Took the car out today for a test drive. Ran fine for probably 15-18 miles.... a good 1/2 hour plus.... then it started again. This time, I shifted the car into the D (with overdrive) position and observed the problem occuring. Then shifed into D3 and D2.... problem occured in both settings. I was a good 10 miles from home and was able to 'limp' the car home by being very gentle on the gas..... only enought to maintain speed. Then, when the speedometer dropped to zero, and the tranny would slip, I'd let off a moment, wait for it to catch, and then gently get back on the gas..... worked okay like that to get home.

What are the odds a replacement VSS would be bad? Should I try to get another one to see it that fixes the problem? I wonder if Advance would let me return it if it did not fix the problem........ I've also thought about getting a scan done at a Pontiac Garage, but I'd need to find one that would do the scan knowing I was going to fix any problems myself........ Any more ideas out there?

MIke

Autozone should be able to scan it for you for free. It will tell you if your VSS is on the fritz (or at least the VSS circuit). Also, I am wondering if the infamous ground buss is in on this...if anyone with a 96 FSM can verify that the cluster has ties to that bus?

Just a thought here...I am tending to believe that the cluster isn't the problem...it only repeats what the ECU and the various other sensors tells it. Though I am not certain...does it go VSS-ECU-cluster or does the VSS go to the cluster first, then to the ECU? I am pretty sure the cluster is last on the list, and if this is the case I would be looking at all your related connections between the engine harness and the ECU.

EDIT - just read Mike'* post...so that answers that question on signal order

Me thinks he needs to find someone that has a tool that can monitor everything while the vehicle is moving. Preferably when it goes into "oh **** mode". Only places I know that does that would be the dealer. Try to set something up with the dealer so when you happen to drive by the dealer, they can just jump in, hook up and ride along.

I might be able to make this happen..... I publish a "cars for sale" magazine and could probably work something out with one of our customers.

You are correct, Sir. No SES light. Ever. Maybe that system isn't working....
Anyway..... If Autozone can scan it, perhaps I could get it hot and into "Oh ***t" mode and then pull in the lot.

Either way, I'll see what I can work out this week. I had the busses out and cleaned them up a month or so ago.... nothing was wrong with them.... they just got a little damp when the trim came loose on the door seal.... but that'* been fixed and is still nice and solid.
I'll see what I can work out with Autozone / a Pontiac dealer at the beginning of the week.

In the meantime.... can you test a VSS? If I hook up a multimeter to the thing and pass a piece of metal past the magnet, for example, shouild I see a fluxuation on the meter?
AND.... if I were to buy a Scan tool for myself, what would it be, how much would it cost, and where would I get it?

Thanks,
Mike

Yes, its possible to test the VSS. As you have already suggested, hook up a DVM, switch it to Continuity test and slowly pass a piece of metal in front of the tip. You should get short a short beep.

As far as the scan tool. I was referring to the kind that monitors sensors an all. The big expensive ones. If your SES light is not coming on, then Autozone won't find any codes. Thats all they can do. Dealers have the big boy toys that can see everything at once and be able to "see" what'* going on when "oh **** mode" comes on.

UPDATE:
For anyone who had been follwing this saga.... here'* the latest. I took the car to our Pontiac Dealer. They ran a scan and said the computer was bad. So it should be getting a new main computer today. He said the scan tool could not even maintain a connection and kept "blacking out" on them. He is 99% sure that the main computer is the problem, but we'll see. The nice thing is he'* trading ads in our mag for the parts and work, so I won't cost a bundle to find out if he'* right... If he isn't, I'll post another update.

Thanks again for all the advice!
--Mike