Check engine light and weird excelleration?

[ahdi7]

Ok straight to the point. I was driving home last night and all of a sudden my car starts slowing down for no reason, i gas it but i just hear engine reving and minimal excelleration. then all of a sudden the car gets a kick and starts going normal again.

Also the Service Engine Soon light went one and the Speedometer stoped working. it sits at 0 and somtimes moves up and down. how weird. I cant explain too well but if anyone knows whats going on or has some questions ill try to answer to help figure it out. thanks

[jeffcoslacker]

Sounds like the VSS is going out.

Vehicle speed sensor. Might be making the tranny shift weird, causing what you experienced. Check your tranny fluid for proper level, then get that code read by AutoZone if you can't do it.

If it indicated VSS error, that's what I'd replace.

[ahdi7]

about how much would that cost. and how long would it take to replace. do u think it could be antying else becuase im taking my car on a 600 mile trip in 5 days and just a lil worried.

[jeffcoslacker]

Originally Posted by ahdi7

about how much would that cost. and how long would it take to replace. do u think it could be antying else becuase im taking my car on a 600 mile trip in 5 days and just a lil worried.

Never bought one, never installed one, don't even know where it goes (other than in the tranny somewhere), never had a problem with one.

But it sounded logical to me since it

A. Gives your speedometer signal, and
B. Tells the ECM how fast the car is moving, so it can compare that with load on the motor, throttle opening, etc, and make adjustments and gear change commands as needed.

Sorry I can't help more. but that is the only part I can think of that is common to both systems (speedo and tranny).

[ahdi7]

Thanks i got it checked out and that was the exact problem. for parts and labor the estimate was about $180. thanks again.

[ahdi7]

Thanks i got it checked out and that was the exact problem. for parts and labor the estimate was about $180. thanks again.

[ahdi7]

Hey Jeff since ur a mechanic and all. lets say i dont fix this problem with my car and i keep on driving it for about a month. would it do any damage or create new problems to this vehicle.

[jeffcoslacker]

Well, like I said, I haven't had any experiences with VSS problems, but no, other than maybe stranding you, I don't think it would really hurt the car, unless the shifts got so whacked out that it was really shocking the driveline. I don't know if that would happen.

I'm really the wrong person to ask about this.

[jeffcoslacker]

I bet it's something pretty easy to do yourself, if you can find out where it goes. That's pretty cheap for a part and labor. Can't take too long or be too difficult, sounds like.

I tried to look it up on AutoZone's component locator for you, but it wasn't listed.

[ahdi7]

thanks for trying. but $180 was what the guy from autozone told me. it was $65 for the part and he guessed it would take about 1 hour to install for about $120 bucks. ill see if i can find any info on how to install one.

[jeffcoslacker]

I found a description of the replacement on an older GM FWD, '87 Pontiac 6000, and it showed it going into the trans case from the outside, round unit with a gear shaft going down into the tranny.

If you saw the part, you could probably find it on your tranny.

[ahdi7]

even if i found the transmission i dont have any tools at all.

[Scott-Ohio]

what year is your lumina? do you have the 3.1 liter motor?

while it's not easy to see/feel, i'm fairly certain the vss is accessed from the above engine on passenger side about 2/3 back towards firewall. since the drive belt is so easily removed, it may be beneficial to remove it first and you may also make it easier to reach by removing the 2 engine struts in front and tilting engine forward with tranny in neutral and parking brake on.

you should be able to find that part for about $40-45, it's $42 at advance auto for a gp sorensen unit with a 1 yr warr.

you'll need very few tools to get at it, but before shelling out any money, check your wires near the connector as you may have a problem with one (or both) wire(s) and not actually the sensor itself.

if it's a 3.1, remove the air filter and housing, then the 8mm (head) bolt to the negative battery terminal, set parking brake, place gear in neutral (may need to turn key to ignition position to shift into neutral), remove 2 15mm nuts holding strut to upper engine mounts, tilt motor forward and either re-insert bolt (mid 90's & older) or use ratcheting strap (like used to secure load in pickup) for mid 90's & newer.

bundle up an old blanket and place it on top of the intake manifold and climb up and kneel on the blanket--believe me, your knees will thank you for the padding! look/feel down on top of tranny as you put your hand/arm down between alternator and firewall. skinny arms are helpful at this point! it's only held in place with one, small bolt, 10mm i think.

[ahdi7]

thanks for all your help but a funny thing happened yesterday was driving and the check engine light just went off, and the car was driving normal again. how weird do u think it could be just loose or somthing. what do u suggest now.

[jeffcoslacker]

Check the connection at the sensor.