Ford Vehicle Speed Sensors

[RuralAlaskan]

I swapped in a 2007 Sterling 10.5" axle into the back of my 2003 E-350. Everything went fine, until I started driving down the road and saw that the speedometer no longer registers a speed. My original intent was to swap the speedometer pickup from the Dana 60 into the Sterling, but the sensor would not come out of the D60 axle non-destructively. My donor axle had a sensor with the wiring pigtail on it (different than the van unit), so I spliced that into my wiring harness.

There is a tone ring in this new axle. When I tried my existing sensor against a fabricated toothed wheel (simulated tone ring) outside the axle, I get no speed signal.

So I am going to replace the sensor and the connector/pigtail as well. The question I have is which one (2003 E-350 or 2007 F-350)? Are they all the same internally? Just a simple Hall sensor? I'm not sure if the sensor isn't picking up because of different design voltage thresholds or if there is something else I'm missing. I'd go with an original Dana 60 replacement, but I'm afraid the depth may not be correct for the axle. On the other hand if the new ones have different circuitry, then maybe the original van sensor is a better option.

If anyone has successfully performed this swap, I'd be curious to hear your experience.

 

[ujoint]

Did you do anything else? Anything to the transmission? Your stock sensor should go right into the Sterling with no problem. But, the speedo on the E series doesn't read off the rear axle VSS like the trucks.

 

[RuralAlaskan]

I didn't do anything to the transmission, but it gives me a place to look. Thanks very much for the tip.

 

[tgreening]

Not sure about trucks or what model years do what, but on my '92 E350 w/D70 the speedo gets at lest some kind of info off that rear axle sensor. My freshly rebuilt transmission started going all kinds of wonky in the way it was shifting, and the speedo would wave around like a flag, and sometimes drop right to zero no matter my speed. I swapped out that rear sensor and been golden since. Apparently in my model year at least it serves several purposes. Info for the ABS, info for the speedo, and info that goes to the transmission control module.

 

[naterry]

I'm not sure of the applicability but in my 96 van the 04 Sterling and VSS is the only source for speed signal to my gauge and ecu. The tranny and t-case only have the reverse and 4wd connected.

I think the older (obs) years are different than your 03 though.

 

[dingus]

I just went thru a VSS nightmare turns out my Crown gear bolts had come loose busted one off and it fell in the diff bottom and bashed the VSS ring gear over 1/2 inch so the VSS couldn't read the toothed gear as it went around. I pulled the carrier today what a mess. I doubt this is the OP problem but I was going around in circles trying to figger out why my speedo stopped working and my trans was acting weird. it took awhile for that toothed ring to get hit enough times by the loose half a bolt rolling around in the diff to make everything all screwed up. Im getting a new carrier this week.

 

[QCAuto]

not sure what ill be up against, ZF6 no VSS in it, might try the truck ecu and see if it will sense from the rear diff, barring that i will have to find a way to get the trans vss onto the TC output yoke

 

[RuralAlaskan]

Sorry for the late feedback; I've been on the road for the past month. After being unable to find the speed sensor in the transmission, I started tracing out the wiring harness on my van and found that Quadvan, who originally performed the 4x4 conversion, does not use the speedometer pickup. Instead they simply tap into the ABS sensor for the rear axle. From there they massage the signal through an Abbott speedometer converter. I simply replaced the rear axle ABS sensor, which apparently was not working and all is good.

This might be an option for someone performing a ZF6 conversion.

 

[Flyinbronco]

http://http://breaautoelectric.com/products

Here's a good source for a speed sensor relocation kit if you have the need arise. I used one on my 94 Ford Bronco when I swaped the 8.8 for a 9" rear.

 

[WUzombies]

Did you do anything else? Anything to the transmission? Your stock sensor should go right into the Sterling with no problem. But, the speedo on the E series doesn't read off the rear axle VSS like the trucks.

Isn't the ABS on the rear of the vans run from a single sensor in the pumpkin like on a CMV?

 

[RuralAlaskan]

Isn't the ABS on the rear of the vans run from a single sensor in the pumpkin like on a CMV?

That's correct, but with Quadvan at least, they utilized that ABS sensor signal and made it function as a speed sensor as well. I'm guessing that it not a common practice, but it works if the need arises.

 

[spurious]

Ironically I have been working on the same issues, I have a 1999 4r100 with a NV271 TCase, and a 08 10.5 sterling rear axle. There is no hole on the 4wd extension housing for a vss sensor. I understand that quadvan has used the the rear abs sensor as a speed sensor for the vss. I would like to find the wiring diagram and the sensor that is used, if anyone could shed the light on that it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[WUzombies]

That's correct, but with Quadvan at least, they utilized that ABS sensor signal and made it function as a speed sensor as well. I'm guessing that it not a common practice, but it works if the need arises.

So what are the chances the OP is trying to get a VSS from what should be an ABS system sensor feed?

 

[RuralAlaskan]

The box is made by Abbott Enterprises.

http://www.abbott-tach.com/ERA.html

The coding is very unusual. It does not match anything in their calibration charts currently posted on their web page. I was trying to tweak it a little, and it gives crazy speedo numbers. I have never dug any further into that part.

And yes, WUzombiers, it is an ABS feed, but it also has the has the speedometer wires spliced into it and then routed through the converter box. I'm on the road right now but can supply a wiring diagram if you wish by next weekend. I also have dip switch settings for the Abbott box.

 

[tgreening]

That's correct, but with Quadvan at least, they utilized that ABS sensor signal and made it function as a speed sensor as well. I'm guessing that it not a common practice, but it works if the need arises.

I have a 1992 E-350 that started life as a cab n chassis and ended up as an ambulance. Engine is 7.3 idi in front of an E4OD tranny and the rear axle is a D70U. The sensor back there in the center section provides about 3 different functions. It feeds info to the ABS system, it feeds info to the gauge cluster where I get my speed, and it provides info to the transmission control module.

When that sensor took a dump my speedo went all kinds of goofy, the ABS light came on (and I assume ABS functions ceased), and transmission operation became erratic to say the least.

In 1992 at least, that sensor is not a one trick pony.