odometer speedometer abs light

[olliek]

Windstar LX 2000 3.8
hi guys

we were driving on the interstate today - my wife said she smelled rubber, shortly after that the ABS light came on and the speedometer and odometer went as well. Apart from that the car works ok.

The cruise control. It was gone for a long time but the other day it came back and was on and off since then. Shortly before all the above happened it was working. Obviously not now anymore. We also had a problem with the OBD not communicating with the safety inspection, but the guy at the garage said they forced it, as he noticed that when putting more power on his handheld it was communicating after all. whatever this means????

Oh and also we noticed that our AC is not blowing cold air anymore it. Other than that no bigger problems~!!!LOL

I read a thread about the VSS? What is a VSS. The break switch in the sticky thread at top of the forum?
I haven't done work on a car for a while. Although generally not bad when it comes to fixing things. I'd like to fix myself as I am absolutely broke.

So any help would be appreciated. THANX.

[wiswind]

As to the VSS, that is the Vehicle Speed Sensor.
The VSS is mounted in the transmision.....physically on the back side....at about the middle.
There is a little gear that turns a electrical speed sensor....and drives the cable that goes up to the speedometer/odometer in the dashboard.

The PCM uses the electrical signal for transmission shift points, etc and for the ABS system.....to compare to the wheel speed sensors.

The VSS would be a easy replacement.....except that it is a very difficult location to get at.
I have not done this repair, but those who have.....and posted here report that it is hard to get at......above one of the catalytic converters......and has a heat shield....

For the Cruise control......the first thing to check would be the brake pressure switch that is located on the bottom of the master cylinder......has the electrical wires going to it.

[olliek]

ok, I sound like an idiot here - but whats the PCM?

so there is 2 repairs....

[wiswind]

PCM = Powertrain Control Module.
That is the computer that controls the motor.
On the windstar, the computer and the Ignition Control Module (maybe called other things also) are combined into 1 unit.....which may be why they call it by the name "PCM".
In short.....it is the computer.....and the drive unit in 1.
Drive unit.....it directly drives the fuel injectors and ignition coil, etc.

Fortunately, on the Windstar, the PCM rarely fails.