In dealing with my own speedometer problems (1994 accord EX, 5 spd MT), I've ran into several others with similar problems (speedometer jumps slowly from 0-25 (or so) at low speed, increasing it's jumping as speed is increased and finally settling out at around 20 mph at higher speeds - on occassion, it decides to work). I thought a little explanation of symptoms may clear up some of the confusion I had when first dealing with the problem...

1) Your VSS is the problem when...
a) your speedometer / odometer / cruise control go out.
b) your check engine light comes on (code 17 is the VSS)

2) Your VSS is not the problem (and you probably need a new speedometer) if...
a) your speedometer / odometer stop working, but the cruise control still works
b) there is no check engine light

Hope this helps someone avoid some of the costs of trying to fix something that's not broken.... or to even save some time in trying to diagnose the problem.

 

thanks for the info! That could have saved my friend some money. I didn't know if her accord was run off a cable or what, and she was from out of town so I didn't want to get involved. Cost her like $300 and I'm sure all they did was replace the VSS.