The Saga Continues.

mcornell · #1 06-08-2006, 08:33 AM

For those of you following my tales of woe it continues on with the story of the two garages.
I first had my truck (2001 4x4 super crew 4.6 auto ) (no speedometer, odometer blinking OD and missing gears) taken to a local garage. Very good place that works on alot of state and local gov vehicles. The mechanic was very knowledgeable and after 5 hours of going over the truck was stumped. Payment fee for his time .... Take the truck to Ford Dealer and when they fix it let him know what the problem was. Sounded good to me.
Well I limped the truck to the local Ford Garage and explained my problem. They said it would be a $35. diagnostic fee and then we could go from there. So of course we went from there. The Ford tech working on my truck said that the code (VSS not responding) which I already knew, was poping up and the sensor was however fine. Heres where they get me. He stated that they would have to "DIG INTO" the problem and follow the wireing from start to end to see where the problem is. Of course this "DIGGING IN" is costing me $75. an hour and no garantee it will be fixed. You would think with all todays technology this would be an easy problem to solve.
I sure miss my old 1980 F150 4X4 short bed reg cab auto with the 300 6 cyl. I bought it in 1985 when I graduated High School. It had 65 thousand miles on it and was a hoot to drive. I sold it in 2001 ( it was sitting in the garage as a back up vehicle) and it had well over 200,000 miles on it. The only problem I ever fixed on it was a bad choke and rusted gas tank strap. The kid I sold it to is still runnning it. I would bet it has over 300,000 miles on it now.
Oh well I have my fingers crossed sitting by the phone waiting for that dreaded call from Ford.

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projectSHO89 · #2 06-08-2006, 09:42 AM

What is the exact code? There are several possible for VSS-functional failures.

On the 4WD, VSS data is from the transfer case speed sensor or from the 4RABS module.

Good luck, you're gonna need it.

Steve

NHguy · #3 06-08-2006, 11:14 AM

In defense of the tech, he pulled the code for himself with the Ford code puller & now he is going through your problem in, hopefully , the most logical process. If you get to talk to him, ask him to try another VSS, they are cheap. If no he will have to follow a diacnostic process based on the stored info and vehicle condition. Hang in there, maybe the next call will be "we know what is wrong", of course it could just as easily be "we need more diagnostic time to chase the problem". A fully versed tech knows enough to check by symptom and check what is indicated. There should be documentation of time spent for any time billed. Any shop that is qualified to diagnose your problem better be able to show what they billed you for.
Good luck

mcornell · #4 06-08-2006, 01:32 PM

OK got a call and was advised that the VSS was located on the tail shaft of the tranny. However it is located on the very top drivers side and can only be viewed while the truck is on a lift. This part was removed and the problem they are having now is locating a replacement. Seems no one in south western PA has one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The tech advised that it is either this sensor or the main computer is bad. Again the saga continues.