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I just want to be sure that this is a vehicle speed sensor (VSS) issue. I've gone through the archives and am fairly confident. Nevertheless, here are the symptoms:
-driving down the highway at 120 km/h, the speedometer falls to zero;
-simultaneously the O/D light starts flashing;
-the check engine light comes on;
-no overdrive...engine revs climb to ~ 4000 rpm
-ATx seems a bit confused...need to manually select some gears and a bit sluggish in upshifting.
-no other prior symptoms, car was shifting fine and all gears were available.
Thanks!
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
'96 Mystique GS, ATX
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The symptoms you described are all consistent with the loss of the VSS signal .
The sensor is a logical conclusion.
Steve
98 Contour SE Sport 2.5 Duratec ATX The wifey's car
89 Taurus SHO - 246K miles
94 SHO ATX - 190K
1997 F-150 5.4L ATX - The Workhorse 150K.
ANY THREAD WITH "OMG" or "WTF" ETC IN THE TITLE WILL BE IGNORED!
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Originally posted by projectSHO89:
The symptoms you described are all consistent with the loss of the VSS signal .
The sensor is a logical conclusion.
Steve
Thanks for the quick reply. I'm heading down to the transmission shop now. I'll let everybody know if this is what the problem is.
/Eric
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
'96 Mystique GS, ATX
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Originally posted by Mystic:
I'm heading down to the transmission shop now.
Yikes!! Isn't this something you could do yourself? How expensive is a VSS? 
A trip to a shop with an otherwise operational car is inviting a mechanic to tell a tale about how badly you've blown your tanny! 
Must be that jumbly-wumbly thing happening again.
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Originally posted by TourDeForce:
Originally posted by Mystic:
I'm heading down to the transmission shop now.
Yikes!! Isn't this something you could do yourself? How expensive is a VSS?
A trip to a shop with an otherwise operational car is inviting a mechanic to tell a tale about how badly you've blown your tanny!
Normally what you say is true...sad to say.  I *have* found a reputable shop (B&N Transmission in Ottawa).  True to their reputation, their diagnosis turned up a faulty VSS and I'm back on the road with everything working correctly for about $240 (Cdn) including taxes and labour. Incidentally, the part was only $72.
No question that with the help of the advice on this group as well as a scan through the archives that I've saved a few $$. How much is hard to say but clearly it made the diagnosis a lot easier.
/Eric
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
'96 Mystique GS, ATX
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Originally posted by Mystic:
Originally posted by TourDeForce:
Originally posted by Mystic:
I'm heading down to the transmission shop now.
Yikes!! Isn't this something you could do yourself? How expensive is a VSS? A trip to a shop with an otherwise operational car is inviting a mechanic to tell a tale about how badly you've blown your tanny!
Normally what you say is true...sad to say. I *have* found a reputable shop (B&N Transmission in Ottawa). True to their reputation, their diagnosis turned up a faulty VSS and I'm back on the road with everything working correctly for about $240 (Cdn) including taxes and labour. Incidentally, the part was only $72.No question that with the help of the advice on this group as well as a scan through the archives that I've saved a few $$. How much is hard to say but clearly it made the diagnosis a lot easier./Eric
  Actually it is a $25.oo part and a shop could replace it in 10 minutes . Or you could of done it in 30 minutes. You are going to have this problem occur in the near future and this time you should replace the TSS.... transmission SELECTOR switch . Mounted on outside top of tranny . Near battery area. When your tranny starts shifting into all different gears on its own is the thing to look for .  It also is a $ 25.oo plastic part.
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Originally posted by starsky:
Originally posted by Mystic:
Originally posted by TourDeForce:
Originally posted by Mystic:
I'm heading down to the transmission shop now.
Yikes!! Isn't this something you could do yourself? How expensive is a VSS? A trip to a shop with an otherwise operational car is inviting a mechanic to tell a tale about how badly you've blown your tanny!
Normally what you say is true...sad to say. I *have* found a reputable shop (B&N Transmission in Ottawa). True to their reputation, their diagnosis turned up a faulty VSS and I'm back on the road with everything working correctly for about $240 (Cdn) including taxes and labour. Incidentally, the part was only $72.No question that with the help of the advice on this group as well as a scan through the archives that I've saved a few $$. How much is hard to say but clearly it made the diagnosis a lot easier./Eric
Actually it is a $25.oo part and a shop could replace it in 10 minutes . Or you could of done it in 30 minutes. You are going to have this problem occur in the near future and this time you should replace the TSS.... transmission SELECTOR switch . Mounted on outside top of tranny . Near battery area. When your tranny starts shifting into all different gears on its own is the thing to look for . It also is a $ 25.oo plastic part.
I'd like to know where you can get it for $25. Mind you, you are talking $US probably in which case it's about $40 Cdn. I don't think $72 is too much and quite frankly I don't have the time to replace it myself although that would be my inclination.
Do you really think I should replace the TSS as a preventative measure? Is this a big problem with Contours and Mystiques?
Not to be snarky, but I can't see replacing things until they're broken. That said, I *never* let a repair go. These things just add up and it's better to nip it in the bud as soon as possible.
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
'96 Mystique GS, ATX
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The TRS (Transmission Range Sensor - proper name) will NOT cause the set of symptoms you described.
The VSS will, as evidenced by your sucessful repair with its replacement.
TSS is the acronym for the Turbine Shaft Sensor.
Steve
98 Contour SE Sport 2.5 Duratec ATX The wifey's car
89 Taurus SHO - 246K miles
94 SHO ATX - 190K
1997 F-150 5.4L ATX - The Workhorse 150K.
ANY THREAD WITH "OMG" or "WTF" ETC IN THE TITLE WILL BE IGNORED!
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Posts: 103
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Originally posted by projectSHO89:
The TRS (Transmission Range Sensor - proper name) will NOT cause the set of symptoms you described.
The VSS will, as evidenced by your sucessful repair with its replacement.
TSS is the acronym for the Turbine Shaft Sensor.
Steve
Thanks again for the careful reply. I'm not sure if his posting was so much suggesting another fix for my problem as it was offering some advice to prevent other issues.
I've spent more total money in repairing the car than I did purchasing it 8 months ago. I keep thinking that the next repair will be the last (knock on wood) and am kept going by the fantastic driving experience of the car.
I've said before that I've owned a number of new VW's (Jettas and Passats) and this Mystique is the best handling of the bunch. Of course it'll have to do until I get my CRX Si out of hibernation in the spring.
http://castorvalley.unixlover.com/index_CRX.html
/Eric
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
'96 Mystique GS, ATX
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you could have done it yourself and got the part for about
$50 and saved the difference.....
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