doesn't shift gears and my speedometer stopped working?

2008 CHEVROLET HHR
197,009 MILES • 2.2L • 4 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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JOSHUA Q REYNOLDS
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My car starts and idles fine. It goes in reverse and drive. When in drive and go to accelerate it doesn't shift gears and my speedometer stopped working
Aug 27, 2025 at 8:15 AM
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STRAILER
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This happens when the VSS goes out, here is the location so you can swap it out and fix the problem. I marked the image below to help you find it. Check out the images (below). Let us know if you need anything else.
Aug 27, 2025 at 8:22 AM
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JOSHUA Q REYNOLDS
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Thank you Ken L. I will check this helpful information out
Aug 27, 2025 at 8:26 AM
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STRAILER
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You are welcome, that should fix the problem.
Aug 27, 2025 at 8:26 AM
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JOSHUA Q REYNOLDS
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When I accelerate to maybe 10-15mph my RPM gauge increases to 3000 plus rpms
Aug 27, 2025 at 8:29 AM
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STRAILER
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Yes, it sounds like it is not shifting did you change the sensor out?
Aug 27, 2025 at 5:38 PM
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JOSHUA Q REYNOLDS
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I haven't gotten the chance to change it yet.
Aug 27, 2025 at 5:41 PM
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STRAILER
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Yep, I would do that first and then clear the codes it should fix it.
Aug 29, 2025 at 11:32 AM
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JOSHUA Q REYNOLDS
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I live in a small town and no auto parts store within 75 miles had the speed sensor lol. So it's scheduled for delivery tomorrow. Hopefully it fixes it. Thanks again for the help
Aug 29, 2025 at 4:04 PM
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STRAILER
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Okay, you can try Amazon as well.
Aug 29, 2025 at 4:17 PM
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JOSHUA Q REYNOLDS
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Late delivery for the new VSS. Just got done installing the new one. I'll test it tomorrow to see if it fixed it.
Aug 30, 2025 at 6:21 PM
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STRAILER
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Good job :)
Aug 30, 2025 at 7:08 PM
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JOSHUA Q REYNOLDS
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Still no speedometer and not shifting.
Sep 1, 2025 at 5:16 AM
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STRAILER
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Crap! I love an easy fix that doesn't work, what the heck! Okay, now we get to start looking deeper, so the input for the vehicle speed goes through the TCM and then onto the PCM so we might have an issue with one of them, if I had to guess I would say the TCM is the issue, to be sure lets run a CAN scan. Here is a video to show you how. You might want to check the ECM/TCM fuse (#25) on the BCM which is inside the car under the radio, and the ECM trans fuse (#43) in the fuse panel under the hood, if the fuses are good disconnect the battery and remove the electrical connector form the TCM to check for corrosion. Here is its location. If all else fails let try doing a CAN scan which should give us a code that we can work with. Here is how

https://youtu.be/u-4syLc-ifQ

Check out the images (below). Let us know how it goes
Sep 1, 2025 at 8:59 AM
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JOSHUA Q REYNOLDS
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I'll check those fuses to see if they are good or not.
Sep 1, 2025 at 9:06 AM
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STRAILER
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Sounds good, sorry, I should have had you check them first, I thought this problem was a slam dunk.
Sep 1, 2025 at 9:43 AM
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JOSHUA Q REYNOLDS
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I'm 51 and I'm used to working on older vehicles. The new vehicles and all the technology they have drives me crazy. Since it could be a wide variety of things that could be the issue gets frustrating
Sep 1, 2025 at 9:48 AM
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JOSHUA Q REYNOLDS
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When I switched the VSS I noticed it didn't leak out any transmission fluid. My brother said it would leak out some but not a lot
Sep 1, 2025 at 9:50 AM
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STRAILER
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Yes, that is correct, so you changed the part? I would do the CAN scan as well
Sep 2, 2025 at 7:23 PM
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JOSHUA Q REYNOLDS
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Completely frustrated! Got it towed to mechanic but when we towed it with tow rope when I used the brakes to slow us down the door locks would lock and unlock continuously until I took my foot off the brakes. Then my hazards stopped working and when we got it to the mechanic shop it was completely dead! Now it won't charge so the mechanic can start it and get it in his shop! What would cause my car to do that??
Oct 1, 2025 at 8:11 AM
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STRAILER
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It sounds like the battery is dead, is the battery more than 4 year old? if so you can bet this will be the problem.
Oct 2, 2025 at 9:06 AM
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JOSHUA Q REYNOLDS
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Battery is 2 years old. It's just a pain with the battery in the back where the spare tire is.
Oct 2, 2025 at 10:28 AM
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STRAILER
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Yes, but we need to know if the battery is any good because that is what it sounds like the problem is, please let me know.
Oct 7, 2025 at 10:49 AM
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JOSHUA Q REYNOLDS
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I will thanks Ken L
Oct 7, 2025 at 11:16 AM