Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting VSS removal help needed

I need help in removing the VSS, the shaft going into the manual trans. is broken off in the trans. and I can seem to get it out to install the new VSS. Does anyone have any suggestions? I really do not want to pull the transmition just to fix the speedometer, but the car will not pass inspection in Texas with the check engine light on. Its kinda funny that the check engine light comes on when its just the speedometer(VSS) not working. Thanks

Garff
96 SE V-6
Manual trans.

Has this happened to anyone else? or does anyone have any ideas on how to fix this? Thanks again!

Garff

If your tight on money, pull the bulb on the cell, get your inspection done and then figure out how to fix it.....

How about long tipped needle nose pliers? Long tweezers?

I think there were some posts on this a year or so ago. The info is probably floating around in the archives somewhere.

I can't really offer any help, but the same thing did happen to me (although my check engine light did not come on -- it might have something to due with the '95s using a mechanical speedo cable). The Ford dealership didn't want to touch it, so I took it to a transmission shop who worked on it for over 3 hours. They were never able to get the remains of the old VSS totally out, but did get enough of it out to install the new VSS. This is evidently a fairly common failure mode. If you look at the new VSS, you'll notice that the shaft is made of brass. The shaft that is still in your tranny is made of plastic. Ford must have realized this problem at some point and rev'ed the part -- but I guess this isn't safety related so it is not covered under any recall or warranty.

Thanks for all the suggestions, unfortunatly none of them worked. I finally was able to pull the entire speedometer gear out of the top of the transmition. Once I was able to get the gear out I was able to pry the remaining VSS shaft out of it. There was no way pliers or twizzers were going to get it out. To remove the gear you have to pull the pin/clip out that holds it into the transmition, then the gear will simply pull out the top. Replacement is fairly simple you just have to line the pin up with the slot in the side. I know this might be hard to follow but hope this helps the next person who replaces the VSS and the shaft is broken off. I tried to do this from the top of the car, but found it was much easier from under the car. Thanks again for all the suggestions!