Questions and Answers
Aerostar Cruise Control
Q. Dear Vincent, I have a 1993 Ford Aerostar 4.0L V6 with the extended body, VIN# 1FMDA31X6PZC52557. My dashboard instrument cluster has the dial-type analog speedometer and the LCD odometer display. The van has over 223,000 miles on it, mostly freeway driving, and has been maintained well.
Recently, while attempting to diagnose and repair my non-functioning cruise control (apparently factory-installed) I consulted the Chilton manual. In the emission controls section, the manual showed me a vehicle speed sensor unit, mounted to the speedometer cable located at the rear driver's side of the transmission assembly.
When I checked under my van, however, I noticed the van has no such unit! Neither speedometer cable nor sensor at that location!!! The case casting has a location for the cable/sensor, but it has never been drilled out or tapped to receive such a cable/sensor. The Chilton manual fails to enlighten me in regard to this conundrum. Can you?
Where would I look to find whatever serves the function of the speedometer cable and vehicle speed sensor? And how might I test the vehicle speed sensor to see if my problem lies there or not? Thanks for you help.
Sincerely,
TomA. The reason there is a blind spot where the Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) goes is that it used to be mounted there, but Ford started incorporating it in the instrument cluster. Chilton manuals cover about three or four years of a model and sometimes things change in that time. That's why Chilton says it's there when it's not.
Here's a diagnostic tree to find out exactly why your cruise control doesn't work.
Additional Information provided courtesy of ALLDATA
