speedometer/ odometer does not work

[ejp2fast]

i have a '91 festy GL auto that i just got running and the speedo/ odo does not work. as i understand the vehicle speed sensor (VSS) is likely the culprit of this. where is the VSS? also, any other suggestions on what could be the issue? i plan to run the codes tonight and as i understand a code 6 fault code would be the VSS. any help would be appreciated. thanks

[freshtiva]

Hows your speedometer cable ?

[Dave G]

It's all mechanical - check the cable!

[FestYboy]

^^ broken cable. don't worry about codes, they don't apply to Festies. remember, festies weren't built by Ford so Ford codes don't apply untill the aspire came along.

[ejp2fast]

thanks guys...

[ejp2fast]

btw, are all the years of the festiva speedo cable the same?

[freshtiva]

Not sure but there may be a difference between the manual and autos.

[FestYboy]

there's a length differance between the auto and manual trannies, and i believe the auto is a bit longer, but not by much.

[ejp2fast]

just disconnected the cable from the tranny, pulled out the cable and the spring was broke about 1 foot up.... so now I go to the JY to get a cable! Thanks for all your help.

[monkeyracing]

there's a length differance between the auto and manual trannies, and i believe the auto is a bit longer, but not by much.

I'm not 100%, absolutely sure about this, but I believe I counted a very slightly different number of teeth on the auto vs. manual trans. speedo gears.

Just out of curiosity, ejp2fast; who or what told you that your car has a vehicle speed sensor anyway?

Jim

[ejp2fast]

In the haynes manual i saw that there was a VSS. As I now understand this is for the later model Aspires.

[ejp2fast]

I went to a Junk yard and got a speedo cable out of a 5spd for my auto... for the reference of others, I had to "shrink" the outer sleeving ( i did it on the instrument cluster end) and i had to do this because the cable (spring) was not going into the instument cluster all the way, and therefore was slipping and not turning the gauge and odometer. so i undid the spring and got a knife and just cut some of the rubber material away from the end (not cutting the actual cable of course). I did this and stuck the connector back together and everything works great!

[belld]

can you explain how you did this a little more, I think I have the same issue--- what do you mean you "undid the spring". My cable has been crimpped on (the outer sleave) did you uncrimp it? then take off the end then cut the outer cable cover then crimp the end back on? Thanks for your help!