StewieVX

Hello guys. I have an issue with odometer or Vss not working after heavy rains and sometimes on very wet humid days. After it dries up it starts working but we just had heavy rains and so far it's not working. Maybe it will come back.

Did anyone experience that before and is this vss or vss gear issue?
What is causing that or what should be replaced.

Former User

Usually the VSS connector is corroded. Unplug it and inspect.

StewieVX

Thanks Ron. If connector corroded would spraying wd40 help or any idea how to remedy this?

Former User

Inspect it. If it looks nasty, try cleaning the connector and pins. Otherwise, scout junk yards for connectors in good condition.

StewieVX

Ron thanks. I took a look at it just now and it's not corroded at all but even inside the plug inside it was wet a bit and cables were wet as well so i dried it up and it works again. I drove over standing water when it flash flooding here which is what got it wet. Little issue those Civic have is that there is not engine bay cover underneath the car so water snow etc gets in there which is why this issue came up. Thanks for help.

One day i may take it out as it's easy to get to and clean it out with brake cleaner to get the dirt out.

Former User

Dry/clean the connector with brake cleaner and then moisture seal it with dielectric grease.

StewieVX

Awesome advice. I will do that. I also learned as my buddy has same car that VX does have under bay cover, it just someone on mine removed it. Why i have no idea. I'm also missing all wheel covers as well which is not as big deal as engine bay. I looked it i found it for $30 so i will get it. Crazy.

BTW the grease would go on outside of plug or inside or both?

tony_2018

Di electric grease goes on the inside of the plug. There is nothing covering the section where the VSS is. There is a cover for the near the front of the car though, maybe that is what you are thinking of.

StewieVX

Tony thanks. I will get that done. I was referring to engine splash guard right under the car. Piece of plastic that prevents any water going inside engine bay. Most cars have it. My bud says he does too but mine doesn't have it so all water goes inside engine bay.

tony_2018

Right but it doesn't cover the section where the vss is located, it only covers the front engine, mainly the belts.

StewieVX

Tony are we talking about 92 Civic VX? I do have cover on very front but yes no cover where VSS is located. Hmmmm now i'm confused. lol. Look what i found but this may or may not be full cover. Now i don't know. So are you basically saying 92 Civic VX has no full cover by design correct? If that is the case me buying this cover below would be waste

1992-2012 Honda Civic Engine Splash Shield - Replacement, Direct Fit, Plastic, Lower engine cover - JCWhitney

Former User

Buy these^ too. Should be cheap at junkyards.

tony_2018

Yes, the splash guard, it does not extend to the rear part of the engine, your vss is located in the rear of the transmission.

Former User

The splash guard offers important water splash and road debris damage protection throughout the engine bay.

StewieVX

Thanks guys and Tony i just checked there ain't nothing where VSS is at. I have unplugged it just now to dry it up from moisture as it was still acting up. It was sporadically working.

I bought the grease and will seal up once it dries up pretty good. I can't tell if it's corroded but maybe i should use break cleaner inside the plug to clean it up?

tony_2018

K....

tony_2018

I spy corrosion..

Former User

^The VSS terminals look corroded, though the zoomed picture is not focused.

Clean the corrosion from the VSS terminals, and depin the VSS wire harness connector. If necessary, cut the pins from the wire, resolder to clean wire, and then repin to the connector.

Former User

My point was that just because the splash guard does not cover the entire bottom of the engine bay doesn't mean it fails to offer more extensive water splash protection in engine bay. With the car driving forward, most water would enter at the front bottom side of the engine bay where the splash guard is located.

StewieVX

Thanks guys. I will take better focused pic soon but ron you lost me here.
Sorry i'm a noob here but what should i clean with what? Inside the vss plug or plug itself connected to bunch of wires. What should i clean it with?

StewieVX

I think i found an issue. When i was cleaning the inside of the plug little piece of metal came out. I think plug was corroded and snaped while i was cleaning it. Now it's done for good.

I placed an order for new plug $7 and new vss sensor $7 as well on ebay. For this much it's not worth messing around with. $14 and i will get this replaced. I will report once it's installed.

Thank you so much for help.

StewieVX

I have successfully replaced plug, i cut it and soldered in new plug to wires and since VSS was $7 and brand new (ebay) i have also replaced that as well. It works all well now. I believe issue was brittle (on the inside) worn out plug not vss but since both were so cheap I replaced both. VSS looked very good on the inside. No rust at all. Had few small pieces of metal shaving there. I have used dielectric grease to isolate and also i have used electrical tape everywhere twice wrapped. No chance of water getting there anymore. I forgot to grease inside vss and pin itself. Not sure if that's a big deal or not but it's done now. Thank you very much to everyone for great feedback.