Vehicle Speed Sensor

97 Taurus. Where Is the VSS? I know it is on the passengar side of the trany, but I can't find it. I think I get at it from under the car, is this correct? If someone can help me out I would appreciate it.

I found it. How do you get a ratchet on it? I can see it from the bottom, but I cant reach the bolt with anything. Do I somehow get to it from the top?

Its done. in case anyone else has to do this, the best way is as follows:

1) stand on the drivers side of the car by the fender

2) use a flashlight to look into the engine at an angle. Under cylinder two is the speed senor.

3) reach in and unhook the cable from the sensor

4) use a 10 millimeter ratchet with a short extension to undo the bolt. Be careful not to lose the bolt.

5) pull the sensor out towards you.

After you have the sensor out, you need to remove the rubber thing on the tip (a gear). It has a retainer clip holding it on. Be careful not to lose the retainer clip.

The hardest part is getting the bolt back in after you put in the new sensor.

One thing to note is that both the Haynes manual and the Taurus shop manual tell you to get at t from under the car. I still can't figure out how one would do that.

Thank you for the information!

-Rod

I had the VSS fail on my '97 in 2000. I changed it from underneath by reaching up, pulling the plug off, then using a 10mm socket with extension over the top side. I had to use a small mirror to get it lined up. Then, to put it back in I used a piece of clear plastic tubing (about 6" long) with a nail punch inside to straighten its natural tendency to curve. The bolt head fit nice and snug inside the tubing. Finished it off with the socket of course. One bad thing happened, though - the plastic plug's locking tab cracked. I ended up wrapping a nylon tie around the plug to keep it from rattling off over time. It's been in there for 7 years now.