 1998 only, and only on Explorers? Don't go to any special trouble looking it up, just thought you may have some info in your head.
After 1998 it seems to change form truck to truck as stated below.
From the 2001 F150 Shop Manual:
The vehicle speed sensor (VSS) is model dependent. Possible sources of vehicle speed input are, anti-lock brake sensor (ABS), a gear-driven vehicle speed sensor (VSS), or the transmission output shaft speed (OSS) sensor. On 4x4 applications with a manual shift transfer case, the transfer case speed sensor is the source of vehicle speed. The VSS signal is either an AC signal whose frequency changes with vehicle speed, or an SCP data message depending on the source. Some vehicles have both. The vehicle speed signal is an input to various vehicle sub-systems such as the powertrain control module (PCM), instrument cluster (speedometer and odometer), speed control systems, etc. The vehicle speed source must be operational to enter output state control mode for diagnostics.