Fixing Ford Taurus Shift Problem. Replacing VSS Vehicle Speed Sensor

[fivefortyeye540i]

Got it!!! Had to pull on it, hang on it like a kid on monkey bars and plenty of pb blaster., car is fixed... I wonder how transmissions shops out there take advantage of this..

[AllThingzVideo]

@fivefortyeye540i Congrats! Glad you were able to get it. What most dont realize is that you need to twist it while removing it to allow the VSS driven gear to "spiral up" the trans worm gear and release. Because of its location, corrosion is common as road grime flings up there and just sits on the mount. Doesnt help that the converter is right there heat cycling it.

[fivefortyeye540i]

@allthingsvideo how in the Hell did u manage to that out from the bottom I working on one right now and it is no joke.

This one seems to be sized in I got the bolt out but the sensor is a biatch to get out.. I had to pull the crowl..

[PrestoneFuegoKL]

@AllThingzVideo Yes! Thank you. Oh and it was mrs. Napa haha ;)

[PrestoneFuegoKL]

I went to napa auto parts today to get the vss and one of the people behind the counter said that if it was a sensor problem I would get an engine service light. You didn't have one with this problem did you?

[AllThingzVideo]

@PrestoneFuegoKL This is not emissions related so no engine light will come on. The PCM may record errors that could be stored and read by a high quality reader like the shops have. Mr NAPA is wrong this time.

[ondiznutz]

Thanks for the video. I having shifting problems on my 02 taurus dohc. Im going to try this. Btw your low coolant light is because a bad sensor in the coolant reservoir.

[FrostfoxFilms]

I had this EXACT problem with my '99 Taurus. I changed the VSS and it worked perfectly. Thanks you!

[markanthony404]

which snesor is on the trans in the input VSS or output VSS

[donald1707]

WHATS GOING ON FELLA"S JUST BOUGHT A 1999 FORD TAURUS WHEN I DRIVE THE CAR IT DRIVES GREAT BUT SOMETIMES CAR RUBS UP RPM JUMPS THEN ITS OKAY AGAIN MOSTLY WHEN GOING ABOUT 25MPH I SAY DO YOU THINK ITS THE SPEED SENSOR

[shia1845]

THANK YOU SO MUCH, you seriously saved me from soo much aggravation. My car was doing the exact same thing and I was about to give up then I found this video and it changed my life. Thanks for posting the video and sharing how you fixed this problem, I really appreciated it. Now my car is driving fine and its amazing that it only took a 25 dollar part, thanks again.

[MrRobert1031]

Ok, so how did you get it out from the bottem of the car. I have a 99 taurus sohc I can not get a wrerch or socket from the bottem.

[AllThingzVideo]

@MrRobert1031 Which engine is that? Is the VSS in the same spot? The area is capital T, TIGHT! I used a short 10mm wrench. about 4 inches long and slipped it up in there with my fingers and blindly loosened the bolt. It wasnt real tight. Make sure the engine and exhuast is cool first. Typically this job is done from the top by removing the cowl around the wipers and using a long extension and socket. I took a short cut where I saw I could reach it. For the record my hands arent very large.

[jeepers2655]

I just joined that club.

[wesker723]

i have a 99 contour that shifts fine but the speedometer won't work that well after 40 mph. it jumps to 50 then 55 60 ... and so on . if i slow down it won't really drop the needle until i hit about 39 then it works down just fine. any ideas?

[AllThingzVideo]

@wesker723 Its either a sticky speedo cable, if it has one, or the speedo portion of the VSS is going bad.

[Ironsolid]

Pretty awesome video man, I've been having this issue for some time now.

[AllThingzVideo]

@TheAccordlx Dude, its still going with 210,000 miles on it! I dont think I will "sale" it yet. Its got plenty of life left. What's with people bashing cars? I've owned almost all makes and each has its issues with time. Anything mechanical will, period!

[vincendetroit]

great vid thanks..

[mrpainpill]

Thanks alot man for the input !!! Im glad guys like you take the time to explain and show how the parts are being replaced , thanks again 

[bugsy3802002]

my problem in my 99 sable i have same engine 3.0 l 24 valve it dosn't shift second gear only first and reverse..did u think is the vss?

[bugsy3802002]

my problem in my 99 sable i have same engine 3.0 l 24 valve it dosn't shift second gear only first and reverse..did u think is the vss?

[letsfixthatcar]

Yeah i am going to order the part today but the hardest part is finding the location of the VSS, but i figure since our vehicles are pretty much identical that it should be at the same spot. hopefully lol.

[letsfixthatcar]

How many miles was on your car when you replaced the VSS, because i have a 98 Mercury Sable and the same thing is happening, the hard shifting between first and second gear. I wanted to change my trans fluid but they say not to after 100,000 miles.

[letsfixthatcar]

I also want to replace the VSS too. Sorry i forgot to mention it.

[AllThingzVideo]

@letsfixthatcar It had around 190,000 at the time. Its well over 205,000 now and still shifting perfectly! However, I struggled with the VSS issue for months until I figured out what it was. Even took it to a professional shop and all they did was change the fluid, which I had already done! Change your VSS as soon as possible to avoid possible damage to the trans, it only gets worse. Its inexpensive and easy to do.

[robwiljas]

@AllThingzVideo Was your speedometer working correctly when you were having issues with the VSS? I have a 99 Taurus with the Duratec and AX4N and am having the same symptoms. I suspect the VSS I was told it's fine since the speedometer works.

[AllThingzVideo]

@robwiljas Yes, my speedo was working fine. For the cost of the part, dont wait on getting it replaced! You'll be glad you did.

[cyberkeeper1]

@robwiljas the speedometer is mechanical, it will almost always work unless the worm gear breaks... the sensor gets hot over time and fails. its next to the catalytic converter. it only makes sense.

[AllThingzVideo]

@cyberkeeper1 There are two versions of the VSS. One has a mechanical speedometer cable and the other is electronic, so dont always expect to fins a cable. Mine is fully electronic with only wires connected, no cable. Because I wasnt sure which i had and the parts store was little help, I bought both and took the "mechanical" one back. My speedometer worked perfectly even though the PCM trans speed sensor portion was faulty. For the minimal cost, best to swap it out if in doubt.

[cyberkeeper1]

@letsfixthatcar who is they? ideally they assume that after 100,000 miles, your tranny will leak if you clean the old fluid that was blocking any leaks. this is not so. if its leaking, its gonna do it all the time, new or old. your transmission system is completely closed, so the idea that a lot of dirt and gunk gets in it, is wrong. the thing thta happens is the fluid simply breaks down and gunks up.

[iamherenotheretobe]

Yah that coolant light isn't due to low coolant (if of course you know it doesn't leak) but the magnet falls off inside the tank, since its a dummy switch anyway and I check it fairly often I just unplugged it to get rid of the nagging light. The AX4N is the best fwd tranny ford has ever made and was essentially made because of this engine (and the v8 sho). I gotta take a little better care of mine this coming up summer tho, its been a great car but from the previous owner, engine mounts/struts

[Chris07860]

I have a 2001 and notice during the summer from a simple stop I will accelerate and the engine and transmission rev up loud then slams into 2nd gear but only when warm and I notice even when I drive the car seems slower then what the speedo is showing

[AllThingzVideo]

@Chris07860 This is definitely a VSS symptom / problem. Mine only acted up when it was it was hot also but then started doing it all the time. Change it out ASAP to avoid serious damage to the trans!

[Chris07860]

@AllThingzVideo I have the same exact engine as you so now I know where it is lol I don't have to align anything up that gear will mesh with the inside of the tranny?

[AllThingzVideo]

@Chris07860 Yes, it will drop right in with a slight twisting motion to mesh the gears. Getting it out could be the hard part if it is setup due to age. Mine came right out with a little wiggling and pushing thankfully. I heard others have had to break them in 2 pieces to free it up. Just work patiently and it will go fine. Good luck.

[TheStevehn]

@AllThingzVideo, did your check engine light came on before you did the replacement? I went through the DTC codes book and there are a couple codes for VSS. My 2001 DOHV Taurus experience very similar to your but it shows no codes when I can the diagnostic.

[AllThingzVideo]

@TheStevehn The light did come one but it was for other issues (MAP sensor etc) I never got a code for the VSS and it was still transmitting speed data to the PCM for the speedometer too. That's what made it hard to figure out. I changed a lot of parts before I got it fixed. (TPS, DPES, Fuel Filter, Pugs, Wires, Cleaned MAP etc...) The good people at TCCA..dot..com hooked me up and got me pointed in the right direction. Its been 100% since! :)

[TheStevehn]

@AllThingzVideo Thank you. While I am at it I think I will replace the serpentine belt too :)

[giannial1985]

I just replaced this on my 99 ford escort. I was getting a lot of jerking in bumper to bumper traffic and some shuttering. Also some hard shifts. Now I don't have any of that after replace the speed sensor. Thankfully it wasn't the actual transmission. :)

[Jayzc66]

Can someone help me with this?....my truck switches gears just fine on cold mornings but later goes and stays(on second start) into 1st or second gear? and my speedometer works at that time too like on those cold mornings kinda weird but i dont kno hope someone can diagno's this for me...Thanks in Advance!! :)

[karlmhoon]

Thank You verymuch on a 3.0 engine where would it be located, same as it was showed here?

[AllThingzVideo]

@karlmhoon If its a Duratec DOHC 3.0 then yes. If its a Vulcan engine then you will need to check around the top of the transaxle near the output shafts. Check the Taurus forums or even ask your local parts store for diagram of its location.

[karlmhoon]

hello I have a 98 ford taurus and lately my speedometer thing dont work half the time and my transmission jerks when it goes into 2rd gear would you think that it my be my senor? please let me know what you think . thank you

be blessed

[AllThingzVideo]

@karlmhoon YES! It is definitely the VSS. Get it changed as soon as possible to avoid accidental unneeded damage to the transmission. The part should only be $20-$30 and labor will probably be 1 hour at a shop. Well worth the time and money and the car will drive nicely again! Thanks

[Jtevolved]

So I'm trying to do this on a ford escort. It's stuck in the tranny and won't come out. You have any trouble with yours? or have any tips that might help get this one to come out?

[AllThingzVideo]

@Jtevolved It may or may not help but my engine and trans was still pretty hot when I did the job. (burn your hand hot) Also, I had to twist the sensor as I removed it to un-mesh the gears. You could also try putting the car in neutral and spinning the wheels slowly by hand as you pull on the sensor. Plenty of PB-Blaster or Laser sprayed on the mounting area while it is hot will also help.

Good luck

[Jtevolved]

@AllThingzVideo We got it out a few days ago, a good few hits with the hammer and screw driver dislodged it from its housing....to bad it didn't fix a damn thing lol