Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Major wiring issues please help

No fuse. Replace the VSS or check wiring from VSS to PCM (just in case, circuit is broken).

if it's not getting power with the brand new harness i just bought and installed i'll be pissed. i guess a reg test light won't work will it? how can i test it at speed??

You can use the test light to test for a break in the circuit. One end close to VSS and the other close to the PCM. As for "at speed", that would require a break out box (about $700) or a "fabricated" tester which will measure the frequency. You will still have to put it in the passenger compartment while driving unless you have access to a chassis dynamometer (the types used for smoke emissions or your regular dynos at the speed shops).

Edit. The other thing would be to "ohm" the VSS as suggested in an earlier post from Autozone. You do need a DVOM for that.

Did you ever compare the old harness with the new one you got before you installed it I hope they gave you the right one

You might also want to check the wires on your VSS. Mine had wires stripped on it at the base:



You could also use that picture to determine the colors as well. Not sure if they match up with what you have though.

either i'm messing with the wrong thing all together or mine is totally different. mine has wires that plug directly into the top of it not like the pic here or the pic from autozone with the wires then the plug. the part i'm looking at is kinda up under the intake and goes in to the tranny right??

Your looking at the reverse light switch.

Which is shown below on the left hand side of the shift tower.



The VSS sensor is on the back of the transaxle towards the bottom. It sits to the right of the diff housing where the axles go in (looking from underneath the car with the you feet hanging out in front of the car). The sensor looks like a little black box and has wires coming up to a plug. Here is the best pic I have at the moment. If you are looking under the car this is what you would see the speed sensor is on the top of the diff where I have indicated. You can see the VSS sensor just hanging out a little bit in the pic.

oops it's raining here so i'll look when it dries up a bit did you get a new sensor or just patch up the wires on yours

I got a new sensor. It wasn't much... as a matter of fact... I keep all of my receipts.. list it's $51.20 I bought it through Steve at Tousley Ford for $25.34 + tax.

Part number is F5RZ-9E731-AC

1-800-328-9552 ask for Steve or Mike M.

is that plug part of the harness i replaced?