'94 Taurus Vehicle Speed Sensor

I am trying to replace a Vehicle Speed Sensor on my 1994 Ford Taurus. What is the best way to access this part. I found it, but it does not look like an easy job to access it for replacement.

Took this out of my book:

Raise vehicle on a hoist.

2. Remove dual converter Y pipe (5F250) and heated oxygen sensors (HO2S) (9F472) from the exhaust system.

3. Remove vehicle speed sensor shield (VSS shield) (9F829).

4. Remove bolt retaining VSS mounting clip to transaxle.

5. Remove vehicle speed sensor and driven gear from transaxle.

6. Disconnect electrical connector and speedometer cable from vehicle speed sensor.

NOTE:
Do not attempt to remove spring retaining clip from driven gear with speedometer cable in vehicle speed sensor.

7. Remove speedometer driven gear retainer (17292) and driven gear from vehicle speed sensor.


Installation

1. Position driven gear to vehicle speed sensor. Install speedometer driven gear retainer.

2. Connect electrical connector to vehicle speed sensor.

3. Ensure internal O-ring is seated properly in VSS housing. Snap speed control cable and vehicle speed sensor (9F714) into VSS housing.

4. Install vehicle speed sensor into transaxle and secure with retaining bolt. Tighten to 3.4-4.5 N-m (30-40 lb-in).

5. Install vehicle speed sensor shield.

6. Install dual converter Y pipe and heated oxygen sensors to exhaust system with two retaining bolts. Tighten to 34-46 N-m (25-34 lb-ft).

7. Lower vehicle and verify proper speedometer/odometer operation.

I just replaced mine via the driver topside.. takes a long reach and a 10mm socket... have to feel it alot .. cant see it. Took me about an hour..

Transmission was jerking.. to low gears.. VERY HARD JERKS.
and the cruise was intermittent.

GOOD LUCK

Hey, buddd 98, He's right, Do it from the top and save yourself a lot of hard work, I did a number of them that way...Not a hard job, You just have to SEE with your fingers,Not your eyes....Good Luck, Clay..

I just replaced mine via the driver topside.. takes a long reach and a 10mm socket... have to feel it alot .. cant see it. Took me about an hour..

Transmission was jerking.. to low gears.. VERY HARD JERKS.
and the cruise was intermittent.

GOOD LUCK
My parents have a 1993 Taurus, It is doing this "jerking" thing when you slow down to make a turn or to make a stop, but don't stop completely. When you give it gas to start accelerating again, it starts jerking until it finally down shifts into low gear. Is this possibly related to the speed sensor? How would you test it to find out, without taking it to have it hooked up to a computer?

Have you tried the cruise control/automatic speed control? If so, and it doesn't work reliably, then VSS would be a reasonable, not too expensive starting point.

If you really want to test it, remove it from the car, pull out your multimeter, and spin the VSS with a drill or similar. The VSS is basically an AC motor and will generate a voltage based upon how fast it it turning. The sensor is a Hall Effect sensor.

-Rod

Have you tried the cruise control/automatic speed control? If so, and it doesn't work reliably, then VSS would be a reasonable, not too expensive starting point.

If you really want to test it, remove it from the car, pull out your multimeter, and spin the VSS with a drill or similar. The VSS is basically an AC motor and will generate a voltage based upon how fast it it turning. The sensor is a Hall Effect sensor.

-Rod
Will have to check that out this weekend.

Tried the "from the top" thing this past weekend, no luck. Never could reach far enough to touch it. Going to try again this coming weekend. Going to go through the passenger side wheel well. Remove the rear motor mount and the bracket that bolts it to the engine and transmission. I should be able to get to it then, hopefully.

Hey, Beltman......Get a 24 inch long 1/4 inch drive extensiojn, a 10mm flex socket and ratchet and go straight down at the vss, It is located on top of the trans where the passenger side drive axle fits into the trans...It's SIMPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!,,,,,,Clay.

Hey, Beltman,,,,I almost forgot,,,,,Check out the gear on the VSS,,,and don't forget the gear IN THE TRANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!,these things get worn out, Common problem,,,,,,,,,,,,SEE YA, Clay...

Finally changed bitch today. Had a hell of a time too. Went in through the passenger wheel well. Had to remove the rear motor mount and the upper motor mount bracket. Like to have never got the little heat shield, that covers the VSS, off. I really don't think I could have done it from the top entirely, but you do have to do some of it from the top.

So did it at least fix your issue? :)

-Rod

So did it at least fix your issue? :)

-Rod
Yes.

Here are some pics of the sensor, for those who would like to know what it looks like....

http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/6933/vss09af2.jpg
http://img400.imageshack.us/img400/6774/vss08hr2.jpg
http://img322.imageshack.us/img322/8830/vss07kn5.jpg

This is the old sensor, the gear has been removed and installed on the new sensor. I wish I had thought to take some pics while the gear was still on.

beltman 713 your car have AC??

beltman 713 your car have AC??


Yes, it did. It was my mother's car. It is long gone now.

aand you changed the speed sensor from above?

aand you changed the speed sensor from above?

I think I had to do it through the passenger side wheel well with the tire removed from the car.