What is VSS and it's function?

[davidf]

Having my speedo out this weekend I noticed a small black gadget attached next to the speedo cable. I've read somewhere it's called the VSS. I'm currently building an AVC dash cluster. Upon removing my current speedo and letting this gadget lay behind the dash, what will be affected? Thanks.

 

[TURBOPOWERED68]

Vehicle
Speed
Sensor

It tells the computer how fast/slow the car is going

 

[berserker6]

without it being used the car will think its in first at all times. a scanmaster will register your mph as 0. you will not be able to change timing in different gears if you had a TT chip. you would be stuck with whatever the settings are for first gear thru all 4 gears. and i think it effects torque converter lockup, but i may be wrong on that one.

 

[GNVenom]

You need the VSS signal for:

Torque converter lockup
Highway mode fuel
Cannister purge
Burst Knock retard
Cruise control (secondary operation of VSS buffer)
Coolant fan shut-off @ mph
and a few other housekeeping functions. Without the VSS signal, you'll set an error code. If you don't need the lockup, you can disable the code in the chip and live without the other features.

 

[TURBOPOWERED68]

You need the VSS signal for:

Torque converter lockup
Highway mode fuel
Cannister purge
Burst Knock retard
Cruise control (secondary operation of VSS buffer)
Coolant fan shut-off @ mph
and a few other housekeeping functions. Without the VSS signal, you'll set an error code. If you don't need the lockup, you can disable the code in the chip and live without the other features.

Have you been able to come up with a single unit to act as a VSS for hybrids?

 

[pacecarta]

this
CEI - Casper's Electronics, Inc.

along with this
CEI - Casper's Electronics, Inc.

 

[davidf]

this
CEI - Casper's Electronics, Inc.

along with this
CEI - Casper's Electronics, Inc.

Are you saying this is what I'll need to do upon installing the VDO cluster?

 

[Joe 1320]

You'll need the signal generator as well as the tach filter in order to get the cruise to work.

 

[pacecarta]

i have a similar VDO cluster in my 86 only with 8 gauges ,
im running the VDO inline vss sender under the hood connected to the stock vss buffer (cut the optic end off) but mine is not an 18pulse per rev sender , for that sender youll need caspers setup of the 18pulse sender and the buffer module he sells

the module on the back is most likely for the VDO tach , the speedo is analog and needs no other module

 

[davidf]

You'll need the signal generator as well as the tach filter in order to get the cruise to work.

I don't have cruise.:frown: But I don't want to alter any fuel economy by not having it. I guess when I finish the cluster wiring, I'll get a little deeper into this area which will be in about a month.

 

[The_Six]

Some good reading for you on this . I had to do it to my car to so my cruz and lock up would work here is a good thread on it http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/general-turbo-buick-tech/305713-bouncing-vdo-speedometer-video.html

 

[tonysmach]

don't mean to hijack thread, but do I need a dead end sender and converter at $75 each and tach module at $30 (total $180) if I am installing an Auto Meter mechanical (cable) 3 3/8 Phantom Speedometer? How do I hook up VSS with mechanical speedometer?

 

[Rodney87GN]

don't mean to hijack thread, but do I need a dead end sender and converter at $75 each and tach module at $30 (total $180) if I am installing an Auto Meter mechanical (cable) 3 3/8 Phantom Speedometer? How do I hook up VSS with mechanical speedometer?

You will need both the VSS feed thru and signal converter from Caspers...pacecarta posted the correct part numbers above. You will also need to buy a speedo cable to go between the VSS feed thru and your Autometer speedo. I got mine from some guy on ebay that makes different lengths speedo cables...sorry I don't remember his name.

I'm not sure on the tach module...I didn't use one but then again I don't have cruise control.

I did the above on my Autometer mechanical speedo...works like a champ.

 

[tonysmach]

You will need both the VSS feed thru and signal converter from Caspers...pacecarta posted the correct part numbers above. You will also need to buy a speedo cable to go between the VSS feed thru and your Autometer speedo. I got mine from some guy on ebay that makes different lengths speedo cables...sorry I don't remember his name.

I'm not sure on the tach module...I didn't use one but then again I don't have cruise control.

I did the above on my Autometer mechanical speedo...works like a champ.

Do you remember how much you paid for Speedometer cable? Trying to figure which is less expensive, mechanical or electric? Also, at which point on the cable did you place the sender..at transmission or behind speedometer?

 

[pacecarta]

the cable is 20 bucks plus 10 for the ride in US, search vdo speedometer cable on ebay

from the ad
AVAILABLE IN DIFFERENT LENGTHS 20",38", 63", 83" and 100" long. THE MOST POPULAR LENGTHS ARE 63" AND 83" .

you need to tell them how long

the speedometers uses a small thread on cable end and the sender fits the gm thread end so it has to go at the transmission or at the end of the stock lower cable under the hood on the fender well

 

[tonysmach]

the cable is 20 bucks plus 10 for the ride in US, search vdo speedometer cable on ebay

from the ad
AVAILABLE IN DIFFERENT LENGTHS 20",38", 63", 83" and 100" long. THE MOST POPULAR LENGTHS ARE 63" AND 83" .

you need to tell them how long

the speedometers uses a small thread on cable end and the sender fits the gm thread end so it has to go at the transmission or at the end of the stock lower cable under the hood on the fender well

Thank you. I assume this cable will work for Auto Meter Speedometer?

 

[pacecarta]

yes

/AUTOMETER-DOLPHIN-EQUUS-VDO-SPEEDOMETER-CABLE-/360270570706?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item53e1cca4d2

 

[Rodney87GN]

yes

/AUTOMETER-DOLPHIN-EQUUS-VDO-SPEEDOMETER-CABLE-/360270570706?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item53e1cca4d2

Thanks, that's the guy I got mine from.

 

[tonysmach]

Thanks, that's the guy I got mine from.

great help. do you attach the sender at the transmission or at the speedometer?

 

[pacecarta]

ive explained that already, you even qouted it , look back at the posts

when yullose did one on a digital speedo he had better results with the sender at the trans because of the old cable backlash , with the new senders that have more pulse per revolution the slightest cable bind will cause issues so to avoid problems now or later install yours at the trans

my feed through VSS sender was older and only has two pulse per rev so its not so touchy about backlash ..and because it was a two pulse sender i didn't need the caspers buffer . i was able to use my original gm VSS buffer with the optic cut off