No speedometer

Tiny
1RCASE1
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 FORD WINDSTAR
My speedometer quit working about a week ago. The odometer isn't working either. I have warning lights on the dash for the brakes and airbag. Once in drive, the Overdrive light flashes continually. The air compressor does not engage even though the led on the controls comes on.
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Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009 AT 8:23 PM

21 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,468 POSTS
Hello,

It sounds like you have a vehicle speed sensor that has gone out and needs replacement. You will need to jack the car up to replace it.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/jack-up-and-lift-your-car-safely

Here is a VSS location diagram (below) for the sensor you may find it on Amazon or Rockauto

Please let us know what happens.

Cheers, Ken
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Monday, June 5th, 2017 AT 5:02 PM
Tiny
ELISELC2000
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2000 FORD WINDSTAR
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 130,000 MILES
Electrical problem
2000 Ford Windstar 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 130000 miles

Heater and speedometer stopped working and I don't know why.
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Monday, June 5th, 2017 AT 5:04 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LARISSA_KLOCK
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I had the same problem on my 2000 Windstar not too long ago. I was informed by local mechanic that it was actually a warranty issue.
I thought my brake cylinder was bad, but it turned out to be the brake pressure switch and it kept blowing fuses. I replaced it and haven't had any trouble since.

Hope this helps!
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Monday, June 5th, 2017 AT 5:04 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SCOTT77
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I had the same issue in my 2000 windstar but for me the problem was break fluid dripping onto my cruise control harness and shorting out the items running on that fuse. Speedometer, cruise control, heater etc. After disconnecting the CC harness no more problems but also no more CC. :-0)
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Monday, June 5th, 2017 AT 5:04 PM (Merged)
Tiny
2CP-ARCHIVES
  • MEMBER
  • 4,544 POSTS
  • 1999 FORD WINDSTAR
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 92,000 MILES
1999 Ford Windstar mileage: 92,000. Recently we had another new transmission replaced (the second one in less than a year and the warranty had just went out on the first one) in our van. They also replaced the speedometer cable, after reaching 40 mph it was swinging back and forth between 40-65 mph making it difficult to get an accurate speed (that didn't work). My question is do we need to have the speedometer head replaced/rebuilt and will that damage the transmission if we don't get it done right away?
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Monday, June 5th, 2017 AT 5:04 PM (Merged)
Tiny
2CP-ARCHIVES
  • MEMBER
  • 4,544 POSTS
The speedometer problem may be caused by the speedometer cable binding or the speedometer head itself. If it is the cable, other than the uneven speed reading, it should cause no problems. If it is the head, it may break the new cable.
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Monday, June 5th, 2017 AT 5:04 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SCOTRIANI
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
  • 1998 FORD WINDSTAR
OK - I know - you buy a used car, you buy someone else's problems. That being said. I bought a 98 windstar with a non-functioning speedo. Thought to myself that it can either be (1) bass VSS, (2) bad speedo, or (3) bad speedo cable. So, I checked the VSS visually and looks good, checked with tester, reads good. Plugged in the actron and ran the current data and vehicle speed is being passed properly to the OBD. Must be the speedo. So, I take off the speedo and replace, still no go. Notice that not only is there not a speedometer cable in this van, there doesn't even seem to be any reasonable place for one to be. I know in 98 some Windstars had digital clusters and some had analog. Currently, this thing has analog, but the previous owner did some funky stuff in the past and replacing a digital with an analog seems right up their alley.

My question is either this: Should I just buy a speedo cable and run it to the cluster?
OR
Is there any way Ford can tell me off of the VIN if this thing did have a digital cluster to begin with
OR
Are the plugs the same in the back for the digital vs. Analog? If so, can I just get a digital one, plug it in, and ignore the speedometer cable altogether?

98 Windstar, 94683 miles. Speedo/Odometer not working, speed is being sent properly to the computer, though.
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Monday, June 5th, 2017 AT 5:04 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BRUCE HUNT
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,753 POSTS
I would venture that off of the tranny there is either a connection for a cable or not. It is possible that they have both on the tranny during a period of conversion. If the speedometer has a connection for the cable, that is what I would go with after making sure the tranny connection is turning properly.
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Monday, June 5th, 2017 AT 5:04 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SCOTRIANI
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
Justanold - you may have solved this (if not, you sure know a hell of alot more than every stroke I have talked to at the three dealerships around me and gave me something to look at it). I will run up right now and check this out and let you know what I find
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Monday, June 5th, 2017 AT 5:04 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SCOTRIANI
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
OK - first thing, no fuse at 35 - owner's manual shows it as not used. There is a fuse (15A) at 25 that is OK. So then I checked the cluster connections and I have voltage on all of the right places and a good ground on it. Here is a pic of the back of the cluster that I removed...


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/79456_DSC02308_1.jpg


And a closeup of where I think the speedo cable should be:


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/79456_DSC02310_1.jpg


My concern is that I don't see any evidence that a cable used to be in there... but I looked at the back of a digital cluster from a 97 and the connections seem different than the two clips I have there. Any thoughts?
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Monday, June 5th, 2017 AT 5:04 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SCOTRIANI
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
Build date 6/98. Engine 3.8L v6
So, I started checking connections and I have a subscription to Alldata for this van. So far, troubleshooted stepsF1-F5. Got to F6 which told me to check resistance on C397 for less than 5 ohms in run. I'm at 6 ohms. Now here is where the trouble comes in. It says to service 397 and retest. I have experience in electronics (primarily guitar and amp repair, stereo stuff, etc.). If it tells me to service 397, do they want to have me replace the cable? Or can I put a resistor inline to bring it below 5 ohms?
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Monday, June 5th, 2017 AT 5:04 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SCOTRIANI
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
F78F-10C956 - B
That looks like the part number (right on the PCB)

As far as an accident. I bought the van used. No serious accidents from what I could tell. It does look like at one point there was a minor front end impact which required a replace and respray of the front bumper.
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Monday, June 5th, 2017 AT 5:04 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SCOTRIANI
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/79456_DSC02313_1.jpg



https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/79456_DSC02314_1.jpg



https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/79456_DSC02315_1.jpg

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Monday, June 5th, 2017 AT 5:04 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SCOTRIANI
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
It's hard getting a clear picture... all of these were taken with the camera sitting on the floor so I can't get a good wide angle. I hope these help. If not, let me know more specifically what you're looking for and I can see what I can do. Thanks!


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/79456_DSC02316_1.jpg



https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/79456_DSC02317_1.jpg



https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/79456_DSC02320_1.jpg



https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/79456_DSC02321_1.jpg



https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/79456_DSC02322_1.jpg



https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/79456_DSC02323_1.jpg



https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/79456_DSC02323_1.jpg



https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/79456_DSC02324_1.jpg



https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/79456_DSC02325_1.jpg

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Monday, June 5th, 2017 AT 5:04 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SCOTRIANI
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
Wow. OK - so that worked. I have no idea why because my chilton's book, my alldata, and my haynes as well as the owner's manual mention 35 as not used. So, now can I ask what that fuse controls so I can make a note in my stuff?

On a side note, you have no idea how relieved I am. I have been messing with this for three days. Four different Ford dealers have told me that I needed a speedo cable, needed to replace the VSS (even though I was getting speed info from the computer), and needed to replace the cluster with a new one. I did replace the cluster (boneyard part) because the last one looked pretty bad (black tar type substance in it) but I have been at wits end and testing each connection, etc.
:D
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Monday, June 5th, 2017 AT 5:04 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SCOTRIANI
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
Hey there. I want to give you good feedback but I only have.3 of a point. How do I get more points to give you some positive feedback?
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Monday, June 5th, 2017 AT 5:04 PM (Merged)
Tiny
COREYC1969
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2000 FORD WINDSTAR
Electrical problem
2000 Ford Windstar 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

the speedometer does not work
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Monday, June 5th, 2017 AT 5:04 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DAVE H
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,383 POSTS
Replace the VSS (vehicle speed sensor)
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Monday, June 5th, 2017 AT 5:04 PM (Merged)
Tiny
NMMKK99
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1999 FORD WINDSTAR
  • 6 CYL
  • AWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 89,000 MILES
Computer problem
1999 Ford Windstar 6 cyl All Wheel Drive Automatic 89000 miles

Speedometer quit working and the odometer just shows all dashes. What might have happened?
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Monday, June 5th, 2017 AT 5:04 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BAD74CHARGER
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Its sounds like the VSS went bad. Vehicle speed sensor
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Monday, June 5th, 2017 AT 5:04 PM (Merged)

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