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  The car in question is a 1996 Mercury Mystique GS, Zetec, ATX. The transmission was replaced in 2003, and is probably still under warranty if I can find the paperwork.   Today, my wife, a couple of friends, and I, were trying to go from Sacramento to Oakland. About 2/3 of the way, the speedometer went dead.   I had trouble with the speedometer before, which turned out to be a fuse, so I decided to pull off at the next exit and check that. The fuse was fine this time. See this thread.   On getting back on the road, I found that the transmission wouldn't shift out of first. Eventually, we figured out I could manually shift it up to second, and we ended up driving slowly back to Sacramento in second. On getting home, I hooked up my OBDâ??II system, and took the car for a drive. The only relevant code is P0500, which pertains to the Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS). This makes sense. I also determined that the OBDâ??II system believes that the VSS is reading zero MPH regardless of how fast I might actually be going. I did, however, also find that now the transmission is shifting through the gears as it should, but it is shifting harder than before; as in you can feel prominent jolts when it does. After a while of driving, the OD OFF light begins flashing, as it did most of the way back to Sacramento.   No transmission-related codes, however; just P0500.   The object shown below, as seen through the front driverâ??side wheel wellâ??is that the VSS? The clips on the connector to it are broken, but the connector seems firm enough that it ought to work. Where do I find the VSS if this isn't it? And is there any way to test the VSS, beyond noting that both my speedometer and the OBDII system seem to indicate that no signal is being received from it? Would a malfunctioning VSS explain my transmission oddities? Certainly, it would explain the dead speedometer. Does it affect the odometer as well? I think the odometer is also stopped.   Is there anything that anyone can tell me to help me diagnose and repair my current round of troubles? 
Hyster E60XM-33
1996 Mercury Mystique GS, Zetec, ATX
To email me, remove the string HatesSpam from this address:BobHatesSpam@Blaylock.to
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That's the Turbine Speed Sensor (TSS). The Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) is near the output shaft of the transmission, on the driver's side, near the dipstick. There's a cable going into it according to the Ford shop manual.
Last edited by gearhead; 02/13/05 04:40 AM.
'99 Sport TropicGreen,Duratec, SVT exhaust, Brembo rotors, Ceramic pads, K&N filters(oil & air), Alpine CDM7874, Polk DB570 speakers front and rear. Fog light mod. 50% Formula One tint.
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I see another problem. It looks like your atx oil pump case is sitting on the car's frame. This will eventually crack or wear the case away until it leaks. You need to replace your drivers side motor mount and or the front mount on the engine.
Regards,
Bob
An ounce of prevention provides a pound of cure!
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Originally posted by gearhead:
The Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) is near the output shaft of the transmission, on the driver's side, near the dipstick. There's a cable going into it according to the Ford shop manual.
  So, how should I get at the VSS? Should I jack the car up, put it on stands, and go underneath to get at the VSS, or do I need to remove whatever parts are in the way and get at it from above?
Hyster E60XM-33
1996 Mercury Mystique GS, Zetec, ATX
To email me, remove the string HatesSpam from this address:BobHatesSpam@Blaylock.to
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Originally posted by btrautman:
I see another problem. It looks like your atx oil pump case is sitting on the car's frame.
  I think this is just an illusion created by the angle from which the picture was taken. I'll have to take another look and make sure, but I am fairly sure that the transmission is not resting on the frame.
Hyster E60XM-33
1996 Mercury Mystique GS, Zetec, ATX
To email me, remove the string HatesSpam from this address:BobHatesSpam@Blaylock.to
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easier to get at the vss from the bottom, jacked up and on stands.
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Originally posted by btrautman:
I see another problem. It looks like your atx oil pump case is sitting on the car's frame. � You need to replace your drivers side motor mount and or the front mount on the engine.
  On taking another look, it appears you are right. The transmission is indeed sitting on the frame. How big a deal is it to replace the mounts on this side? Looks like there's a mount on the passenger side that would be very easy to replace, but that one looks to be just fine. I can't seem to get a clear look at the driver-side mounts.
Hyster E60XM-33
1996 Mercury Mystique GS, Zetec, ATX
To email me, remove the string HatesSpam from this address:BobHatesSpam@Blaylock.to
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  OK, I've replaced the VSS, and now the transmission, speedometer, and odometer are all working correctly again. While I was poking around, I took a look to see what I could see about mounts. I can see a passenger-side mount, and a front and a rear mount, all of which appear to be fine.  I cannot see a driver-side mount, but there's a lot of stuff that is in the way.  Surely there is supposed to be a driver-side mount, and this is the mount that is most desperately in need of replacing; if not the only one in need of replacing. It also appears to be the mount that is most outside of my own ability to do.  The car has an appointment tomorrow at 07:30 with a professional transmission shop, to look into the mount issue.
Hyster E60XM-33
1996 Mercury Mystique GS, Zetec, ATX
To email me, remove the string HatesSpam from this address:BobHatesSpam@Blaylock.to
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Driver's side roll resistor is underneath the battery box. Check this threadRay
'99 CSVT - Silver #222/276
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  VSS replaced a few days ago. Did it myself. About $50 for the part and about $25 for a couple of tools at AutoZone, and some uncomfortable moments underneath the car.
  Driver side motor mount replaced today. $135 for the part, $117 for the labor, and $10.46 in sales tax.
Hyster E60XM-33
1996 Mercury Mystique GS, Zetec, ATX
To email me, remove the string HatesSpam from this address:BobHatesSpam@Blaylock.to
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