Hey guys, I just recently purchased an automatic 95 Prelude SI (great car, runs strong). However the only discrepancy that I have is that the Speedometer and the Odometer are not working in the car. RPM's work fine but speedometer and odometer have never worked.

So far I have already replaced the VSS (the one on top of the tranny) with a new Honda one. I have replaced the guage cluster as well (thought that might be the problem since my old guage cluster didn't emit a light when it was in D4).

I have also checked the fuse (no.23) as well and even replaced it with a new one and still no go.

I did notice that when I replaced the gauge cluster with a used one, the D4 light works but when I am driving it blinks at me. The car also throws a CEL after about 10 minutes of driving but the previous owner of the car said that the O2 sensor was bad.

Anyway, since this car has no speedometer cable, is there anything that I am overlooking that could be the culprit of my speedometer and odometer to not work?

The only other thing I can think of is that the lower part of the VSS that resides inside the transmission might be messed up. If thats the case, do I have to drop the transmission to take out the lower part of the VSS? I am really hoping this is a simple problem since this car has already been a PITA since day 1.

Thanks!

 

If the VSS gear on the differential is fucked up then to replace it will require a whole **** ton of labor.

You will need to drop the tranny, dissassemble it, remove the differential, and install the new VSS gear. By the way, you cannot buy the VSS gear separate. So your cheapest and best bet would be to purchase a used tranny in good working condition.

That's worst case scenerio though. I would get your CEL code pulled and go from there though.

 

Yeah, I really hope its not the lower part of the VSS that goes inside the transmission. I plan on picking up some Seafoam for the car tomorrow so I will swing by the local Autozone and see if they can pull the code for me.

 

expletive seafoam. I wouldn't use that ****. Period.

 

Well amazingly enough Autozone states that they could not scan the car because its not a 96. I call BS on that, I guess its off to take a trip to the stealership then.

 

Well I put a jumper cable on the blue diagnostic connector and I got 1 long flash followed by 7 short flashes. Which leads me to believe it is code 17 which is the VSS. How could this be if I just replaced it with a brand new unit???

Anyway, thats the only code it is throwing.

I also noticed that when I reached behind the center console I found 2 blue wires (1 of the blue wires was for the diagnostic connector) and 1 yellow wire. As well as 2 connectors. Anybody know what these wires are and why they are unplugged? I have included pictures as well.

http://s102.photobucket.com/al...Anch1

http://s102.photobucket.com/al...Anch2

 

I'm pretty sure the yellow one is the srs connector. there is also a code that the D4 light should blink at you to go along with your code 17. I can't remember offhand what the tranny code check routine is though.

D4 flashing might be as simple as low tranny fluid. Is that all good? Also - a bad O2 sensor, or clogged fuel filter may cause your code after 10 minutes. reset your ecu and pull a new code to verify you only have the 17 and not a 43 or anything.

+1 for not using seafoam

 

Well the guy who owned the car before me didn't do jack **** to this car except drive it. I have already replaced the fuel filter, changed out tranny fluid (came out black), changed the oil/filter, flushed the radiator etc.

The D4 light does blink sporadically when I drive the car, the check engine light also comes on after about 10 mins of driving as well. When I did the jumper trick, the only code I was throwing was the VSS (code 17). I also pulled the 10A fuse for the radio/clock in the engine bay to reset the ECU and the speedometer still does not work.

So should all of these connectors not be plugged in, or do they plug in somewhere?

I am thinking it might be a bad ground or something? Man this car is kicking my ***!

 

those connectors you have pictured are service connectors, they aren't plugged in to anything on the car, so no worries.
try to find the code for the tranny light - in a helms manual or something. also, since you flushed the radiator, double check the tranny fluid again and make sure the cooler lines at the bottom of the radiator aren't leaking.
the only times I've had a blinking D4 were when the fluid drained out (after a radiator swap gone bad) and when the main relay (for fuel pump) went out

 

Well I finally got fed up with the car and took it to a dealer, they tested the guage and the VSS and said that everything was working fine. They seem to believe that their must be a short/bad ground or a disconnected wire somewhere. Basically they state that its like finding a needle in a haystack. So I guess I will be speedoemeterless for awhile until I can find the right shop to take it too.

 

did you try resetting the ecu? it could be fixed and just popping the code from memory.

 

Pull the cluster and making sure all the wires are fine.

 

Yes I reset the ECU - pulled the 10A fuse for the radio/clock for 10 secs and put it back in. I also checked the wires as well - everything looks copasetic.