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1999 Ford Taurus Speedometer shuts off, Panel/Heat Acting U

Tiny
VILITA
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 FORD TAURUS
Transmission problem
1999 Ford Taurus Engine Size 3.0 V6 Front Wheel Drive Automatic 135000 miles

I have two problems which I think have a *chance* of being related.

While "driving" in traffic - as in crawling on the staten island expressway, my speedometer quits working and the transimission becomes a little jumpy.

When traffic gets moving again I can get up to about 35 even 45 with the speedometer on 0 before it all of a sudden jumps up to the speed i'm going (45) and works fine from then until I spend time in bumper to bumper traffic. There was also one occasion where this happened and the transmission would not shift. I just had to turn the car off for an hour, start it back up and I was on my way like normal.

Additionally, when I turn on the heat/panel there is a squeel and a rattle feeling as if something is trying to turn and not doing it terribly succesfully. It does not happen when I use the vent but fairly consistenly on the heat/panel. This did not occur until the transmission speedomoter problem showed up.

Is there any way that these are a related electrical problem or are they two seperate things?
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Friday, February 15th, 2008 AT 12:24 PM

6 Replies

Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
Sounds like 2 problems. The first could eb an intermittent VSS (vehicle speed sensor)For starters have the PCM (computer) scanned for codes, Autozone will do it for free. If the PCM sees a problem it will store a code that will help in diagnosing the problem, get back with the exact codes. The other problem. Does the noise change with the fan speed? Might have something in the fan or the motor could be going out
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Saturday, February 16th, 2008 AT 7:13 AM
Tiny
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Thanks for the reply Jack.

I was thinking the same thing about the VSS based on symptoms I read online. I will try to get it to AutoZone ASAP to have that done.

As for the fan, when I put it on the (belt?) Squeals and watching it, the motor jerks that is the vibration I guess that I feel when I'm driving and attempting to put it on. I turn it off immediately so I really don't know if it does anything different at different speeds I've just been using the vent.

I also have a little corrosive buildup on the positive terminal on the battery but I don't know if thats just because the protective cover broke off. I cleaned it off about 2 weeks ago and now there is just a light coating around the bottom mostly
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Saturday, February 16th, 2008 AT 3:28 PM
Tiny
FLEXY5
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The squeel is (based on your last post) the A/C compressor. It works on all settings except vent. Also, when you take it in, hopefully you will get a code, like Jack said. The code we're looking for is P0500. If that's the code, we're on the right track.
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Saturday, February 16th, 2008 AT 7:03 PM
Tiny
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Hmm well I took it to autozone and got no codes back at all. What next?

Of course, the problem hasn't occured regarding the speedometer/shady shifting in a few weeks but seems to come back whenever I get stuck in bumper to bumper traffic for a few minutes or more. :)

Also, looking down the road If I just had to go in and get the VSS (replaced?) And the Air Compressor (Fixed/Replaced?) What kind of cost am I going to be looking at for these things?
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Monday, February 18th, 2008 AT 10:11 AM
Tiny
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Anyone?
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Tuesday, February 26th, 2008 AT 1:33 PM
Tiny
FLEXY5
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The A/c compressor would be your most expensive repair, running several hundred for the compressor alone. Depending on the amount of debris in the system would determine the amount of labor and/ or other parts for the a/c system. The VSS shouldn't cost more than 1.5 hours labor plus the cost for the part. Those VSS, though, sometimes have trouble coming out of the trans case. So depending on the technician working on it, it may break in the trans case. I was able to find a way (after breaking two in the case and having to pull one transmission) to remove the passenger wheel and get to it from there rather than from the top or bottom. I never broke another one off again. Just thought you should know that it can happen and they may turn and charge more if it does. Sorry for the delay in the reply. I thought someone else was covering this.
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Tuesday, February 26th, 2008 AT 10:29 PM

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