Replacing the speed sensor

[amiracle]

Has anyone replaced their speed sensor? I have a 96 Taurus. I have the Chilton manual and was wondering if this is possible for someone to do with moderate car skills.

Last time I had the shop fix it but they want hundreds of dollars.

Thanks in advance

Angie

[Willyum]

I've replaced speed sensors in other model vehicles from instructions out of Chilton books, if you follow step by step you should be able to do it. I found that the part is quite expensive new but I bought them from an auto salvage yard.

[gator44]

We are trying to replace speed sensor on 93 taurus but can't locate it.

[suppesm]

Yes, it's not hard at all to replace it. I have a 97 and it takes me about three minutes to replace it. Just get you a chiltons and follow the directions. Mine is located at the back of the engine on top of the transmission. The hardest part is finding it. Then once you take out the bolt holding it on you just have to wiggle it back an forth to get the o-ring to let go.

hope this helps.

[Colt Hero]

Originally Posted by amiracle

Has anyone replaced their speed sensor? I have a 96 Taurus. I have the Chilton manual and was wondering if this is possible for someone to do with moderate car skills.

Last time I had the shop fix it but they want hundreds of dollars.

Thanks in advance

Angie

I did one on my '97 about two years after I put it on the road brand new. I had a heck of a time, but I'm not a mechanic. It's on top of the tranny case. I got underneath the car and reached up a fairly narrow channel to put a 10mm? socket on the single bolt that holds it in place. I had to use one of those small dental mirrors because from underneath you can't see what you're doing. I remember putting the bolt back in after reinserting the sensor I used a piece of plastic tubing as an extension to get the bolt started. The tubing held the head of the bolt really well, but I had to slide a metal punch inside the tubing to keep it (mostly) straight because the tubing had a natural curve to it. The plug is fairly short. After you pull the sensor out, it will dangle by the plug fairly high up there - sort of awkward to unplug while laying underneath. I paid $35 for my sensor at AutoZone. It didn't come with the plastic gear on the end (I have the AX4S tranny, it you have the AX4N, I think that one DOES come with the gear ... make sure you get the right sensor, they're different sizes). Anyway, I just popped off the old plastic gear and put it on the new sensor. But check out those teeth on the gear. If they're broken, you'll need to buy a new gear ($8 at the dealer).

Maybe this can be done from the TOP of the engine, but to me it looked even harder to get at from that side - there is a heat shield over the top of it for one thing, and it's not a straight shot downward to it...

In summary, it's conceptually very easy: one bolt, one plug. But angle and positioning to get it out and put it back in is everything...