Speedometer Trouble

[Sthrnba711]

I did search but just have a few questions to make sure I have the correct part that is causing my problem.
When driving, usually on the freeway, my speedometer will drop to 0mph and then jump back up to the correct speed. This doesnt happen all the time just occasionally and recently. From searching I think its my VSS, but this is the only symptom I have. No warnings or alerts show up or flash and my transmission isnt messing up or flashing the S light or any other indication. Is my VSS or something else. Not sure cause of only one symtom and others seemed to have a few. Thanks for your help.

[DhN]

yeh its your vss..its goin back..as time goes on itll happen more frequently..and your cel will pop on

[Sthrnba711]

Okay thanks, wasnt sure cause thats the only sign of a problem right now, and others seem to have mulitple problems.

[aero]

Yeah, sooner or later, your CEL will start to come on. I didnt get any other problems than that. I think its actually the gear in the tranny. Its a plastic piece instead of metal, so sometimes they break. But you have to get the whole assembly for a new one.

[Sthrnba711]

On my way home tonight The S light started flashing and the check engine ligth came on. How long can I ride with a bad VSS before it messes something up or will the speedometer just not work right.

[aero]

your car should run fine. Havent done it on an auto, but when i had my last car, i drove for a year and a half w/o one. your spedometer wont work, and neither will the odometer.

[Sthrnba711]

The reason why I was asking is that it might be a week or two before I can get it fixed and didnt want to screw anything up. I drove a little more tonight and it was fine so its just going to be working and not working i guess.

[accrdpower]

u'll be fine....only thing is u won't know how fast your going and your odometer won't work. but changing it on a auto is sooo simple. simple unbolt and bolt in new one basically. i did mine a few months ago. maybe a 10-15min job. DEF DEF DEF get the part online through like rockauto or somthing bc the dealership or autozone or napa will charge anywhere from 130-$150. got mine online for about $43+shipping with a lifetime warrenty

[Sthrnba711]

Yeah i have been looking online for them. My question is how hard is it to intall though. I dont have a lot of tools or knowledge when dealing with things like this. I can do the basics and some more things but nothing to complicated and hate trying when its an important repair. Should i just get the part and take it to a shop to do the work?

[Ghostyman]

It's very easy to change the VSS. Get a manual if you don't have one. It will walk you through it step-by-step. It will take less than 20 minutes even if you put your tools away slow.

Driving without a bad VSS is fine. In addition to the things listed above (spedometer, odometer), your cruise control might not work and your car might idle 100-200 RPMs lower. Some of those will occur even without a CEL.

Don't take it to a shop. It's not worth it.

[accrdpower]

mainly all it is is like 2 or 3 bolts to undo then pull vss off and make sure u take the little piece with it.....put new vss in and put the bolts back in....it probably even easier than installing a battery lol so yea real easy. 15min tops even if u are totaly clueless

[Sthrnba711]

Okay i thought it would be fairly easy to do but just wanted to make sure. I have a haynes manuel but couldnt find the VSS swap in there.

[Accord_exR]

mine vss was bad i drove about 2 months with it bad in my auto and no engine problems my s light flashed and check engine light came on the speed worked on occasion but i just went to the junk yard today (well yesterday) and got one along with 2 vents, new grill and the H emblem from the trunk of a civic.lol

[F22-GURU]

It will affect Fuel Economy & Emissions and you won't have optimum power because the ECU reverts to a Default Mode for the VSS Signals, but it will still be driveable. Just replace it when finances permit. Autos tend to have shift problems but nothing drastic.

[wrichards2005]

It will affect Fuel Economy & Emissions and you won't have optimum power because the ECU reverts to a Default Mode for the VSS Signals, but it will still be driveable. Just replace it when finances permit. Autos tend to have shift problems but nothing drastic.

I agree, when mine was out it always felt like it had less power, etc... It also seemed like it shifted at a different point when the VSS wasn't workin, but maybe it was just my imagination...