svtrider98 Posted March 28, 2012 Share Posted March 28, 2012 I just bought a 1998 contour act with the duratec v6 2.5 engine. I have a bad vss and it stopped my speedometer from working. How do I go about fixing this issue? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svtrider98 Posted March 28, 2012 Author Share Posted March 28, 2012 I meant svt, not act. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuckeyeSVT Posted March 28, 2012 Share Posted March 28, 2012 Check the VSS wiring at the sensor (rear of transmission) for shorting and freying. If bad, replace. -Dom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KySvt Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 Hey gang, Same issue here mostly. 2000 Contour SVT silver Louisville KY, 97500. Speedo fluctuated then stuck on zero. Check engine light came on. Odometer not spinning (sweet). The geniuses at Ford have narrowed it down to a bad speed sensor. They say they'll have to drop the transmission to replace it at the tune of 14 hrs of labor. I am not super mechanical nor do I have a proper shop or garage to work on it. I love my car but the $1300 dollar job quote may not be realistic. Help me save my little silver car. Thanks y'all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xiphos Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 If you can reach the little pin that holds in the VSS and it is not stuck like chuck (which mine is, so parts are going to have to be dropped... not fun) you should be able to pull and swap the VSS However, since we don't live in a perfect world, what the ford people told you is not far off the mark, however, you could probably find a technician that will do it for less since most independent shops charge less per hour than a dealership Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xiphos Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 alternatively... hook up your navigation... it tells you how fast you are going not my favorite option, but better than scrapping the car over one sensor if you can't afford the fix right now most smart phones have navigation now too and it also gives you speed, get you one of those cell phone holders for the dash board and presto chango Droid Does speedometer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xiphos Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 Check the VSS wiring at the sensor (rear of transmission) for shorting and freying. If bad, replace. -Dom can you order just the harness? or does it come with the sensor? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KySvt Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 Well, thanks so much for the quick reply. I know that if the sensor isn't the only problem you can have some serious transmission problems. I'm gonna see if I can get to that sensor, and Ill let you know what comes of it. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svtrider98 Posted March 30, 2012 Author Share Posted March 30, 2012 Hey Dom, thanx for the reply. I guess my real issue though is finding the vss. I know that it should be on the transmission somewhere. Can you give me more specific directions on how to get to the vss. Removing and replac ing it will be the easy part. Thanks Dom. Thanks guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuckeyeSVT Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 Here ya go. -Dom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giganto Posted March 31, 2012 Share Posted March 31, 2012 If you can reach the little pin that holds in the VSS and it is not stuck like chuck (which mine is, so parts are going to have to be dropped... not fun) you should be able to pull and swap the VSS I thought that's how it was too, at first. The VSS is the plastic bit on top of the geared shaft that's held in place with a pin. You probably would have to pull the transmission to get it out, but the VSS is pretty easily removed. Remove the air cleaner and its fittings and reach down into the blackness. Feel for the three-wire connector of the VSS on the main wiring harness; its about the only branch on the main harness in the area. Dexterously unclip the VSS from the harness and firmly grab the flat sides of the plastic VSS. Grunt and turn it counterclockwise and it comes loose fairly easily, since it has plastic threads. Check to make sure the shaft came out, as the square shaft should extend a bit below the bottom of the VSS housing. Read about all my adventures here; http://www.fordcontour.org/topic/13807-vss-shaft-broken/page__fromsearch__1 BTW, the speedo still works, even through my 900 mile trip to Missouri...where my window regulator broke...I need to post that write up as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xiphos Posted April 2, 2012 Share Posted April 2, 2012 wow thanks for the information giganto Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Haines Posted April 2, 2012 Share Posted April 2, 2012 ...some bad info being posted here!! NEVER, EVER remove the 'PIN'..never to change a VSS. The pin holds the speedo pinion carrier..pull out the carrier with the VSS and the chances are the pinion will fall down inside the trans!!..to get it out you will have to remove and strip the trans..LEAVE THE PIN ALONE!..all you need is a 24 MM wrench to undo the base of the plastic VSS from the carrier..NEVER remove the carrier unless trans is out of car and stripped...Speedo pinions are now 'obsolete' from Ford... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xiphos Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 ...some bad info being posted here!! NEVER, EVER remove the 'PIN'..never to change a VSS. The pin holds the speedo pinion carrier..pull out the carrier with the VSS and the chances are the pinion will fall down inside the trans!!..to get it out you will have to remove and strip the trans..LEAVE THE PIN ALONE!..all you need is a 24 MM wrench to undo the base of the plastic VSS from the carrier..NEVER remove the carrier unless trans is out of car and stripped...Speedo pinions are now 'obsolete' from Ford... Wow... that is crazy... you would think a ford master tech would have a clue now i am glad they told me it was stuck and they couldn't get to it that day may have to tackle this from another angle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuckeyeSVT Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 I normally get at them from underneath.. Pretty easily actually - I've replaced a bunch. -Dom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruellatoledo Posted December 17, 2012 Share Posted December 17, 2012 Hi Dom, any suggestions where and what kind of a speed sensor to buy for a 1996 Ford Contour? u mentioned it's easy to go from underneath, does that mean there's no need to remove the front left wheel? thanks! appreciate some help :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Haines Posted December 17, 2012 Share Posted December 17, 2012 As you have an early Contour,do you have a conventional type speedo cable drive that comes out of the top of the speed sensor to the speedo head? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hrhaslett Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 Hey All, So we removed the bad VSS on my 98 SVT 5 Speed and the little pin from the bad VSS is broken off in the trans. Could not get a magnet to pull it out. Did not want to disassemble further because I'm afraid the pin will fall into the trans. Does anyone have a method//solution to get that little broken off pin out?? thanks, Roy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Haines Posted January 24, 2015 Share Posted January 24, 2015 The 'pin' holds in the ally drive carrier into the trans..leave it where it is but unscrew the black plastic speed sensor from the top of the ally housing.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hrhaslett Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 The little shaft that is part of the VSS that screws onto the trans. It did not come out when we unscrewed the VSS. How do you get it out of the trans? magnet did not pull it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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