Speed Sensor

The Speedo in my 00 jetta 2.0 5 speed quit working and the check engine light came on also the fuel gage seem to fluctuate. I have a OBD 2 Computer a work and it says that the vss is giving the code. I replaced the speed sensor and no change. Is there anything else that could be the problem? Jer

I've seen where the problem is actually the small plastic gear that drives the speed sensor. They usually keep them at VW & it isn't hard to replace.

I've seen where the problem is actually the small plastic gear that drives the speed sensor. They usually keep them at VW & it isn't hard to replace.


Hi Boschman

I have the same problem. I changed the VSS as well as the small plastic gear but the problem is not solved. In my case the speedo works sometimes and sometimes it doesnt. When the speedo doesnt work the odometer also doesnt work but when speedo works the odo also works.
Please help!

Auto or manual? Are you sure you replaced the right speed sensor?

Auto or manual? Are you sure you replaced the right speed sensor?

Its an auto tranny (2.0 GL 97). I replaced the sensor which comes with a gear plastic (shaft and also a pinion). This VSS is right behind the engine which goes on the top of the tranny. The VSS is cylindrical in shape (hollow inside) with a pin in the middle. As far as I know, there is another VSS next to the battery which also goes into the tranny (this not the one I replaced). Also, ther RPM meter works perfectly. I hope this info helps you to help me.

Tachometer is driven off the ignition pulses. I believe the one to the rear, behind the engine is for the speedometer try pulling the wire to each of them & see which one kills the speedo to be sure.

Tachometer is driven off the ignition pulses. I believe the one to the rear, behind the engine is for the speedometer try pulling the wire to each of them & see which one kills the speedo to be sure.

I did pull out the cable for the one (VSS) next to the battery and tried reading the tachometer, it didnt work, putting the cable back made the tachometer read the speed, so i think that the one behind the battery kills the speedo and also the checkengine light came up with P0722 & P0723 codes. It ceased the shifting of gears meaning the vehicle runs only in lower gear (gears do not shift to higher ones). I erased the codes, that helped restoring shifting of gears.

Looks like the problem was actually my reverse light bulb. It is conected to the same fuse that feeds the speed sensor. The bulb had a short in it and kept popping the fuse. If anyone else has this problem check fuse # 7 to see if it is blown. So much engineering in the car and they hook the reverse lights to the speedo. Good move. Thank's for the suggestions.

Are you sure fuse #7 for the reverse lights was related, as I see no link to the speedometer or tachometer? I'd be interested to know if there was some definite relation such as if you pull fuse #7 the speedo quits.