Replacing Speed Sensor
kacssk
06-22-2004, 12:03 PM
Hello Everyone! I have a 98 Windstar, and I was needing to replace the speed sensor. Does anyone have any ideas? I have my Haynes book and it says that I need to take down the Y pipe in the exhaust as well as the heat shield to get to the speed sensor on the transaxle. Does anyone have any simpler ways to do this? I don't feel comfortable taking down the exhaust to get to it. I didn't know if anyone else has ran into this problem with the speed sensor. Thank you Everyone!
- kacssk
- kacssk
busboy4
06-22-2004, 06:46 PM
Hi kacssk
I have not done the job, but did correspond with someone who did. You might search older posts to see what you find. However, I believe he said that he loosened the rear subframe bolts thereby lowering the tranny such that he could get at the sensor easier. I have changed my subframe bushings and know that lowering them a bit is no big deal. There are four subframe bolts that go up through the donut shaped bushings. If you back the rears off but do not remove them you may gain just enough space to do the job. You can back them out a good inch and a half as I recall. You might try backing one side all the way out to gauge how far you can go.
Good luck. Let us know how it goes.
I have not done the job, but did correspond with someone who did. You might search older posts to see what you find. However, I believe he said that he loosened the rear subframe bolts thereby lowering the tranny such that he could get at the sensor easier. I have changed my subframe bushings and know that lowering them a bit is no big deal. There are four subframe bolts that go up through the donut shaped bushings. If you back the rears off but do not remove them you may gain just enough space to do the job. You can back them out a good inch and a half as I recall. You might try backing one side all the way out to gauge how far you can go.
Good luck. Let us know how it goes.
busboy4
06-22-2004, 07:33 PM
Hi, I just found the old message I was talking about:
Hey Busboy,
I got under the windstar today. Pulled out the old VSS (didn't have to remove the manifold) and put it on the bench. I put it in my bench vise, hooked it up to a drill that has a throttle lock and hooked it up to my ac volt tester. It put out from 0 to 6 volts ac. depending on how fast I ran the drill. Now the real test. I got out my handy dandy propane torch, and warmed it up from a distance while I continued to spin it with the drill motor. Presto, after just a couple of minutes of 'warming' the voltage dropped to zero. Shut off the heat and in a few minutes the voltage comes back. Replaced it with one from Advance $28 bucks. Not too bad. I got it out by lowering the transaxle subframe by loosening the rear mounting bolts but not too far! I have smaller arms so I could worm my hand in there and pull it out without too much trouble. I also made up some heat shielding from aluminum sheeting I had laying around and some insulation. Thanks for your input.
Kenny
Hey Busboy,
I got under the windstar today. Pulled out the old VSS (didn't have to remove the manifold) and put it on the bench. I put it in my bench vise, hooked it up to a drill that has a throttle lock and hooked it up to my ac volt tester. It put out from 0 to 6 volts ac. depending on how fast I ran the drill. Now the real test. I got out my handy dandy propane torch, and warmed it up from a distance while I continued to spin it with the drill motor. Presto, after just a couple of minutes of 'warming' the voltage dropped to zero. Shut off the heat and in a few minutes the voltage comes back. Replaced it with one from Advance $28 bucks. Not too bad. I got it out by lowering the transaxle subframe by loosening the rear mounting bolts but not too far! I have smaller arms so I could worm my hand in there and pull it out without too much trouble. I also made up some heat shielding from aluminum sheeting I had laying around and some insulation. Thanks for your input.
Kenny
kacssk
06-24-2004, 12:22 PM
Okay guys, I brought our 98 Windstar to Ford Repair shop to replace the vehicle speed sensor. I had the codes read and it said that the VSS needed replaced. When I left the Repair shop, The speedometer was STILL NOT WORKING!!!! I am soooo pissed off. I thought that replacing the VSS was going to take care of it!!! Does anyone know what else could be causing the speedometer not to work?
Automotive Network, Inc., Copyright ©2026