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Speedometer not working on 1999 Jeep Cherokee (XJ) Sport 2WD
Ok, so yesterday evening I started up my Jeep and got about a block away when I noticed the speedometer needle was bouncing all over the place. :huh: It did this for about 5 minutes before it dropped to zero MPH and just stayed there. :wallbash:
A short time later that evening, the Check Engine light came on. The OBD2 code reads P0500, which translates to Vehicle Speed Sensor "A" according to this Android app I'm using. :glare: I went to my nearest Auto Zone and the guy there told me he believed the problem is that the speedo cable has frayed and broke. He said I should change the cable inside the housing, that connects from the back of the speedo to the tranny. So I bought a $4 replacement speedo cable. I figured I'd come here for a second opinion(s), especially after reading a lot of conflicting approaches online. :icon_rolleyes: I've never messed with a speedo sensor/cable before. :icon_redface: I'm not really a mechanic, but I have some tools and tinker every now and again. Appreciate any help with this. In the meantime, I'll be using a speedo app on my phone to figure out how fast I'm driving. :thumbsup: |
Originally Posted by D~C
(Post 2925504)
Ok, so yesterday evening I started up my Jeep and got about a block away when I noticed the speedometer needle was bouncing all over the place. :huh: It did this for about 5 minutes before it dropped to zero MPH and just stayed there. :wallbash:
A short time later that evening, the Check Engine light came on. The OBD2 code reads P0500, which translates to Vehicle Speed Sensor "A" according to this Android app I'm using. :glare: I went to my nearest Auto Zone and the guy there told me he believed the problem is that the speedo cable has frayed and broke. He said I should change the cable inside the housing, that connects from the back of the speedo to the tranny. So I bought a $4 replacement speedo cable. I figured I'd come here for a second opinion(s), especially after reading a lot of conflicting approaches online. :icon_rolleyes: I've never messed with a speedo sensor/cable before. :icon_redface: I'm not really a mechanic, but I have some tools and tinker every now and again. Appreciate any help with this. In the meantime, I'll be using a speedo app on my phone to figure out how fast I'm driving. :thumbsup: Either the Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) on the transmission is defective, the VSS wiring or connector is defective/corroded, or the plastic drive spline on the transmission output shaft is sheared/broken. You can do a visual inspction of the wiring and connector, and remove the VSS and look inside the mounting hole in the trans at the VSS plastic drive. See if it's split or otherwise damaged. Look at the gear on the VSS and see if the splines on the drive gear are damaged. If everything is in order a new VSS may be required. Tell us what you find. |
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Climb under the left side of your Jeep and look at the rear of the trans. This is what you should see. The black device is the VSS and its adaptor.
If you plan on removing the VSS, place a reference mark on the side of the VSS where it touches the trans and one on the trans. Match up the reference marks when reinstalling the VSS. Attachment 320700 |
@ccken Ahhh. An electronic sensor. :pinch: That's what I originally suspected! That Auto Zone dude was trying to convince me otherwise :bs: And now I can see why my research was so conflicting. :bangin:
I'm going to crawl under there soon and see what is up. :thumbup1: Much obliged! I'll report back... |
I went underneath and I saw essentially what was pictured above.
My quick visual didn't spot any apparent issues; everything looked intact. Re-seating/cleaning the connection did not help. I'm thinking I'm going to just replace the VSS and see what happens. I've been trying to track down a replacement VSS, which is proving to be dicey as I'm once again getting conflicting info from different sources. :wacko: Autozone (and a "mom n' pop" auto parts store here in town) tells me that there are two VSS versions; one for a 3-speed tranny ($30) and one for a 4-speed tranny ($135). I happen to have an A340F tranny in my 2WD 6-cyl 4.0L Cherokee that is a 4-speed automatic, so I can only assume that I need the more expensive VSS. :icon_rolleyes: However, Napa tells me that there is only one version of the VSS that is $50. :huh: My regular mechanic is telling me that his research is telling him that the VSS I need is a dealer-only item, but he knows a shop that might have a good used one. And that I should take a picture of my current one to as an aid to match it correctly. Otherwise, I'm looking at a $100+ part from a dealer. :icon_rolleyes: Thoughts? |
Originally Posted by D~C
(Post 2926779)
I went underneath and I saw essentially what was pictured above.
My quick visual didn't spot any apparent issues; everything looked intact. Re-seating/cleaning the connection did not help. I'm thinking I'm going to just replace the VSS and see what happens. I've been trying to track down a replacement VSS, which is proving to be dicey as I'm once again getting conflicting info from different sources. :wacko: Autozone (and a "mom n' pop" auto parts store here in town) tells me that there are two VSS versions; one for a 3-speed tranny ($30) and one for a 4-speed tranny ($135). I happen to have an A340F tranny in my 2WD 6-cyl 4.0L Cherokee that is a 4-speed automatic, so I can only assume that I need the more expensive VSS. :icon_rolleyes: However, Napa tells me that there is only one version of the VSS that is $50. :huh: My regular mechanic is telling me that his research is telling him that the VSS I need is a dealer-only item, but he knows a shop that might have a good used one. And that I should take a picture of my current one to as an aid to match it correctly. Otherwise, I'm looking at a $100+ part from a dealer. :icon_rolleyes: Thoughts? how do you know you have an A340F trans in your XJ? Don't run out and buy a VSS until you remove the one you have and look inside its mount hole in the trans to see if the drive on the trans output shaft is damaged, and the drive gear on the VSS is damaged. Can you take a pic of your VSS and post it here? The VSS is a two part device. The speed sensor portion of the VSS mounts on an adaptor, and together they are referred to as the VSS. What you'll buy is the sensor portion. I haven't seen aftermarket adaptors. |
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Thanks for the diagram!
I'll climb under and take those pics soon... I was informed that I have an A340F tranny when it was pulled for a rebuild last December. |
Originally Posted by D~C
(Post 2926821)
Thanks for the diagram!
I'll climb under and take those pics soon... I was informed that I have an A340F tranny when it was pulled for a rebuild last December. See what is on your data plate. It's on the right/lower side of the transmission, above the oil pan. Edit: You should see the AW Model number 30-43LE, and Chrysler part number 52104180AC on the data plate. |
Sorry for the delay in replying. I've barely had any time to focus on this project, and still have not had the opportunity to pull apart the VSS for inspection, etc..
However, I did just crawl under the vehicle looking for the tranny's data plate. I looked and looked, but could not find it. If you could provide a sample picture and/or further description, I'd be much obliged. And please specify driver's side/passenger side orientation language. Just FYI - the person who told me I have an A340F tranny is the person who rebuilt my tranny and runs the tranny shop. |
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Originally Posted by D~C
(Post 2934039)
Sorry for the delay in replying. I've barely had any time to focus on this project, and still have not had the opportunity to pull apart the VSS for inspection, etc..
However, I did just crawl under the vehicle looking for the tranny's data plate. I looked and looked, but could not find it. If you could provide a sample picture and/or further description, I'd be much obliged. And please specify driver's side/passenger side orientation language. Just FYI - the person who told me I have an A340F tranny is the person who rebuilt my tranny and runs the tranny shop. Attachment 320436 |
Thanks for that!
I didn't see it until just now, but I did pull the VSS for a quick inspection yesterday evening. I took a socket wrench to one bolt and a bit of tranny fluid poured out. It looked like the VSS has a green gear attached to the adapter end that was inside the tranny; there were some teeth chewed up a bit - guessing that's the root of my malfunctioning speedometer. On a side note, I was at an auto parts store yesterday and they were telling me that if I have an A340F tranny then it's a 4-speed automatic requiring a VSS that has a magnet and costs $140. I don't have the Jeep with me now, so I can't look again for the data plate. |
Originally Posted by D~C
(Post 2934600)
Thanks for that!
I didn't see it until just now, but I did pull the VSS for a quick inspection yesterday evening. I took a socket wrench to one bolt and a bit of tranny fluid poured out. It looked like the VSS has a green gear attached to the adapter end that was inside the tranny; there were some teeth chewed up a bit - guessing that's the root of my malfunctioning speedometer. If the teeth on your (Green) pinion gear are chewed up, you had better take a good look inside the hole in the trans that the VSS Adaptor fits in. Inside you should see the helical splined drive gear that drives the VSS pinion gear. If that helical splined gear is damaged in any way (chewed up splines, broke in half, or gone) the rear of the trans needs to be disassembled to change the helical splined drive gear on the trans output shaft. On a side note, I was at an auto parts store yesterday and they were telling me that if I have an A340F tranny then it's a 4-speed automatic requiring a VSS that has a magnet and costs $140. Look at your data plate and get the info on it. Then take that info to the parts store puke and show him that you don't have an A340 transmission. I don't have the Jeep with me now, so I can't look again for the data plate. |
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Here's a page from the '99 parts catalog that shows the VSS Drive Gear inside the trans that I mentioned above. Look at item 19 - that's it.
The parts store dildo that talked about a $140 magnet gizmo is referring to the transmission output sensor. Item 16 is what triggers the output speed sensor. You don't need this. Attachment 320406 |
Got it all squared away - thanks!!
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Originally Posted by D~C
(Post 2945182)
Got it all squared away - thanks!!
How did you get it "Squared away"? |
What was the outcome?
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Hmm. It has been about a year and a half since this all transpired. I'm trying to remember. I was having a really hard time finding a speed sensor. Then I got really busy. So my local, trusted mechanic took a look. He found a used one, but it was missing some piece to connect it. He ended up buying a different part to cannibalize that one piece. Anyway, it all came together in the end. Next time I see him, I'll ask him if he remembers more details. Sorry! But I appreciate the support!
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Owning a 2001 XJ 2WD
Picking up this thread again, as I have a similar issue. CEL came on with a P0500 code. I bought a new VSS at Advance Auto, put it in, still CEL. Cleared the code, and it seems to stay off. However, the speedo still doesn't work. Having read the issues with the pinion where the VSS goes in, I was wondering if some has an image or pic of how that inner part looks like. The VSS clicked right in, but that doesn't mean I didn't break something. Thanks |
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...473d168fd.jpegVSS units. Bad (L) and good (R) If you are still having the issue, here are two VSS units. The pinion on the left is missing the teeth. |
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