92 Prelude Problems/Questions - Honda Prelude Forum

cottonzway · 03-24-2010, 06:23 PM

I have a 1992 Prelude that I was having some problems with and was curious for some advice. Google lead me to you guys.

Anyways, my drive light (automatic) started to blink today on the way home from work. Also my speedometer stopped working and shortly after that my check engine light came on. The car did not seem to be driving “weird” at all though and I live close enough to home to try and make it home. I had no problems do that. When I got home I turned it off, waited a minute, turned it back on, and all 3 issues went away.

The car has been idling a little bit rougher then usual lately, but nothing too bad. I am not a car buff so I don’t know what I am looking at. I am taking it to mechanic, but I was curious as to what could be and what costs could be associated with it?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Tom

red92si · 03-24-2010, 06:29 PM

Your VSS (vehicle speed sensor) is going bad, and it is sending erratic signals to the speedometer and the ECU. Since the ECU is getting a faulty signal, it is making the engine run rough. Since the speedometer is getting a faulty signal, it is acting faulty as well.

cottonzway · 03-24-2010, 06:35 PM

Thank you.

What does something like that cost to replace? Is it something that needs to replaced ASAP? Does it effect the car to the point where driving it with that going bad can lead to other problems with the car? I have to make an appointment with my mechanic in the morning, but I don't know if he can get me in ASAP. Don't want to do anything to make the problem worse.

SNsLude · 03-24-2010, 09:14 PM

Cheap part. Very easy to replace. No need to ask those questions, just replace it and see if it works. Cheap enough to find out. 2 bolts, 2 lines (or 1, don't remember) going to it, and a harness. Take off, put new one in, done. It's below the TB sitting on the transmission housing. Just put a towel around the VSS before you take it out though as the 2 lines going in to it have fluid in them.

cottonzway · 04-19-2010, 09:00 AM

So I have this at my mechanics for inspection and he is replacing this. When calling to get the part he found it was expensive and the guy he talked to said it could be 1 of 2 "different kinds of VSS" for the car. I have no clue what that could be. Based on the car being a 92 auto is there different VSS that could be used?

Another thing. When looking for the part myself I see two different items when looking it up:

This:

and

This:

Which part is it? I think it's the first, but want to make sure.

Thanks.

G_Loc · 04-19-2010, 09:30 AM

The first should do the trick as its the actual sensor. The bottom pic is the entire unit that goes into the transmission and also functions as some kind of valve for the speed sensitive steering.