The Top DSM Community on the Web

For 1990-1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse, Eagle Talon, Plymouth Laser, and Galant VR-4 Owners. Log in to remove most ads.

Please Support Rix Racing
Please Support Rix Racing

420A Would a bad VSS cause a no start

This site may earn a commission from merchant
affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

langelg6

Proven Member
52
13
Nov 4, 2019
Hammond, Indiana
1995 Eagle Talon Esi
Non turbo, fwd, 5 speed.

just had issues starting due to bad ckp sensor, replaced sensor, jumped my battery and it fired up... 12 hours later it dies in the same way, so I think the ckp fell off, but its still on tight... symptoms of no start are same as before.. No fuel pump tick, no spark, no injector pulse and then a severe loss of cranking power




my cousin flat towed me home while in neutral and im steering the tallywhacker and I noticed my speedo didn't buge even when key was in ignition


can a bad vss cause no start ? how do I diagnose a VSS
 
just a thought but, check the engine fuse contacts 30Amp then go from there, if its still no spark check ignition coil, also check the MPI fuse and check your battery if it's below 12.2v with multi-meter then take it out check fluids and replace with distilled water trickle charge for 12 hours on 2amps battery will be fine but if all is good from there im stumped other than fuel pump but like you said it started right up from a jump
 
1995 Eagle Talon Esi
Non turbo, fwd, 5 speed.

just had issues starting due to bad ckp sensor, replaced sensor, jumped my battery and it fired up... 12 hours later it dies in the same way, so I think the ckp fell off, but its still on tight... symptoms of no start are same as before.. No fuel pump tick, no spark, no injector pulse and then a severe loss of cranking power
my cousin flat towed me home while in neutral and im steering the tallywhacker and I noticed my speedo didn't buge even when key was in ignition
can a bad vss cause no start ? how do I diagnose a VSS

check here for the VSS
https://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/quick-question-regarding-vss.503361/
 
just a thought but, check the engine fuse contacts 30Amp then go from there, if its still no spark check ignition coil, also check the MPI fuse and check your battery if it's below 12.2v with multi-meter then take it out check fluids and replace with distilled water trickle charge for 12 hours on 2amps battery will be fine but if all is good from there im stumped other than fuel pump but like you said it started right up from a jump


let me clarify.... In my recent no start threads I experienced the same symptoms as well but I had a CEL come up for Ckp sensor p01391

I replaced the ckp sensor but since my battery was losing cranking power I had to hook it up to a jump to get all the accessories working.. once the new sensor was in it started up and drove for a long time without losing battery, so I doubt its my alternator but 12 hours after it repeated the same scenario as my last thread... speeding up in 2nd gear and engine cut off as if key was turned off and the hum of my fuel pump was no longer present (Just installed wally 255 last week before ckp sensor)
 
1995 Eagle Talon Esi
Non turbo, fwd, 5 speed.

just had issues starting due to bad ckp sensor, replaced sensor, jumped my battery and it fired up... 12 hours later it dies in the same way, so I think the ckp fell off, but its still on tight... symptoms of no start are same as before.. No fuel pump tick, no spark, no injector pulse and then a severe loss of cranking power




my cousin flat towed me home while in neutral and im steering the tallywhacker and I noticed my speedo didn't buge even when key was in ignition


can a bad vss cause no start ? how do I diagnose a VSS

Definitely not it's for the speedometer and that only.
 
It's not likely, but I did experience random shutoffs due to a failed speed sensor. My speedo was broken for months, it would sometimes just jump all over the place going down the road. I didn't think much of it at the time. But then the car started to randomly shut off going down the road. It got so bad it wouldn't run for 30 seconds. Being stuck on the side of the road now, I unplugged it bc I knew it was bad, and didn't haven't another issue.

The ECU gets the VSS feedback so mine may have been shorting out and the ECU was trying to protect itself.

Not saying this is your issue. But it is possible for it to kill the motor.
 
It's not likely, but I did experience random shutoffs due to a failed speed sensor. My speedo was broken for months, it would sometimes just jump all over the place going down the road. I didn't think much of it at the time. But then the car started to randomly shut off going down the road. It got so bad it wouldn't run for 30 seconds. Being stuck on the side of the road now, I unplugged it bc I knew it was bad, and didn't haven't another issue.

The ECU gets the VSS feedback so mine may have been shorting out and the ECU was trying to protect itself.

Not saying this is your issue. But it is possible for it to kill the motor.


Very interesting because I just started having issues with mine not too long ago. I thought it could only effect the speedo but I might have the same issue as you. Mine started jumping around bought a new genuine vss installed it correctly with a good gear and still no speedo.
 
It's not likely, but I did experience random shutoffs due to a failed speed sensor. My speedo was broken for months, it would sometimes just jump all over the place going down the road. I didn't think much of it at the time. But then the car started to randomly shut off going down the road. It got so bad it wouldn't run for 30 seconds. Being stuck on the side of the road now, I unplugged it bc I knew it was bad, and didn't haven't another issue.

The ECU gets the VSS feedback so mine may have been shorting out and the ECU was trying to protect itself.

Not saying this is your issue. But it is possible for it to kill the motor.


I checked my VSS and it is plugged, the only thing not plugged in the back of the engine is the oil pressure sending unit... Either its been capped off or I just cant find the sending unit. its a 2 pin connector by the firewall behind the engine and its just hanging there.. would this oil preassure thing being unplugged cause No Spark, No fuel, no alternator
 
I checked my VSS and it is plugged, the only thing not plugged in the back of the engine is the oil pressure sending unit... Either its been capped off or I just cant find the sending unit. its a 2 pin connector by the firewall behind the engine and its just hanging there.. would this oil preassure thing being unplugged cause No Spark, No fuel, no alternator

No the oil pressure sender just goes to the dumb oil light.
 
The VSS does not in any way cause a no start condition or keep the car from driving/running. I had first hand experience with that back in 2003 with my 1st DSM, 96 Esi.

I checked my VSS and it is plugged, the only thing not plugged in the back of the engine is the oil pressure sending unit... Either its been capped off or I just cant find the sending unit. its a 2 pin connector by the firewall behind the engine and its just hanging there.. would this oil preassure thing being unplugged cause No Spark, No fuel, no alternator

The last time I checked, the non-turbo models don't have an oil pressure sending unit. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. If you can't find it, it's most likely not there to begin with (for this part at least).
 
we have one
The VSS does not in any way cause a no start condition or keep the car from driving/running. I had first hand experience with that back in 2003 with my 1st DSM, 96 Esi.



The last time I checked, the non-turbo models don't have an oil pressure sending unit. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. If you can't find it, it's most likely not there to begin with (for this part at least).

well we do have one I replaced mine with a aftermarket one and here is what the old one looked like
You must be logged in to view this image or video.
You must be logged in to view this image or video.
 
but like we said a VSS would definitely not be the cause of a no start it has to be electrical like maybe ignition coil is faulty it is not out-putting the right ohms to keep the car running or even start the car and would cause stalling test, ignition coil it needs to be within 11.5 ohms to 13.5 ohms if it is below those numbers replace the part they range from $50 to $100 bucks I went with the MSD Blaster Ignition coil for my replacement they recommend replacing these every 70,000 miles

pull the spark plug wires out and ground them on the cylinder head have a friend tell ya if you are getting spark in any of the coils when the engine turns over or tries too this would eliminate whether or not it is a coil issue

remember AIR, FUEL, SPARK

Ignition coils are very rugged and reliable, but can fail for a variety of reasons. Heat and vibration can damage the coil's windings and insulation causing shorts or opens in the primary or secondary windings. But the number one killer of ignition coils is voltage overload caused by bad spark plugs or plug wires.


If a spark plug or plug wire is open or has excessive resistance, the ignition coil's output voltage can rise to the point where it burns through the coil's internal insulation causing a short. The insulation in many coils can be damaged if output exceeds 35,000 volts. Once this happens, the coil's output voltage may drop causing ignition misfire when the engine is under load, or the coil may cease to put out any voltage preventing the engine from starting or running.

If a coil has battery voltage at its positive terminal and is being grounded on and off by the ignition module or circuit but is not producing a spark, the coil is defective and needs to be replaced.

TIP: If the ignition module has failed more than once, it may be due to a bad ignition coil. Internal arcing or shorts in a coil can overload and damage the circuitry inside the ignition module.
 
Last edited:
let me clarify.... In my recent no start threads I experienced the same symptoms as well but I had a CEL come up for Ckp sensor p01391

I replaced the ckp sensor but since my battery was losing cranking power I had to hook it up to a jump to get all the accessories working.. once the new sensor was in it started up and drove for a long time without losing battery, so I doubt its my alternator but 12 hours after it repeated the same scenario as my last thread... speeding up in 2nd gear and engine cut off as if key was turned off and the hum of my fuel pump was no longer present (Just installed wally 255 last week before ckp sensor)

the last sentence is the one I needed

while the car was under load (i.e speeding up in second gear) and just completely shuts off this indicates the ignition coil not giving proper spark or no spark to keep the explosion going
 
we have one


well we do have one I replaced mine with a aftermarket one and here is what the old one looked like
You must be logged in to view this image or video.
You must be logged in to view this image or video.


The VSS should have a gear on it that is driven by the diff ring gear in the trans. That looks more like a reverse sensor.
 
The last time I checked, the non-turbo models don't have an oil pressure sending unit. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. If you can't find it, it's most likely not there to begin with (for this part at least).
the picture's is for this comment right here I drive a 420a non turbo and it does have a oil sending unit it just goes to the low oil light behind the dash
 
Support Vendors who Support the DSM Community
Boosted Fabrication ECM Tuning ExtremePSI Fuel Injector Clinic Innovation Products Jacks Transmissions JNZ Tuning Kiggly Racing Morrison Fabrications MyMitsubishiStore.com RixRacing RockAuto RTM Racing STM Tuned

Latest posts

Build Thread Updates

Vendor Updates

Latest Classifieds

Back
Top