[robertth]

I have been having those symptoms of the a bad VSS or rear ABS sensor: flashing overdrive light, ABS light on and off, and just today, it affected the speedometer. But I also had my overhead readout die recently and didn't think of the possiblity that its failure could be related. Does anyone know if this is the case?

Also, does taking the VSS out and cleaning it off ever help for a while or am I just going to need to get a replacement?

Bob

 

[action4478]

[ QUOTE ]
Also, does taking the VSS out and cleaning it off ever help for a while or am I just going to need to get a replacement?


[/ QUOTE ] The VSS is not much money. Maybe $25.00...Look closely at the mounting surface for rust, & check the wiring from the frame & make sure the connection is clean & tight.Also , be carefull with the plastic clip on the connector. Make SURE you don't break it

 

[cycletraderman]

Mine was dead when I bought it. I asked around and found this. It works great! took about half an hour start to finish to complete. Just grab the back of the computer housing where the little storage hole is, and pull firmly, it is held in with little spring clips. Also, check the other "problem" resistors. I had one that had fallen off completely and was laying in the bottom of the housing, and another haning on by one end. Like he says real hot solder iron for a short amount of time to keep from frying stuff.

http://www.forgotton.net/diesel/tripcomputerfix/indexframe.html

Good luck.

 

[robertth]

I replaced the abs sensor with one from Checker made by Raybestos (their part number 530780). It was $11.99. When I took my old one out it had lots of metal filings. I cleaned out the hole a little and put it back in at which point it attracted more metal. I did this a couple of times and then the o-ring, which was loose anyway, got torn. I was going to try to reuse the old one but switched to the new one at this point. I'm thinking maybe the old one just needed cleaning off because when I compared the power of the magnets, the new one wasn't any stronger than the old one. I won't know the answer to that question until the new one fails, which hopefully won't happen for 7 more years.

Anyway, my problem with the abs light and flashing o/d light and occassional speedometer misreads is now fixed.

It's just amazing how much this site has saved me. I went to a Ford dealer who wanted 51.77 for the sensor. Then they would have charged me something over 100 for reading the abs codes. Who knows what else they would have found to add on? The 51.54 number is exactly double 25.77, the actual list price. Powerstrokeshop only charges 18.65, which is where I would have gotten it had I had my act together earlier. I don't know how ford dealers actually stay in business when customers find that they overcharge to such a substantial degree.

The computer display still doesn't work. Must be a separate problem. I'll see if my resistors are loose. Thanks for the link. Another project which will save me money. Got to love it!

Bob

 

[pristine]

Bob, I had problems some time ago with the VSS. I took it out and cleaned it up. It worked for about month and failed again. I chucked it and put in a new one. No problems since. FWIW
jgr

 

[ELLIOT02]

Thanks TexasStroker for the link on the overhead console fix.Mine just went blank the other day and the"hit to fix" remedy is not working anymore. A loose solder connection makes perfect sense. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif

 

[action4478]

[ QUOTE ]
When I took my old one out it had lots of metal filings

[/ QUOTE ] It might be a good idea to change the rear diff fluid. While you are in there you may be able to tell where the filings came from, BTW, if you don't. the VSS problem will return eventually....