Doesn't shift gears and my speedometer stopped working?

Tiny
JOSHUA Q REYNOLDS
  • MEMBER
  • 2008 CHEVROLET HHR
  • 2.2L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 197,009 MILES
My car starts and idles fine. It goes in reverse and drive. When in drive and go to accelerate it doesn't shift gears and my speedometer stopped working
Wednesday, August 27th, 2025 AT 8:15 AM

23 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
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  • 54,137 POSTS
This happens when the VSS goes out, here is the location so you can swap it out and fix the problem. I marked the image below to help you find it. Check out the images (below). Let us know if you need anything else.
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Wednesday, August 27th, 2025 AT 8:22 AM
Tiny
JOSHUA Q REYNOLDS
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Thank you Ken L. I will check this helpful information out
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Wednesday, August 27th, 2025 AT 8:26 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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You are welcome, that should fix the problem.
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Wednesday, August 27th, 2025 AT 8:26 AM
Tiny
JOSHUA Q REYNOLDS
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When I accelerate to maybe 10-15mph my RPM gauge increases to 3000 plus rpms
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Wednesday, August 27th, 2025 AT 8:29 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Yes, it sounds like it is not shifting did you change the sensor out?
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Wednesday, August 27th, 2025 AT 5:38 PM
Tiny
JOSHUA Q REYNOLDS
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I haven't gotten the chance to change it yet.
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Wednesday, August 27th, 2025 AT 5:41 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Yep, I would do that first and then clear the codes it should fix it.
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Friday, August 29th, 2025 AT 11:32 AM
Tiny
JOSHUA Q REYNOLDS
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I live in a small town and no auto parts store within 75 miles had the speed sensor lol. So it's scheduled for delivery tomorrow. Hopefully it fixes it. Thanks again for the help
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Friday, August 29th, 2025 AT 4:04 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Okay, you can try Amazon as well.
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Friday, August 29th, 2025 AT 4:17 PM
Tiny
JOSHUA Q REYNOLDS
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  • 13 POSTS
Late delivery for the new VSS. Just got done installing the new one. I'll test it tomorrow to see if it fixed it.
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Saturday, August 30th, 2025 AT 6:21 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Good job :)
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Saturday, August 30th, 2025 AT 7:08 PM
Tiny
JOSHUA Q REYNOLDS
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Still no speedometer and not shifting.
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Monday, September 1st, 2025 AT 5:16 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Crap! I love an easy fix that doesn't work, what the heck! Okay, now we get to start looking deeper, so the input for the vehicle speed goes through the TCM and then onto the PCM so we might have an issue with one of them, if I had to guess I would say the TCM is the issue, to be sure lets run a CAN scan. Here is a video to show you how. You might want to check the ECM/TCM fuse (#25) on the BCM which is inside the car under the radio, and the ECM trans fuse (#43) in the fuse panel under the hood, if the fuses are good disconnect the battery and remove the electrical connector form the TCM to check for corrosion. Here is its location. If all else fails let try doing a CAN scan which should give us a code that we can work with. Here is how

https://youtu.be/u-4syLc-ifQ

Check out the images (below). Let us know how it goes
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Monday, September 1st, 2025 AT 8:59 AM
Tiny
JOSHUA Q REYNOLDS
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I'll check those fuses to see if they are good or not.
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Monday, September 1st, 2025 AT 9:06 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Sounds good, sorry, I should have had you check them first, I thought this problem was a slam dunk.
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Monday, September 1st, 2025 AT 9:43 AM
Tiny
JOSHUA Q REYNOLDS
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I'm 51 and I'm used to working on older vehicles. The new vehicles and all the technology they have drives me crazy. Since it could be a wide variety of things that could be the issue gets frustrating
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Monday, September 1st, 2025 AT 9:48 AM
Tiny
JOSHUA Q REYNOLDS
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When I switched the VSS I noticed it didn't leak out any transmission fluid. My brother said it would leak out some but not a lot
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Monday, September 1st, 2025 AT 9:50 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Yes, that is correct, so you changed the part? I would do the CAN scan as well
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Tuesday, September 2nd, 2025 AT 7:23 PM
Tiny
JOSHUA Q REYNOLDS
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Completely frustrated! Got it towed to mechanic but when we towed it with tow rope when I used the brakes to slow us down the door locks would lock and unlock continuously until I took my foot off the brakes. Then my hazards stopped working and when we got it to the mechanic shop it was completely dead! Now it won't charge so the mechanic can start it and get it in his shop! What would cause my car to do that?
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Wednesday, October 1st, 2025 AT 8:11 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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It sounds like the battery is dead, is the battery more than 4 year old? If so you can bet this will be the problem.
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Thursday, October 2nd, 2025 AT 9:06 AM

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