Speed Sensor?

Hey... I have a 94 with a manual tranny... I just noticed today that the "up arrow" on the dash that comes on while shifting does not come on anymore... I know that dumb little arrow is supposed to be telling you when to shift for fuel economy reasons, so I am wondering if something is wrong in that circuit could it be effecting my fuel?
My mileage is down, but I also have a coolant issue right now that is messing with the temp sesnors so I was blaming it on that.

Any ideas on where to look for the sensor that is connected to that dash light? I have never paid attention to it before. I don't know if it is the sensor that is with the speedo cable or if it is one of the connectors mounted on the side of the tranny.

Come to think of it... I was getting error codes about the speed sensor awhile back... I popped the hood and wiggled wires and the light went out and I didn't think anything else of it...

Any thoughts? Is the speed sensor the right one to be thinking about?

could just be the bulb died

The speed sensor goes into the Electronic engine control and the circuit for the upshift indicator goes into the EEC. The power source for it is a 15 amp fuse in the passenger fuse block called the meter fuse. This power source goes directly to the upshift indicator in the instrument cluster. Then the wiring goes to the BACKUP/UPSHIFT switch. Then it goes into the transmissioin. Then it goes to the EEC. Check your backup lights. If they work then the culprit is the bulb. If the backup lights don't work then probably the BACKUP/UPSHIFT SWITCH IS BAD. On my 97 the switch is on the front of the trannie down on the bottom.. Don't know where it is on other models. The wiring going into the switch is Y/W. Coming out of the switch is LG/R. This is all for a 91-96 1.9 Escort. Oh yeah forgot to mention the wires in the backup switch. They are B/Y going in and R/DG coming out.

Awesome info.. thanks. I'll check it during the week and let ya know what happens.

ANy idea if my fuel economy would be effected by the switch going bad?

Shouldn't have any affect on your gas mileage. Some of the sensors on the engine signal the EEC to a rich mixture if they are disconnected or not working.

Well... turned out that my backup lights work. I haven't seen a schematic on it yet, but if what you said is true then the bulb would be out... certainly not worth tearing the dash apart to change that.

My mileage has gone down though... if the sensor has nothing to do with it, I dunno what to look at :( Hmm...

Hmm... I changed the thermostat this weekend... somehow in the process of doing that I must have wiggled the right wires... because now the shift indicator works again. Frickin old cars... they can never make up their minds!