Where is the speed sensor located on a Cobra transmission?

Hi,

I would be happy to help. By chance, do you know what year the Mustang Cobra came from was?

Let me know.

Joe

My brother's truck was rear ended before he even bought it and the transmission had to be replaced, that's when the Cobra came in, but I have know idea what year it is, he bought it "as is". He has had no problems until now. He is homeless and living in his truck with 3 Chihuahuas. This is such a long story; this is why we have to try and fix it ourselves.

I can't thank you enough for responding so quickly!!

Where do I find your Go Fund me account? I won't be able to donate much but every little bit helps.

Hi Pati,

Don't worry about the page. I didn't help. LOL Can you give me an approximate year of the transmission that was used? By the way, sorry for the delay in getting back to you. We lost power yesterday, and I couldn't get online. I hope you understand.

Let me know.

Joe

Thank you again for responding again. Rick (my brother) got the truck around 2014, 9 years. ago the truck is a 1997 so somewhere between 1997 and 2014 is all I can come up with. I had him give me the serial number off the transmission so I could look it up, the number is
RF-FOTP7006CB. I went online yesterday to find out how much transmission fluid the Cobra transmission needed to be at capacity after we drained and put 7 quarts in and see it could take up to 17 quarts. There is no way we drained 17 quarts, I caught as much as I could in a bucket but a lot went on the ground because Rick wouldn't listen to me but there is after measuring with a 2 quart measuring cup I only got 6 and 1/2 quarts out of the bucket, who knows how much went on the ground. This is becoming so frustrating for me; I have no idea anymore how to help other than 1 quart at a time and constant reading of the dip stick. The rough shifting is still there. Sorry about the book I am writing here and not being more helpful to Rick and you for trying to help. You have no idea how much I appreciate your responses.

Hi,

The 17 quarts is if the entire system is drained, cooler, torque converter, valve body, and so on. What you installed sounds accurate or close to it.

With your part number above, I was able to determine the transmission is an E40D transmission. The vehicle speed sensor is on the tail housing (driver's side). See pic below. Note in the picture there is no speed sensor installed.

In that location, you can have a speed sensor, a plastic plug, or the bolt hole where the sensor or plug bolt-on can be missing. If it is missing, the VSS will be on the differential.

Let me know if this helps.

Take care,

Joe

See pic below.

Thank you guys so much for your time on this!

Pati,

Were you able to locate what was needed? I'm interested in knowing.

Let me know. Also, let me know if you have other questions.

Take care,

Joe

I will go to see Rick later this morning so I will get back to you on the progress. So far, he says it is shifting better but still wants to replace it with another part. Says he has been all over the transmission and under the truck, finds nothing like the picture you sent so I have no idea anymore what he is up to.

Hi,

If the sensor I identified above isn't there, chances are it is at the top of the rear differential. Let me know.

Joe

Hi Joe,

Rick replaced that sensor yesterday. That also did not fix the problem. The overdrive light keeps flashing, the speedometer doesn't work and shifting is still rough. This all started when he thought the fluid was low and added a quart, at least that's what he tells me.
Now he says this mobile mechanic looked at it at the park he sleeps at and says there is no diagnostic component under the steering column so he can't run a test on it. This fellow is saying when this truck was worked at one point it was done improperly. Now my question is how can it run for the 9 years Rick has had it and all of a sudden with too much transmission fluid can it go so bad? I read the article on the foaming of the fluid causing this problem and his fluid was very dirty, but we changed it along with the speed sensor now Rick is thinking the solenoid needs replacing, he is only guessing which he cannot afford all these parts, and neither can I. I admire my brother trying everything with limited tools and doing all this work in a park parking lot with no way to lift the truck, but it is to the point of total frustration.
Is it possible there is still too much fluid, or he read the dip stick when the truck was cold, I was not there when he first added the quart so maybe he added more or the wrong type.

Okay, I just learned from Rick that mechanic I mentioned in the last post fixed his running lights (rear lights) because they went out, long story short that's when he lost his speedometer, gas gages (which he has two tanks) and dome light. He does have all of his lights but now all these other problems. I am now wondering if this is not just a wiring problem. The truck used to be a normal bed truck that was turned into a flatbed, so they had to do wiring on it. This was all done around the same time as the transmission swap. Everything was fine until this guy fixed his lights. Very hard to diagnose anything now.

Was the sensor on the transmission or the rear differential? I've seen issues where ones on the differential are inoperative due to dirt in the differential preventing the hall effect signal.

And you are right. When things are changed, it does make it more of a challenge to find issues.

Let me know.

Joe

The sensor is on the rear differential, he cleaned the entire area and replaced the part. I am pretty confident now it is a wiring problem. Rick says the truck is only shifting with a little resistance at 1st gear then shifts smoothly. I suggested he no longer takes advice from the "mobile" mechanic. We will now have to trace every wire from point to point to try and find his problem. Of course it would be easier if we could get this truck from the hot asphalt to do so.
I am 70, he is almost 60 and has congenital heart failure which he is on medication for so this is why I have the utmost concern for him, but his stubborn personality keeps him going. He is considering changing the solenoid which is an expensive part and a lot of work because as you know it is inside the transmission. I do not think that is the problem, so I am trying to convince him not to bother with that, wish me luck. We have a brother who is willing to lend him the funds for the part.

Hi,

If I understand, the sensor did help. Is that correct? As far as the shift issue, it could be a lot of different things causing it to happen. What solenoid does he want to replace? This is going to be tricky since the transmission has been changed. You could try scanning the can-bus to see if there are any codes stored in other modules, but I don't what has been done to fit this transmission.

Here is a link that explains how that is done:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/can-scan-controller-area-network-easy

Let me know if I can help.

Take care,

Joe

The solenoid Rick is thinking about replacing is inside the transmission. He sent me a video on my mobile phone, so I tried copying the link but am unable to transfer from phone to desktop. I tried typing the link in this message then went to it but it says the video is no longer available. I will keep trying, in the meantime I am going to the park where he spends his days and look for the plug in the video you sent.
Rick could be staying here with me if he didn't have 3 little Chihuahuas, I have 2 Pit Bulls that do not understand how to play gently, they are rescues with very little training and very powerful. I can't be responsible for the little ones getting hurt and Rick is not willing to foster them until we can get him a home. I feel horrible!!
Enough of my personal dilemma. I had to look at the video and enlarge the picture of the solenoid to get the part number. I could be off by 1 number or letter. Can't tell if it is a 1 or l after the F8, (F8lP-7G39-BA). I looked and couldn't find the part.
You guys are so wonderful putting up with me.
Pati

It would be the number one, 1. The part isn't showing up for me either, but I believe the part number was changed. I believe the new number is F81Z-7G39-BA. That is the transmission control solenoid. It isn't an inexpensive part.

See if that is what he is referring to.

Joe

There is no plug anywhere near the steering column. Checked everywhere with flashlights and found nothing. Whoever did the wiring when they changed the transmission and the bed of the truck from utility to flatbed has made this very difficult.
Thank you for the part number, yes, it is the part he is referring to and yes, it is a very expensive part at $183.99 especially when we have to play a guessing game. Anyway, if you think it is possible that could be the problem let me know and he can borrow the funds from our other brother.
I asked him to stop listening to the mobile mechanic because he told him to start taking transmission fluid back out. We don't get a reading now from the dipstick in park or neutral so here we go again. There is no way we over filled when we removed so much!
All gears shift smoothly but #1. Totally frustrating!
Again, thank you so much!
Pati

Pati,

If there is no oil on the dipstick, it's low. Check it when the engine is running, at operating temperature, in park, and on a flat surface. If it is still not on the stick, add some.

Let me know.

Joe

Rick did all the wire checks and actually got the truck to running great again! Yay! It was electrical after all. All the gauges are working, the speedometer is back, overdrive light no longer flashing, he just doesn't have his horn back, I asked him to leave it alone for now so nothing else happens. Now he will be adding fluid a little at a time and continuously checking it. He thinks he can drive it now to N. Dakota from Colorado Springs where we are to get the RV but myself, my niece and her husband all agree it is too risky.
I cannot thank you guys enough for all your help!
With much appreciation and love,
Pati

Pati,

That is great news. I'm glad to hear everything is working properly again. As far as the trip is concerned, chances are it will be fine, but I would rather drive it locally for a few days to make sure nothing changes.

You take care of yourself and feel free to come back anytime in the future.

Joe

Pati:

That is great news. I'm glad to hear everything is working properly again. As far as the trip, chances are it will be fine, but I would rather drive it locally for a few days to make sure nothing changes.

You take care of yourself and feel free to come back anytime in the future.

Joe