***Engine Light... Code 17 VSS Vehical Speed Sensor***

[89AccordLXI666]

ok I have been getting code 17 4awhile now, and I wanna know where the vehical speed sensor is located on an 89 Honda Accord LX-i 5 speed... the car was originally an automatic b4 I got it but was converted over to 5speed, could they of forgotten 2 take the vss out or do 5speeds have em as well... where is it located extactly and how do I fix the damn thing... I have found a few threads about it, and It got me now where... If anyone has any info or anything that may or can help, please let me know... thanks guy's your help is greatlt appreciated.... Thanks Lataz. :rockon:

[accordlxi2.0]

the speed sensor is located in the speedo cluster.

[89AccordLXI666]

What exactly does the VSS look like behind the gauge cluster... and what can I do 2 possibly fix it? Thanks again 4 ur reply....

[nswst8]

Nippon Seiki or Nippon Denso

[accordlxi2.0]

it's like a wire around the speedo needle, it's yellow i belive.

[Vinny]

:rolleyes:

[89AccordLXI666]

could it also have anything to do with the Cruise Control not functioning?? Well on the passengers side front tire underneith the car... there is a rubber boot which has a little rubber hose that supposed to connect to it.... but in my case the boot is torn and the rubber house is just dangling there which I believe has to do with the power steering... could that have anything to do with the code 17 (VSS)??? Also accordlxi2.0 the yellow wire that you have described, if that is a wire for the VSS what should I look 4 and what could I do 2 fix it? Thanks... I'm just trying to get to the bottom of it.. Lataz.

[accordlxi2.0]

when . . . . ..hold up homey does your speedometer indicate speed at all???

[89AccordLXI666]

Yeah Itz telling me how fast I'm going and sh** like that but I keep getting that Code 17 from the ecu which is VSS... could it be because b4 I had the car the previous owner said it was an auto and he converted it over to 5speed... cuz I know automatics have a VSS but do 5speeds have em, if not then it may just be a false code is that possible?

[accordlxi2.0]

yea the 5-spd has em too.
so on the back of the cluster, in the back where the speedo cable goes, thier should be a wire; a yellow one, and some metal thingy, with a screw on it too.
if you have a ohm meter you can test it, for continuity plus take like a pincil and turn the speedo cluster, it should vary . . . . .


as for that boot, it basically a round thing that sits abopve the diferentail, two hoses on the side (the p.s. speed sensor lines) and a hose on top (the speedo cable) . . . . . .

[89AccordLXI666]

So what your saying is that th (p.s. Speed sensor lines) and the hose on top (the speedo cable may be causing the problem.... and also I have looked at the back of the guage cluseter a few months ago to locate the VSS and If I'm not mistaking does the yellow wire go to this little white box thing in the back of the cluster? Thanks accordlxi2.0 ur info is greatly appreciated.

[accordlxi2.0]

yep! i belive thats it....
why is it loose or something???
i had wondered what that was for too.....(when i had my lx-i, my 86 lx did'nt really have it . . .)
but as long as you are getting indication from the speedo it should'nt be any problems, and as long as you can turn the steering wheel easily while parking and if the wheel feels a bit heavy while on the highway, then thats fine too.
and as long as your no leaking any fluids from thier, thast fine too.....

[89AccordLXI666]

Thanks accordlxi2.0 for your help Ima take a look tommorrow and see what I can do.... Is there anything I can do about the boot? couldn't I just replace the boot and just connect the rubber hose 2 the new boot? Thanks bro.

[accordlxi2.0]

yea or just cop that at the jukyard, i would'nt pay $10 for some boot.

[89AccordLXI666]

Aight accordlxi2.0 thanks for the info your da man..... Thanks Ima replace that boot asap... thanks bro 4 all ur help... as for the VSS behind the cluster I will inform you about the progress of that tommorrow. Lataz bro.

[accordlxi2.0]

no problem!

[joker2]

I know this is a very old topic but ever since I swaped to a 5-speed I've been getting the VSS code as well.... Don't understand it because the gauge reads the speed fine and I don't have any problem with the power steering but after like 10 minutes of driving the ECU throws the code.... :sad2:

[WhiteSpecV]

Reviving a dead thread....

Is there an actual, physical sensor behind the instrument cluster? I too am getting a code 17, but the speedo is reading fine.

Any info is appreciated.

[mouchyn]

it's IN the cluster. look in the shop manual. you can try replacing it, but it's cheaper and easier to just replace the whole cluster.

[WhiteSpecV]

Ok, so I'm confused a bit...

I gotcha that it's inside the cluster, i.e. in order to access it, I need to remove the cluster.

However, how can it be cheaper to replace the whole cluster, instead of just getting a single sensor?

Also, I cannot find it in the FSM i downloaded. I've looked everywhere...

Thanks in advance, and sorry for the dumb questions...

[mouchyn]

page 25-54 under "body electrical." you'll see a diagram with the speed sensor in dotted lines indicating it's physically inside the cluster.

i say it will be cheaper and easier to replace the cluster because, if you can even get that speed sensor from the dealer or parts store, it will cost as much as a working (used) cluster. Buying a used cluster will save you the hassle of having to open the cluster and potentially damaging the gauges. Those gauges are very sensitive and can easily be thrown off or broken.

[joker2]

Yeah, he's right, you can usually find a working cluster from the junkyard that would only end up costing like $10..... Sounds like that's what I'm going to have to do.... :cool:

[WhiteSpecV]

Kind of what I thought you meant.

I'm gonna give a few places a call tday and see if I can't source a sensor first.

The thing of it is, this is an '89 Hatchback, but it only has 31,000 miles on the clock :jaw:

It was my grandfather's car, and he rarely drove it. When he died, I bought it, and now my fiance drives it, so I'm not too keen to replace parts that might not necessarily need to be replaced.

[joker2]

Damn!!! I don't blame you for trying to fix it yourself, with only 31 grand on the gauges it'll be hard to find a replacement cluster with anything close to that...... :cool:

[WhiteSpecV]

Damn!!! I don't blame you for trying to fix it yourself, with only 31 grand on the gauges it'll be hard to find a replacement cluster with anything close to that...... :cool:

For real....

I just called another dealer, and they don't show the actual part listed as the "VSS".

Even sent me the part breakdown sheet. Is it possible it's called something else, like the signal amplifier? :Owned2:

[joker2]

Well, it seems to me that the only way that you're really going to know is to just pull the cluster out and compare it to one that you get from the junkyard or just take one apart and try and find it that way.... If you find it, then you're going to have to find it on the parts list.... Sounds like the long way but it may be your only way since you don't want to get rid of the original cluster.....

[WhiteSpecV]

Yeah. You pretty much are reading my mind :p

I'll probably yank the cluster tonight. Only a few screws and panels

[carotman]

There is indeed a signal amplifier at the back of the cluster (it's located behind the RPM gauge)

[joker2]

I learn something new everyday.... :lol:

[WhiteSpecV]

I got to see what everyone was talking about. I pulled the cluster last night to realize that only one real component can be replaced - the signal amplifier.

Unfortunately, I don't believe that's the culprit, from what everyone is telling me.

So, my understanding is this:

Everyone who's had this problem has simply replaced the cluster? Is that the end all-final answer?

[joker2]

Basically, yes..... Even right know I have two clusters sitting in my garage but I can't use them because they're for an auto and I converted my car to a manual.... So know I have to find one from a manual with low miles because since my engine has been rebuilt from top to bottom, I've only put like 3500 miles on it.... :cool:

[WhiteSpecV]

Basically, yes..... Even right know I have two clusters sitting in my garage but I can't use them because they're for an auto and I converted my car to a manual.... So know I have to find one from a manual with low miles because since my engine has been rebuilt from top to bottom, I've only put like 3500 miles on it.... :cool:

:uh:

Ah well, it's one of those things you know to be true, but want someone else to tell you otherwise.

Thanks for all the help all.

-Joe

[mouchyn]

when you replace the cluster, you can take the odometer rollers out of your original cluster and put them in the replacement. That's usually what I do when i replace gauge clusters.

[88LXi68]

its funny how topics come up....I just installed an EDM b20 manual cluster in my car yesterday and I keep getting a code 17. My car was originally auto and when I did my B-series swap I had no problems with the cluster. Now, I swap clusters so I can use a cool EDM one + it being a 5spd and I get a code 17 and my car wont rev past 7200. I swap my original cluster back in and everything is fine.

[joker2]

So you swapped the auto cluster back in?? That would just kill me every time I looked at it knowing that my car is manual.... :lol: I hope that doesn't happen to me seeing that I swapped in a manual as well....

[erotomania]

Sorry to bring back an old thread but i am having the same problem. Ever since I converted to FI I have been getting the ECU code 17 for the VSS. I have replaced the whole cluster twice and I still get the code no matter what. I believe it's a little more than a coincidence. It's important to get it fixed because I still need to pass smog and I will fail if the check engine light is on. Any ideas?

[JJ'sAccord]

looking at the manual, it shows we have two VSS one P.S VSS and one in the cluster. my question is will you throw a code 17 for the P.S VSS being bad? i would hate to replace my cluster and it end up being my P.S VSS.(FYI i cannot find the p.s VSS anywhere, all said discontinued)