What is this socket for?

[spleen_merchant]

Hi,

Found a 3 pin socket on the right hand side of the transmission with nothing plugged into it. Transmission is VTD type. Transmission seems to be behaving itself so can't be too crucial, is it a diagnostic port of some kind?

Cheers,
Jeremy.

[Hocrest]

That's speed sensor 2. Does your speedometer work?

I'm not real familiar with non US transmissions, but on US transmissions, that sensor is needed.

[svxistentialist]

Originally Posted by spleen_merchant

Hi,

Found a 3 pin socket on the right hand side of the transmission with nothing plugged into it. Transmission is VTD type. Transmission seems to be behaving itself so can't be too crucial, is it a diagnostic port of some kind?

Cheers,
Jeremy.

Jeremy

The SVX uses two basic types of transmission, the ACT4 and the VTD. It gets more complicated than that when speed sensors are taken into account.

The ACT4 type as used in the USA [and probably the ACT2 type as well for the FWD models], these use a speed sensor driven from the front diff housing just as in your picture. The AWD gearboxes use 2 speed sensors; one at the rear of the gearbox measuring rear prop shaft speed of rotation, and one measuring the speed from the front diff. These speed signals are compared by the transmission control unit [TCU] to give traction control.

The VTD gearboxes have two different types of front speed sensor. Japanese VTD boxes have the front speed sensor exiting the rhs of the diff housing as in your picture. The rear sensor is the same in all boxes.

UK gearboxes on the other hand although they are also VTD, the speed sensor is inside the gearbox and sends its signal wires out the left side of the casing into the main loom that runs forward to the large square connector. I am fairly certain that Australian VTD boxes also have this internal SS2 sensor feeding the main left hand loom of wires.

If your car is Australian then I would speculate that it may have had a replacement gearbox at some point, and the gearbox used was a JDM one. The JDM box can have the Australian type sensor fitted internally to modify it and make it work with the Australian wiring. If this was done the SS2 coming from the rhs of the JDM diff housing would not be required, and indeed would not have any wiring socket to connect to.

A simpler possibility would be if the diff only had broken on your Australian car. If this was replaced by a JDM differential the SS2 and plug would not be needed, as the SS2 sensor and wiring would already be inside the main gearbox housing.

This is a long-winded answer I know, sorry about that. These bleedin' gearboxes are complicated lumps of metal.

Joe

[spleen_merchant]

Thanks for the info. I'm thinking whole transmission's more likely. One thing I've noticed is selecting manual mode will hold any gear including first and seems to shift faster than without manual mode selected, whereas I've read elsewhere manual mode's only for holding second to prevent slipping. Is this normal for SVX VTD trans?, or maybe a later Liberty/Legacy GT box?

[major7venth]

I'm still curious if the speedo works?

['E']

Originally Posted by major7venth

I'm still curious if the speedo works?

yes it does

[Blacky]

Wow! 3 years and 11 months for an answer. (Dancing) "Lets do the time warp again".

['E']

Lol that's because I own the car now and can answer