Symptoms:
Intermittent speedo
Blinking Arrow in the dash
WSE lights blinking
Would not shift through gears on its on without starting in 1 then pressing W and shifting up through the gears then pressing E

No rough shifting/noises, etc

What I've don't so far:

Checked codes: 232-missing speedometer signal. (Didn't know to hit button again to go to next code)

Cleaned all the connectors on the side of the transmission. Gave me the speedo back but still had blinking lights WSE and Arrow.

Removed the PNP/Neutral safety switch and cleaned it inside and out, then reinstalled. No blinking lights (WSE) and no Arrow in the dash.

Now, when I drive the wagon the following happens:

No speedometer.

Shifter to drive, E is lit, no Arrow on the dash.....give gas....and we are off.....but never leave first gear. If I press the W button it will shift to 2 and 3, but no overdrive (as designed).

If I leave the W button pushed in and start off in drive, it feels like I'm starting in second...then shifts normally. (Without overdrive)

I pulled the codes using port 1:

124-Mode Selector faulty or short to ground
232-Speedometer signal missing
311- RPM signal from transmission missing

So, now what? I felt like I was making headway, but now it seems I'm back to square 1.

Any suggestions? Teansmiccion control module? Recheck and re clean the connections on the transmission? Scrap the car? ;)

Thanks in advance for any help.

Chris
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Chris M. 1986 245GL. '85 245 w/ 414,765+ miles. ***SOLD***

We'll, I rechecked all connections around the transmission, checked the speed sensor at the rear differential and had a voltage of .3-.8 while I was spinning the rear wheels by hand. Seems to be within specs.

Tried arcing the leads to the sensor to see if I could get the speedometer to move but it didn't work.

Also jiggled the ignition switch, beat the dash...no luck.

Any ideas?

Chris
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Chris M. 1986 245GL. "Blueberry" '85 245 w/ 414,765+ miles. ***SOLD***

I had problems with mine it was those plugs at the side of transmission, I ended up cutting the 4 prong plug off and installing a generic one. Clean the bigger ones and poke a pick in them and try and close the prongs a bit so when you put it back together it will be a tight fit and put dielectric grease on them.
Speedo check the wire from the diff sensor it goes back towards the spare wheel housing mine had rubbed through.

Thanks volvo426.

I'll do both of those suggestions and see what happens.

Chris
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Chris M. 1986 245GL. '85 245 w/ 414,765+ miles. ***SOLD***

Pull the WSE switch out and try a second hand one. If you dont have a second hand one unplug it and replug it maybe dirty contacts.

Did you physically check the speed sensor wiring for rubbing trace it back and check it all as it could be an intermittent fault that shows up under load car on the ground. Check where the spare wheel goes as the wire comes back through the cavity. did you put the car on stands and check the sensor if so it may be giving a false reading by not being under load.

I checked the wiring loom from the axle to the box in the trunk. Looked good. I also pulled the cluster last night....gonna check to see if I have signal all the way up there. Hadn't thought about under load being an issue since the sensor is reading the ring gear back there.

Also, where does the WSE mode selector switch wiring go? I've seen the switch mentioned on just about every search, but can't actually see the switch and wiring loom.

I'll dig in the console to see what I can find. So far I've found .86.

Thanks again for the help.

Chris
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Chris M. 1986 245GL. "Blueberry" '85 245 w/ 414,765+ miles. ***SOLD***

You can just pry the mode WSE switch up and unplug it.

OK. Pulled the dash, cleaned contacts, checked out the board for cracked solders, etc, recleaned the contacts under the tranny again, and cleaned the rear sensor again.

This afternoon Ill take her for another test drive. Not sure what else to do...
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Chris M. 1986 245GL. "Blueberry" '85 245 w/ 414,765+ miles. ***SOLD***

Still no speedo...so no shifting gears. RPM guage works as does everything else on the dash. The Speedo was working sporadically, but now its not working at all.

I have read that the speedo in the dash does not HAVE to work in order for the TCM to contoll the transmission. Is that true?

I have cleaned/reinstalled the PNP/NSW. Car starts, goes into gear, and will not start in anything but park and neutral. Seems to be working fine.

Cleaned and press fit all the connectors on the side of the tranny.

Replaced the rear speed sensor with a known working one.

Removed and cleaned the Mode Selector connections and returned it.

Pulled the dash and checked the connections. Looked/felt fine.

Pulled the TCM and replaced with a supposedly good one.

And this is what I have:

The car runs beautifully....in first gear when the E mode is selected. If I select W mode the car will start off in 2nd gear and shift to 3rd.

So, does this sound like the Mode selector switch needs replacing?

Thanks folks for the insights...

Chris
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Chris M. 1986 245GL. "Blueberry" '85 245 w/ 414,765+ miles. ***SOLD***

The car runs beautifully....in first gear when the E mode is selected. If I select W mode the car will start off in 2nd gear and shift to 3rd.

That sounds right for the switch, if you have a spare chuck it in. I still think you have a wiring fault from the rear speed sensor to speedo.Test this wire from end to end.

Ive tried to trace the wiring from the rear to the front but cant find a clear diagram that shows accurate colors.

It appears to me that the speed sensor goes to one connector at the transmission, then goes to the TCM. I cant find the trail....

The wiring diagram shows that the TCM is mounted beside the steering column...and its not, its mounted against the left kick panel.

Chris
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Chris M. 1986 245GL. "Blueberry" '85 245 w/ 414,765+ miles. ***SOLD***

Dear wetplates,

Hope you're well. I do not own/operate a 960, so stood aside so that this Board's bonafide 960 experts could comment.

The first thing to do is to install a working speedometer. I had a speedo fail in a 940 ('93). At first cruise control would not stay engaged. Then, the speedo needle began to twitch occasionally. Next, the speedo's needle began to swing wildly, when the car's speed was constant. Finally, the speedo failed.

When I removed the speedo from the cluster, I found damage on the circuit board. I replaced it with a salvage yard unit, reset and calibrated by APT instruments in Minneapolis. Since then, the speedo has worked fine.

I recall reading a post dealing with a 960, in which a comment was made that the 960 Transmission Control Module (TCM) requires a signal from the speedometer. I cannot say whether or not that statement was correct, but it seems plausible.

In short, install a sound speedo. If that doesn't make any difference, I'll be a tad surprised.

Hope this helps.

Yours faithfully,

Spook

Thanks Spooky. I will look into verifying that a working speedo is needed for the TCM and go from there.

Chris
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Chris M. 1986 245GL. "Blueberry" '85 245 w/ 414,765+ miles. ***SOLD***