Subaru Vanagon Vehicle Speed Sensors

[WillSharp]

Hey all,
Just wrapping up my first vanagon subie swap, did a 2.5L turbo into my 91 Westy. Based on what I have read in various places, a electronic VSS for the subie ECU is important for function. The two easy options I could find are Small Car's VSS https://smallcar.com/vanagon/subaru-vanagon-conversion-parts/hall-effect-speed-sensor-kit.html
And RMW's http://www.rockymountainwesty.com/product_p/rmw-ch395ss.htm?1=1&CartID=0

I am running 944 CVs, and I am wondering what are peoples experiences?
Whats better Small Cars or RMWs?
I have a few troublesome O2 sensor related CEL codes and I have read a few things that a VSS might fix them. Anyone have experience with this?

I started this topic to open up a discussion about vanagon/subie speed sensors. Please post you thoughts, opinions, and experiences!
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1889 Syncro Adventure Wagon 3.3 SVX

[pbrown]

There is also this one.

http://fastforward.ca/vehiclespeedsensors/

I’m planning to use this because it is installed inside right in the gauge cluster. I have no personal experience with any so I’m interested is this topic.
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Patrick Brown

1986 Westy Syncro EJ25
Flickr --> https://flic.kr/s/aHsmQNUXEF

[wesitarz]

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7472253
or Same on Busaru website / youtube

You have no VSS now? What codes are you getting? How does it run?

[dobryan]

[WillSharp]

Good Stuff!
Thanks for the thoughts!
The poor man VSS is pretty sweet so I think Ill give it a shot. (save some $!)
I just ordered one on ol' Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01F58UDA8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Hopefully it will do the trick.
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1889 Syncro Adventure Wagon 3.3 SVX

[WillSharp]

[si2t3m]

I'm going the poor man VSS path also.

BTW, been running our 2004 EJ25 WITHOUT a VSS all summer. The only symptom I get is when running on the highway at constant speed (read no real movement detected by the Throttle Position Switch). Seems like there is a timer, and eventually the ECU will cut fuel delivery, so we loose power. I just back off the gas pedal and go back on it and everything is fine. On a trip i'd back off the gas pedal at each 10 minutes or so and the ECU would not cut fuel delivery.
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Marc-André Morin
90 Westy Syncro EJ25
90 Weinsburg Syncro EJ22
76 Westfalia EZ30D
72 911 Targa
70 914-6 conversion
69 Ghia convertible
68 912 coupe
67 912/911 coupe

[Jon_slider]

here are a couple more VSS products to consider
http://www.gowesty.com/product/cruise-control/23945/gowesty-vehicle-speed-sensor-

I used this one with a 2.2 Subaru in a Syncro, it works fine
http://enginewiring.com/catalog.htm#Featured
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My Soapboxes: Inflation; Handling; Gearing; Decoupling; Swepco

[WillSharp]

Cool thanks guys!
Quick question for anyone,
My subie came from an Auto trans forester, which also has a trans. control module tied in with the speed sensor. The interesting thing is that I am not actually getting the VSS codes, even tho the wire for it is cut (i have it labled).

for $7 ill install it and see what happens, but it makes me wonder why I am not getting the code?

Here is the wiring diagram for the VSS on my subie:
is the VSS only on manuals?

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1889 Syncro Adventure Wagon 3.3 SVX

[driverdave]

I have the VSS from http://fastforward.ca/vehiclespeedsensors/

Previously I had a hall sensor that picked up pulses from the CV bolts, but I don't think it was sending the correct signal.

The VSS from http://fastforward.ca/vehiclespeedsensors/ works great for me, no issues so far, ECU receives correct signal.
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1984 Vanagon Westy with a 91 EJ22 KEP Conversion

[Jake de Villiers]

I've been using the MkII Jetta cruise control VSS that goes into the speedo housing for ~75,000 miles now with just one hiccup. When the speedo cable broke, I was limited to ~4000RPM!!

The GoWesty VSS looks as though its pretty similar to the old VW part.
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'84 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX
'86 Westy Weekender Poptop/2.5 Subaru/5 Speed Posi/Audi Front Brakes/16 x 7 Mercedes Wheels - answers to 'Dixie'
@jakedevilliersmusic1
http://sites.google.com/site/subyjake/mydixiedarlin%27
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
www.thebassspa.com

[VanOnTheRun]

Not really sure why you guys with your +20k dollar Syncros and turbo Westys are skimping for the $7 part instead of buying the $60 part, which is integral to the performance of your multi-thousand dollar engine conversion. Just spend the 50 extra bucks on the nice one and never have to worry about it again. The fastforward part is vastly more reliable and of a much better quality than all others.
Cheers
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1987 Syncro Westfalia EJ22
2008 Ural Patrol 2WD

[vwlovr]

+1 on the fastforward VSS, the CV attached ones suck, the one i had on my zetec sucked, and the one i put on from small car for my dbw 2.5 sucked.

could both sucky things have been user error? sure. the small car one i thought i had lined up but the cv ring basically cut thru the sensor after getting too close. i'm pretty sure the zetec one never worked correctly.

i just got the speedo mounted one on this weekend and it kicks ass, works perfectly, and don't have to worry about a rock fucking it up.

-drew

[t3 kopf]

The gowesty one has multiple reported failures in the Subaru vanagon lists. Ive been using a 3 dollar proximity sensor running straight off the cv bolts with a bracket I made myself for over 2 years with zero failure on my DIY conversion. I keep a backup in my glove box just in case. *edit*, im using the "poor man" VSS
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'90 Carat w/ '95 phase 1 EJ22 OBD2 conversion

[WillSharp]

So I received my switch today and I threw my multi meter on it to check the output voltage to make sure it is correct. According to the subaru manual it is meant to be 0-5V.
I connected it according to diagrams online:
Brown - 12v
Blue - ground
black - sensor

Im getting 12.5V (battery) when its open and 0.65V when its reading. That shouldn't work, its not in the 0-5V range.
I got the LJ12A3-4-Z/BX just like the one in the suggested in https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7472253
Did I just get a crappy sensor? what are other peoples voltage outputs?
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1889 Syncro Adventure Wagon 3.3 SVX

[wesitarz]

That is the voltage output AFAIK. The sensor is just a switch.The ouput will be a square wave. You could knock it down using a zener diode regulator,but I don't know that the actual voltage matters because I don't see them (DIY or RMW using a regulator). My reed switch VSS from SC way back when uses only open to ground. Here is a photo from subaruvanagon2 of the zener regulator.
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/subaruVanagon2...1954589891

[Syncro Jael]

[WillSharp]

[Syncro Jael]

[MarkWard]

Early clusters had the knock out for the VSS, but the speedo head may not support the VSS. I think the break is 83-84.
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