Speedo cable "clip" is there a trick here?

281pony · Jun 22, 2010

i had my car on a lift this past week inspecting suspension components. i noticed i was leaking some transmission fluid. it was on the crossmember, ect. we traced it to the speedometer cable.

my questions. i got an exploded view of the assembly. i am missing the lower clip furthest from the transmission. i got another one from ford.

i cannot get it to push through. i have tried moving the cable up into the trans and pulling it away. i probably moved it back and forth 1/4" or so each way. maybe a bit more. does this need to be pushed towards the trans as much as possible or pulled back? could the lack of this clip cause a leak?

here is 2 pics. the clip i am missing and my speedo cable assembly. my prong that bolts onto the transmission also faces outwards towards the drivers side trans tunnel. is this correct? it appears to be, as the tab locks over the transmission (its off in pics, just curious).

if anyone has any clear detailed pics of their setup, that would help too. i just cant get the damn clip in..
View attachment 215504
View attachment 215505

281pony · Jun 22, 2010

reading jrichers post, it doesnt show pics. however, it sounds like his bold print where it says "do not remove the hairpin clip" might be this clip?

wish i had known that when i watched someone pull the clip

jrichker · Jun 23, 2010

The ends of the hairpin fit inside the cutout in the side of VSS/adapter housing. You slide the hairpin on from one side and the ends fit inside the cutout on the other side. Maybe someone will post a picture of it.

Lawbreaker5.0 · Jun 23, 2010

Yeah don't you install the clip without the vss connected then pop the vss and it should spread the clip apart an lock in place? I'm pretty sure that how I did mine.

281pony · Jun 24, 2010

i just fought my new lower control arms for 4 houirs. im beat and i have tomorrow left to do a bunch of crap before the track date. so i think ill just pay someone to do it on a lift.

so you pull the vss out, insert clip and then pop the vss back through the clip? makes sense, cause it was going nowhere with the vss there.

MustangLX-5.0 · Jun 24, 2010

Ok glad I found this thread, cause I got a lil problem here. First, I was driving to the gas station the other night, and out of nowhere the engine started acting up. Was intermittently acting like I was out of gas. Get to gas station and engine was surging. Shut off, come back and still doin the same thing. But gas pedal responded well this time. Had CE light on. Get home and left engine running. Ran code scan and immediately got back codes 66 and 98. Didn't even go through full test, just went right to codes. Ignore code 66, was something I did when I connected battery. But 98? Well I shut car off then run test again. Aside from the 66, I got code 29. One of my q's here would be - Would code 98 on KOER be the result of code 29 on KOEO?

Anyway, I am getting a new VSS. In the image of the new Motorcraft VSS, it totally looks like the cable has to be removed from the VSS. How else would I replace it. Also, how would I replace it if , according to the write-up, that you are not supposed to remove the clip? Isn't that how the cable gets removed from the VSS? Can someone help me out here?

fivepointNO · Jun 24, 2010

Oh... I have a vague memory of this from the early-mid 90's... So I could have it wrong.

It seems to me, you push in on the closed end to spread the clip, allowing you to slide out the cable. Before re-installing the cable, you replace the clip if you have removed it. That's how I remember it, but it's been years. Anyone, feel free to set me straight here.

At that point, the cable with clip should pop over the lip for re-connection.

I seem to remember a tool for this though, which makes the job easier. I just used "needle nose" pliers. My brother and I always used to refer to that style as a "Jesus clip" because every time anyone had to deal with it, we'd end up hearing, "JESUS, this thing is a pain in the arse!"

The lack of that clip will not cause a leak. It can, however, allow the cable to detach from the speedo gear.

RsStanG1987 · Jun 25, 2010

Ive had that clip off on 2 of my cars with no problems what so ever.

MustangLX-5.0 · Jun 25, 2010

Got a new VSS. Haven't installed it yet but now I can see how it goes on. It comes with a new clip. Clip just locks into place and don't look like much trouble. It looks like you would have to slide the cable in first, then snap the clip in. Looking at it, it would seem like it would be quite difficult to get the cable in place with the clip left on. Because the clip just sits very loosely in the slot. Looks almost like the same clip that holds the TV cable on the TB. Shoud be cake man. But anyway, I'm a install it today when the sun gets shaded later. Too damn hot right now.

I guess I was just confused because I had never seen the thing. I understand how it works now. Thanks

MustangLX-5.0 · Jun 25, 2010

*** damn that thing is a pain in the ***** ass! I should not have spoken so soon. I cannot get the cable to push past the clip over the lip. It is evident that the clip must be in place before inserting cable. Otherwise the clip cannot fully spread open far enough to go through. I'll try pliers, but hopefully it doesn't damage it.

Saleen0679 · Jun 25, 2010

If you slide the cable in first you will never be able to get the clip in. The clip has to be in place first it will spread apart and allow the cable to snap into place.

MustangLX-5.0 · Jun 25, 2010

I got it. I took the clip out and put it back in from the other side. Cable locked right in with a little force after that. Clip is in backwards , or so it may seem.. but it works. Thanks

N02-87FOX · Jun 25, 2010

Mine is missing also and I would like to replace it, do you know what the clip is called so I can look it up?

fivepointNO · Jun 26, 2010

N02-87FOX said:
Mine is missing also and I would like to replace it, do you know what the clip is called so I can look it up?

I have no idea where you can find only the clip(or it's real name). The speed sensor itself comes with the clip (as mentioned) and sells for about $35.00 through places like Late Model Restoration. There's is evidently an actual OEM part, btw.

MustangLX-5.0 · Jun 26, 2010

Jesus clip?? lol

I bought the speed sensor at Advanced Auto for $21 which came with new clip. Rock Auto also sells them. They have the non-oem sensor for $11.

281pony · Jun 26, 2010

i gotta fix this asap, i'm fixing it over the weekend.

how do you pull the cable out enough to get the clip in first? anyone have a write up or simple instruction? never had to mess with the vss/speedo gear.

mustanglx-5.0, how exactly did you get it installed correctly? thanks alot

281pony · Jun 26, 2010

i ran into a write-up by jricher again.

if i got it right, i can just pull the speedo cable out of the housing until its out far enough to insert clip. with new clip in place, i can just slide the cable back in?

if its that simple ill go fix it tonight after dinner.

MustangLX-5.0 · Jun 27, 2010

In response to your PM (281pony). You must pull the cable out far enough until you can see the notch (rib) on the metal sleeve. That notch is what you must push past the clip. That's what makes it difficult as well. Pull the cable out til the notch is exposed BEFORE the clip. Then insert the clip. Do not push and hold clip 100%, let it meet the other side of vss housing but dont push the clip til it stops. Theres a certain gap in the center of the clip that you must push it past. If its too far in, you wont be able to push cable through. Try doing what I did, put the clip in from the other side, THEN insert the cable. It will start to slide through, then it will stop as it meets with the clip. At this point you just push hard until it makes a SNAP and goes through. After that, press on the clip real hard to fully lock it down. I didn't fully lock mine down. The notch was past the clip and thats all I cared about. Couldn't push the clip down any further.. so it just sort of sits in there loosely.

Sorry for the long explanation. Just wanted to make sure you understood how this was done.

281pony · Jun 27, 2010

gotcha. thanks for the explination. i kinda figured thats about how it went going off jrichers post i ran into.

i'll take any helping aid i can get though, it sucks laying chest to car with very limited vision trying to figure that crap out lol.

281pony · Jun 27, 2010

got it done in like 15 minutes. when i was moving the speedo cable in and out before, i didnt quite pull it out far enough.

i used a good sized set of needle nose pliers and grabbed it and used the crossmember for leverage to pry it up and down. worked good, especially for pushing it back in.

the clips can be purchased single from ford. mine was $3

Speedo cable "clip" is there a trick here?

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