I own a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500, which I bought in 2005. Currently it has about 55,000 miles on it, and has been running fine for the two years that I've owned it with only one problem.

In early November I had a sensor replaced in my truck because the ABS and emergency brake lights would come on if I went around 70-75 mph. I have not had any problems with it since, but tonight I was driving about 35-40 mph, and these two lights, ABS and emergency brake, came on and would not turn off until I turned off the truck and turned it back on. While I was driving on 440, these lights were on and I noticed that my speedometer was jumping like crazy, going between 40-55 mph, even though I was going around 70 mph. I know this because I was listening to the engine and watching the RPM meter. After stopping for a while, I drove home, experiencing the same problem. However this time while the two lights were on, my speedometer jumped and then went down to 0 mph, staying there until I got back to my apartment. I stopped halfway home, turned my truck off and then on, which fixed the ABS and e-brake problem for a minute, but the speedometer was still stuck at 0. I also think that I might have heard a jumping type of sound coming from my engine when I would take my foot off the gas to slow down, like when coming to a stop light.

I'm not that educated in the inner workings of my truck, I'm more of a car audio type of person, doing my own installs. I was just wondering if anyone could let me know what they think is wrong, and how much it would cost to fix with labor included. I'm taking it in tomorrow morning, but I was hoping for a heads up before I did that.

4/26/2007 11:57:47 PM

Sounds like VSS, vehicle speed sensor.

4/27/2007 12:10:16 AM

That's what one of my friends who is in school to become a mechanic thought. I wasn't sure though because of the fact that it was influencing the warning lights and the speedometer.

4/27/2007 12:31:46 AM

either that or the wiring is finally shorting out in the a-pillar on the drivers side and its about to burn to the ground like so many others

4/27/2007 7:15:19 AM

Lol, gotta love those American cars. I just got the report back from the shop. Supposibly one of my exhaust pipes banged up against a sensor right above the pipe. When the two hit, the sensor melted onto my chrome exhaust pipe . Oh well, looks like I am just buying another sensor, so hopefully I dodged an expense bullet.

4/27/2007 10:32:43 AM

Oh, assuming that because it's chrome its aftermarket. How does the car being American have anything do with it? Its the dumbass that installed the exhaust.

4/27/2007 11:01:57 AM

^exactly.

had to be the vss in the rear end.

4/27/2007 11:06:37 AM