Engine shaking and AT + CEL flashing after Power Wash

[Scipio]

Backyard mechanic (relative) had to cool down the engine in my 03 Protege ES quickly in order to do a swap on my alternator (2 bad replacement parts in a row).

Drove fine with the newest alternator for about 2 miles, then the car started to feel rough. When I took it bad to his house, it idled really roughly and the engine was shaking. He though that it might have taken some water into the engine and said it would most likely boil out on the way home. He did check the spark plugs and wires and said they looked dry.

Halfway home the AT light started flashing and the speedometer died. Then it felt like it wouldn't shift, I could floor it and the tach never went above 2k RPMs. Once I stop, I can kick the RPMs into the red.

So, what did I destroy with this latest debacle?

 

[slavrenz]

Well first of all, you should never hose your engine down with water just because you need to get a repair done quickly. That was your first mistake.

Your second mistake was driving it before the water dried (I'm betting you didn't cover all of the electrical sensors and stuff before you sprayed). It sounds like maybe you f*ed up a sensor, but there's a few that could cause the O/D light to flash.

Is the check engine light on? Have it scanned for codes and post back here with the results.

 

[Scipio]

P0500 - VSS.

Today I pulled the spark plug wires and checked for moisture and then reset the CEL, which seemed to fix the rough idle in park, but just reseating the speed sensor connector didn't resolve it. There weren't any obvious signs of moisture in the connector, either.

Also checked and reseated all the connectors I could get to from the topside of the engine compartment.

Based on information from the repair manual, it seems like the problem most likely lies in the VSS itself. It had a few flickers of life last night, where it would kick on for a few seconds, but that's about it.

I left the connector disconnected last night to finish drying out, but same behavior today. At least it shifted okay this morning.

 

[Scipio]

Got a meter today, Terminal A on the connector to ground measures .5 volts.

According to the troubleshooting manual, it looks like the next step is to replace the connector.

My question is, are there other connections I should be checking first? It doesn't make sense that the connector would be bad, water didn't even go on that side of the car, really.

I also took the sensor out and cleaned it, then lubricated the o-ring and reinstalled. Nothing resolved, but it's easy enough to swap, which is nice.

It's also weird that the service manual linked here shows the connector as 3 pins, when mine is 2 pin. All of the parts I've found show three pins as well.

 

[Pyro-tege]

Any solution? I just had this start happening today, and I didn't hose down my engine. I scanned today and reset, ran okay for a bit. Seems the trans is slipping until about 3k on the tach, then it catches and starts moving faster, and the speedometer dies. The Overdrive light kept flashing as well, then the CEL came on. The P0500 was the only code recorded. Indicates vehicle speed sensor. That in the trans casing I suppose?