Where is the VSS in an 88 civic?

[kingpin]

I MAY have found it, i am a rookie at this, never changed one before, so any help would be great.

Anyway, the one i located was right at the front at approximately the lower end of the engine, has a wire connected all the way to the +ve, and its sort of like a spark plug looking .... am i on the right track, or way off.



help!

[kingpin]

ps, VSS = vehicle speed sensor

[HBoy]

What you found is your back-up light switch.

VSS in 88-91's is built in to the instrument cluster (cable speedo).

What makes you think something is wrong with it?

[kingpin]

What you found is your back-up light switch.

VSS in 88-91's is built in to the instrument cluster (cable speedo).

What makes you think something is wrong with it?

dammit!!

Well, the speedo doesnt work, and he idle is low (tried to adjust it, but it didnt work, it would revv very very high). And at times at very low rpms (when clutch is down), it stalls. So i assumed it was all because of the VSS.

[CRXZC]

Doesn't sound like a VSS problem..

And it is on the top of the tranny, if I remember correctly towards the back of the engine (towards the firewall). It has a cable connected to it with a c-clip, and has one bolt holding it in...

When you pull it out it has a gear on the inside. The cable probably seized and snapped inside...

[kingpin]

Well, what other reason would there be for the speedo not to be working? Mind you, the rpm gauge function properly still...

[kingpin]

also, correct me if im mistaken, but you two (hboy and crxzc) are saying it's in two different places .. ?

[kingpin]

bump

[mightymousetech]

Your VSS is in your guage cluster. There is a speedo cable that runs from the tranny up to the gauges.

it's in the cluster, I am pretty positive

I know in 96+ they reloated to the tranny, but I know the ef's had it in the cluster

[Jdc]

Any one know if you can use a 96+ VSS in a 88-91 Civic? I have one in mine with a 2000 Civic Si Cluster, but the speedometer just jumps around and acts funny. Thought i'd ask here instead of posting a new topic!

[CRXZC]

Any one know if you can use a 96+ VSS in a 88-91 Civic? I have one in mine with a 2000 Civic Si Cluster, but the speedometer just jumps around and acts funny. Thought i'd ask here instead of posting a new topic!

You might be able to do it it..

I know when I got my jdm B16 w/ LSD it had an electronic VSS in the tranny, and I had to swap in my Manual (Turns a cable vs. send an electrical signal) VSS. I know you need the electronic one to use an SiR Cluster...

[kingpin]

fuck. i guess this is kind of a big job. gawdamn

[CRXZC]

If it's just the cable then it's a pain in the ass but not so bad... You can disconnect behind the cluster (just take the cluster cover off, 2 screws near the windhield), and disconnect at the tranny, spin the cable by hand and get someput to put resistance at the other end, if it works properly then A) You need a new cluster, or B) your sensor in the tranny is somehow broken, or C) the plastic gear inside the transmission is broken meaning absolute fucking pain in the ass to fix...

[b17gsr]

The electronic VSS attached to the transmission on the 1992+ Civics isn't compatible with your existing cluster. Until 1991 in the Civic, a cable drive unit was bolted to the transmission, cable to the cluster and the cluster would create the VSS signal for the ECU (if required).

if you get the 89-91 JDM SiR cluster then you'd need the VSS from a newer Civic.

[boostedd15b]

i have a 2000 gsr cluster with electric vss in my 1989 crx.
cable was a pos .

note: this is prolly too advanced for you ,no offence, so im not responsible.

i can give you all the pinout and the parts list youll need.

even the jdm cluster swap requires alot of rewiring and the 92+ style speed sensor.
you need the edm cluster. it plugs in and the only thing youll have to do is wire up the vss.
1 wire is +
1 wire is -
1 wire goes to cluster and ecu

[CRXZC]

i have a 2000 gsr cluster with electric vss in my 1989 crx.
cable was a pos .

note: this is prolly too advanced for you ,no offence, so im not responsible.

i can give you all the pinout and the parts list youll need.

even the jdm cluster swap requires alot of rewiring and the 92+ style speed sensor.
you need the edm cluster. it plugs in and the only thing youll have to do is wire up the vss.
1 wire is +
1 wire is -
1 wire goes to cluster and ecu

Have any pics of this setup? How does it fit?

[boostedd15b]

looks stock :wink:

[Jdc]

i have a 2000 gsr cluster with electric vss in my 1989 crx.
cable was a pos .

note: this is prolly too advanced for you ,no offence, so im not responsible.

i can give you all the pinout and the parts list youll need.

even the jdm cluster swap requires alot of rewiring and the 92+ style speed sensor.
you need the edm cluster. it plugs in and the only thing youll have to do is wire up the vss.
1 wire is +
1 wire is -
1 wire goes to cluster and ecu


LOL! I would say "you must be joking" about it being too advanced, but you don't know me so w/e. I find wiring very straight forward, not a problem at all. THIS was my problem though: In the 2000 Civic Si (automatic) cluster the speedo must take a different signal. I went to the j/y and got the original cluster from the 97 Civic (standard, but no tach) the VSS came out of. The speedo on 97 cluster worked fine with the VSS in my 91Si. I'm just going to swap the speedo's out from the 97 to the 2000 and it should be MINT!

[kingpin]

That doesn't seem too bad, but i'm not looking at putting in a JDM cluster, if i do decided to switch it, i would put in an oem one from the same gen.

[kingpin]

The electronic VSS attached to the transmission on the 1992+ Civics isn't compatible with your existing cluster. Until 1991 in the Civic, a cable drive unit was bolted to the transmission, cable to the cluster and the cluster would create the VSS signal for the ECU (if required).

if you get the 89-91 JDM SiR cluster then you'd need the VSS from a newer Civic.

So, the VSS is attached to the cluster? I take there is no way around in just changing the cable itself (or just the VSS) without having to replace the cluster?

[b17gsr]

the VSS came out of. The speedo on 97 cluster worked fine with the VSS in my 91Si. I'm just going to swap the speedo's out from the 97 to the 2000 and it should be MINT!

That doesn't make much sense, unless they left the cable drive unit behind the speedo in the 97 cluster for some odd reason. All 92+ Civics have the electronic VSS on the transmission.

[b17gsr]

The electronic VSS attached to the transmission on the 1992+ Civics isn't compatible with your existing cluster. Until 1991 in the Civic, a cable drive unit was bolted to the transmission, cable to the cluster and the cluster would create the VSS signal for the ECU (if required).

if you get the 89-91 JDM SiR cluster then you'd need the VSS from a newer Civic.

So, the VSS is attached to the cluster? I take there is no way around in just changing the cable itself (or just the VSS) without having to replace the cluster?

They are three seperate parts. So you can replace either part. Do you mean remove one part of the system and convert it to electronic?