I have a 1997 f150 xlt with the 4.2 v6 I have put a 99 f150 xlt 4.2 v6 motor and transmission in to it. I drove it around town around 200 miles had some transmission problems had to use the 99 transmission wires it didn't have the speed sensor plug that I need so the speed odometer doesn't work. I don't remember if the trip or odometer worked before changing over wires not something I watched. I wanted to drive a cycle through the computer so I reset the trip and hit the road! Went about 5 miles got check engine light pulled p0500 (vehicle speed sensor) I figured that I would but that's when I noticed the trip and odometer didn't work. The code reader I have doesn't show if the drive cycle is complete or not. The cruse control doesn't work, is the odometer, trip and cruse control not working due to no speed sensor? Will the truck recognize I went the like 80 miles for a drive cycle with out the speed sensor?
I have gone about 30 miles so far and no other codes and checked all fuses they are good.

 

These trucks are notorious for the odometers to black out. Just do a google search, there's a solder point on the back of the gauge cluster that needs to be re soldered.

 

Good test to find out if it is the solder or not is to tap on the gauge cluster and see if it pops on

 

Oh you mean a love tap lol yeah that was the first thing i tried, it did that a while back and a good little tap got her going again but not this time

 

Pounding on the dash cluster doesn't work like that in the 97-98 models. The 99 to 03's yes. 97-8 are analog and have a small set of plastic gears that make the cluster odometer work. They could be bad (use the ones listed on eBay for the 94-98 Mustangs (same). Checking the VSS, it is the same from 97=03, so as long as that is hooked up, you should have everything working right. Are all the fuses good in the PD box? Under dash? All the combo of items seems like a possible fuse.

If you got the P0500 code, then the system is up and functioning fully. You won't get partial codes. You also have to use and hook up the speed sensor for the trans and everything to work correctly. Without it, you will have codes and problems.

 

The drive cycle is very speed specific involving speeds , and braking, and engine temperature. Without working vss, Im making educated guess theres no way for drive cycle to complete.

A code reader that doesnt show readiness?

 

Haha I didn't even catch that...wow. see kids that's why you shouldn't sleep while on forums. My apologies

 

Every fuse on the truck is good. Are you saying that the speed sensor not hooked up is why the functions aren't working?

 

Yes you are correct my driving consented of high way, and city time including breaking and restarting the engine.
And yes the code reader does show if ever thing is ready or not it was in a different category they "read codes" I found it a little bit ago and it did make its drive cycle.

 

Yes it has to be hooked up to complete the circuit and make the functions work correctly. Without it even the transmission won't shift correctly.