I am wondering if anyone has had this problem and to add it to the possible reasons why the speedometer won't work in the car. The other day my speedo stopped working, didn't receive the CEL to say it was the VSS, but I couldn't really see what else could have gone wrong with the system.
I pulled the sensor off the vss in order to get ready for when the replacement sensor arrived. With the sensor off, I could see the top of the shaft that would typically turn when the wheels moves, which then made the speedo function. So I decided to jack up the car, block off the wheels, and then I started the car and put it into gear. The first thing I noticed was the shaft in the VSS was not turning. This lead me to believe that either the gear on the vss wasn't touching the gear on the differential or one of the two were broken.
I removed the rest of the vss and attached it to a power drill and the speedo worked. So i stuck my finger in the hole on the top of the tranny where the vss goes and I could easily move the gear with my finger. Since it obviously should be a solid mass with the differential, I rotated the wheels, yet I could spin or stop this gear without any resistence.
So my question is How the hell does something like that break? Is this a parts that can be welded or am I in the market for a new tranny?
The worst part about this is I sold my spare tranny last month

 

Does anyone have a picture of the differential while its out of the tranny? Also, how is the speedometer driver gear attached? Is it welded? held in place by some type of screw or pin?

 

Any one have a picture of the differential assembly while its out of the car?