Just picked up the new Pioneer NAV-SYS900DVD navigation package (very impressive). It is installed and working but for the 3D feature to work and...

...for the system to read your speed precisely you must tie into the VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR wire. Does anyone know:

*WHERE IT IS (I.E. BCM IN PASSENGER FOOTWELL...)
AND
*WHAT COLOR IT IS.

Thanks in advance!

 

The database I usually use for this info doesnt have a speed wire for this car yet. If you have a manual for the car check the schematics and see what you can find. Typical places to find this wire are at the PCM/BCM/ECM, running into the instrument cluster, or at the Cruise control servo. good luck and sorry I couldnt help more. I am sure someone her knows where it is as there are quite a few Nav systems installed in C5's.

 

Hello ... I've been a voyeur here on this forum for almost two years. I told myself that I wasn't going to start posting in the forum until I had finished all the mods I had planned ... or I had something good to contribute back to the forum that others might benifit from. What I didn't anticipate was that I'd turn into a mod junkie and would never finish tweaking the car!

To the point ... I think I can help you find the best VSS signal in a C5.

I installed my own Kenwood Nav system. ... and let me tell you, finding the best VSS wire to tap was not easy! I've gone through all the C5 manuals and talked to Crutchfield, Kenwood, and the local shop I bought the system from. Here's the results:

Kenwood suggested I tap one of the four ABS brake sensors in the wheels (there are two wires on each wheel sensor that tell the ABS system how fast each tire is turning) ... I did so, and the Nav system worked just fine. Unfortunately, the C5 computer monitors the resistance on these wires and the added load on the ABS circuit (even with diode protection between the Nav and the sensor) threw ABS codes on the DIC. ... Not acceptable.

The local audio shop told me that if they had installed it for me, they would have hooked it up to the ABS sensor as well. They suggested that I could purchase another VSS sensor and attach it to one of the wheels. There's not much room inside the wheels, I really didn't want to do that.

Crutchfield had no info for C5s.

I learned from the C5 service manual that the F45 RTD computer had a VSS wire. I thought perfect! - it's inside the car and right next to the Nav system (back left pocket). (Actually there are several VSS wires in different parts of the car) Imagine my disappointment when none of these worked with the Nav system. I went back to the service manual and discovered that all of these are low voltage DC circuits originating from the PCM (behind the right front tire). The Nav unit appears to be looking for a higher voltage circuit.

I almost purchased a Pioneer VSS sensor that uses a magnet to magnetize the steel cords in the wheels, but they're difficult to find on the internet ... and luckily, I found the best solution first.

Sorry for the novel so far ... the anwser - on top of the gearbox (both MN6 and Auto) there is a two wire weatherpack connector, specifically for the Alternating Current VSS signal coming from the gearbox. One wire is yellow; one is purple. I tapped the yellow. This is the main VSS feed to the PCM computer. (which appears to convert it to a low voltage DC signal and send it to the other computers in the car) There is very little room to work in there. I had to jack the back end up to get enough room to solder the connection in proper. I ran the new wire back up the existing wire harness as far as I could, and then ran it through a hole in the back wall fiberglass that I had drilled for other devices. It works great and hasn't thrown a code yet.

The Kenwood, like the Pioneer, has several features that don't function unless you've got a good VSS signal. It's nice to have that fixed finally. :)

I hope that helps you out some ... I'll try to contribute to the forum more often in the future - including some picks of my ride.

Good Luck ...

 

Still Single --- You are the man! I was hoping someone had already experienced my dilemma and save me some pain :D . I'll make this connection. As I said the nav system works now, however the mapping precision is greatly increased with the VSS connected :cheers: . Thanks a bunch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Glad I could help ... Set aside plenty of time to do it - it sounds simple - just have to hook up one wire - but it is really tough to work up in there in that crampt space. It took me several hours - I was planning on 5 minutes. :rolleyes:

Good Luck ...