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Guys i broke my vehicle speed sensor during a trans install. Do you know where i can find one? I have called every auto parts store, checked subaru genuine parts, rock auto, parts geek, etc. I cant find one.

Hi,
There are 2 VSS - front one about half way up the passenger side of the trans; and the other one is on the back. The sensor for the front is actually in the cluster but the signal comes from the connection on the trans.

Where did it break?

What Year is yours? Newer ones are mechanical vs electric.
AT or 5-speed (they should be same)?

Used ones @ wrecking yards are an option.

Td

I have a 91 legacy. I was under the assumption that its the mechanical one that that the dash converters it to a signal for the ECU? I didn't think there was another one.

To add to the complexity of the issue. I am doing a 4.11 sway (98 RS trans) right now.


Last night i was able to take the two broken vehicle speed cable "sensors" and create one decent one and install it in the 4.11...

Hi,
I did that swap w/ '98 Forester trans into my '90 (same trans, I believe). I 'think' the Automatic has the 2 sensors - not the 5-speed? - for the rear transfer clutches?

Yes, until sometime in mid-90's they are mechanical.

Here's the newer style - instead of a cable from cluster to trans, it's just the wire. But it screws in to the trans the same way.:




Td

I think you mean you broke the speedometer cable....?

Legacy777 wrote:I think you mean you broke the speedometer cable....?

Yeah. Will fixing this fix my vehicle speed sensor code? I was under the assumption that the dash converted the speed signal to an digital input to the ECU.

Hi,
Not to be a picky bastard, but please clarify something.....you initially said "..broke my vehicle speed sensor during a trans install", you then stated "... take the two broken vehicle speed cable "sensors" and create one decent one".

You never specifically stated 'where' it is broken. If it's broken where it connects to the trans, then just replace the end as shown above, but if you hosed the cable itself, then you'll need to pull your cluster and replace the cable end to end.

That should fix your issue, as I think there are only 3 things to check:
1. Cable (mechanical)
2. Connector (sensor) that plugs into the transmission
3. Cluster where signal gets converted and sent to ECU

BTW, I've heard of people testing the cable by removing the end @ the trans, and using a drill to spin it up and see if the Speedo registers. Here's a pic:


And get a manual/5-speed one if you need to replace it the Autos are shorter.
GL,

TD

The speed sensor is in the dash on the first gen legacies. It sounds like that is fine. Your problem is the cable. Fix the cable, and your CEL/code will go away.

Legacy777 wrote:The speed sensor is in the dash on the first gen legacies. It sounds like that is fine. Your problem is the cable. Fix the cable, and your CEL/code will go away.

What do you mean? There is most certainly a speed sensor in my transmission, I just looked at it a couple days ago.

I guess if you wanna nitpick it's not actually a sensor though, just a spinning cable, but the piece that screws into the transmission(the dirty section in the pic above) is what people are referring to when they say vehicle speed sensor, at least one of them, automatics have two and I think one is in the dash for them.

The below holds true ONLY for those cars that utilize a cable driven speedometer.

There is only one speed sensor in the automatic AWD transmission. It is VSS1 and it is located in the rear tail section of the transmission to monitor the speed of the rear drive line to detect wheel slip and adjust the amount of power going to the rear wheels.

VSS2 or the speed sensor in the gauge cluster is the speed sensor that the ECU & TCU monitor for the vehicle's "primary" speed. The base piece that screws into the transmission and the cable are not the speed sensor. They certainly provide the mechanical input to the speed sensor, but they are not the speed sensor.

On the newer cars that DO NOT have a cable driven speedometer, yes I agree they have two speed sensors in the transmission, and the picture below is the VSS2

Ahh, okay, I see what you're getting at.

I'm trying to get my 97 outback to 300,000. Speedometer went dead (code 0500) . Question about the speed sensor: the little blade that goes down into the transmission, is it supposed to be free floating or is it spring loaded to push down into the transmission. I just pulled one out of an Outback at the local u-pull yard and it seems to be free floating? Help...

not sure what you mean by 'free floating' but those are a common failure point...the blade breaks....and it may be stuck in the transmission, if you can't see where the blade would fit. Just get another one, line up the blade and swap it in.....same part for AT or 5-speed.
Td

See PIC above.

By free floating I mean it slides in and out about a quarter of an inch. Is it supposed to do this or is it supposed to always be fully extended.

Dick