1996 Saturn SL1 Odometer and Speedometer

Tiny
SCOOTER1959
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 SATURN SL1
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 90,000 MILES
When I first start the car, if I take off it will act like it is trying to do it in 3rd gear. If I put it in 2 and then back to D, it will go back to normal power and run fine, but the Service Engine Soon light will be on.

I am thinking it is the Speed Sensor because my Speedometer does not work either.

Thanks in advance for any and all assistance,

Scooter1959
Monday, May 17th, 2010 AT 5:36 PM

11 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,870 POSTS
First of all thank you so much for your donation. We need to start with what codes you have so we can diagnose the car correctly. Can you go have your codes read at a auto parts store like autozone for me and bring me back the code numbers. Let me know what you find.
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Monday, May 17th, 2010 AT 5:44 PM
Tiny
SCOOTER1959
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Will have my scanner in the AM and will post the code then.

Thank you for your fast reply. I will be as responsive tomorrow.

Thanks again,

Scooter1959
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Monday, May 17th, 2010 AT 6:05 PM
Tiny
SCOOTER1959
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Okay, today we replaced the Speed Sensor. No codes now, but speedometer still does not work. Nor does Odometer.

Ideas where to go next?

Thanks,

Scooter1959
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Tuesday, May 18th, 2010 AT 4:39 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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So did you have codes before?If so what were they?Which speed sensor did you replace there's two was it the one by the transmission filter or the one by the axle?Let me know.
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Tuesday, May 18th, 2010 AT 8:31 PM
Tiny
SCOOTER1959
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We were getting a Speed Sensor code before we swapped it. It was the one on the Transmission.

Anything else?
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Tuesday, May 18th, 2010 AT 8:45 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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There both on the transmission ones by the radiator and the transmission filter. The other one is by the axle.I need to know which one and it would be helpful to know which speed sensor code it was. Let me know so I can help you out with your problem. Check and see maybe the code reset.
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Tuesday, May 18th, 2010 AT 8:55 PM
Tiny
SCOOTER1959
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I know it was the one by the filter we changed. I do not remember what the code was and it has been erased.
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Tuesday, May 18th, 2010 AT 9:19 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Well the one by the filter isn't the vechile speed sensor for the spedometer. It's the one for the input shaft of the transmission and when you get a code for it, its description will be something like turbine speed sensor. The sensor that runs the speedometer is down by the the axle on the passenger side.I would check the wires comming out of it I have animals chew the wires. Also do you have a multimeter?Let me know.
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Wednesday, May 19th, 2010 AT 1:59 PM
Tiny
SCOOTER1959
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Yes we do have a meter. What should we check with it?

Thanks again for this help by the way.

Scooter1959
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Wednesday, May 19th, 2010 AT 2:12 PM
Tiny
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Unplug the speed sensor by the axle use the meter on ohms 2k scale check across the the terminials of the sensor it should read 800-1600 ohms. Also inspect the wires going to the sensor. Could you please get the codes checked again to see if the code came back that could really speed up are diagnoses. Let me me know what you find.
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Wednesday, May 19th, 2010 AT 2:32 PM
Tiny
SCOOTER1959
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Got it. Thanks again. I will get this checked in the AM and tell you from there.

Scooter1959
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Wednesday, May 19th, 2010 AT 3:07 PM

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