Glad to have some input from the Moderator of the Transmission Modification Forum to help with this member's questions, however I have some critique of your comments quoted below.

Originally posted by RoadRunner:
]You gotta get these voltages from a SCAN TOOL.


Disagree, DVOM is satisfactory for measurements being taken at engine compartment connector.

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Try picking up Alex Peper's OBD-II software and cable.
All you need is a laptop with a serial port and Windows 98 or higher.


Agree above extremely useful and it actually only needs minimum 386/Win 3.1 or higher.

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Getting the voltages from the connector is almost impossible
because you will only read the voltage drop across the solenoids.


Tricky to obtain good contact with meter probe, but not impossible. Solenoid operation being deduced from current flow and therefore voltage drop.

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You should be measuring the resistance across the solenoids to make sure they are not shorted or open.


Member measured 20 ohms in one case.

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You can't take measurements across the PCM gates without damaging the PCM itself.
So you only other option is to use a scan tool and see what it says.
The PCM can feed back to you what the outgoing voltage is.


Normally use of resistance measurements in solid state circuits can cause harm since meter can introduce currents in excess of component ratings. Voltage readings can be innacurate in low volt circuits due to meter loading. Neither applicable here. In this case gate operation can be determined by voltage on ground side of solenoid coils with no problems.

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As long as your Battery is good, Terminals are clean, and Alternator is charging at 14.5V,
there is no reason why there shouldn't be the same voltage across the solenoids.


Agreed, that is member's current dilemma.

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Another question ?
What Ignition Wires are you using ???
If they are old or bad, they resulting electrical noise they produce,
interferes with the VSS, and that can wreak havoc on your CD4E.


Interesting that VSS does not use shielded wire to PCM whereas TSS, CKS and CMP sensors do.

Any comments on wire colors or on member's basic atx symptom since I personally know SFA about atx internals and am just trying to assist in external measurements?

98 Mystique LS v6 atx 163,000km 97 Contour LX v6 atx 163,000km