Q. Is a VR sensor a geartooth sensor?
A. Yep. So are digital VR and a Hall Effect sensors.
Q. Can I use a "geartooth" sensor on a linear target, such as a roller chain?
A. Absolutely! It can be used on roller chains, sprockets, slotted wheels, bolt heads, even conveyor belts if there is a regular, ferrous target like rivets, lugs or link web connectors.
Q. Does a "geartooth" sensor require a protruding target?
A. Not at all. A geartooth sensor reacts to changes in target. Whether it is a protrusion, like a gear tooth or bolt head, or a depression, like a slot or a drilled hole.
Q. This may seem like a dumb question, but what is a ferrous target, and what's the difference between a ferrous target and a metal target?
A. It's not dumb. A lot of people who should know better, confuse the issue by using the term "metal" as something other than ferrous. Metal is metal, whether it's ferrous, or non-ferrous.
Ferrous metals include: steel, cast iron, stainless steel.
Non-ferrous metals are generally considered to be aluminum, copper, brass, zinc, magnesium, and most alloys.
However, it should be noted that some alloys, such as Monel 400 can be magnetic and therefore could be used as a target.
If you're not sure whether your target will work simply hold a magnet to it. If the magnet sticks you can use it with a geartooth sensor.
Q. Do all cars come with a VSS?
A. All late model cars have a built in vehicle speed sensor which is used by the car's "brain" or CPU for fuel and air pollution controls, and to drive electronic speedometers.
Q. Why would I use a MSC Vehicle Speed Sensor?
A. The most common use is to drive an electronic speedometer from an older transmission outfitted for a mechanical speedometer drive cable.
Other uses are to provide speed data to an after market cruise control or for a retro-fitted electronic fuel infection system.
Q. What's the difference between a Reed Relay sensor and a Hall Effect sensor?
A. First, the reed relay is cheaper. However, it's not recommended for off-road use because it doesn't handle shock and vibration as well as Hall effect units. They also don't last as long, but unless you're planning on going over 150 mph, 24 hours a day for several years, it probably won't matter.
Q. I have a late model transmission that I want to put into my '66 BelAir . It has an electronic connection instead of a speedometer cable. Which VSS should I use?
A. Sorry, an after market VSS won't help. The only thing we know of is a Cable-X from Abbot Enterprises http://www.abbott-tach.com/cablex.htm We have to warn you, they're pretty pricey. It might be cheaper to get a good old Turbo Hydro.
Q. You show a GM connection and a Ford connection. What can I use for my Dodge plug in type?
A. Sorry, we don't make a VSS with a Mopar plug-in fitting. However, you can go to a speedometer shop and they can put together a short cable with a Mopar plug-in fitting on one end and a 7/8x18 male fitting on the other, then use a "Standard" type VSS.