HectortheWell

I just cannot find the VSS of my '98 3.2TL. I know it's on the driver side in the front. I need to replace it to fix a broken speedometer and odometer and cruise control. Will I need to lift the car to find the VSS?

AJD

I know this is too late to help you, but I've seen others ask this question. The VSS for the first gen TL 3.2 is accessed from under the car. You'll have to drive it onto ramps or jack it up. The VSS is located right next to the oil filter, immediately to the left. In fact, it is much easier to remove if you first remove the oil filter. Otherwise, you'll likely need a short extension and a 10mm socket. It's held on by 2 10mm head bolts. One is easily removed, the other not so much. This is where the short socket will come into play.
As an aside, you can likely forego the $180 factory part and swap internals with a much cheaper (MUCH cheaper) but similar model. In fact, the last time I replaced a VSS on a 3.2 TL I used aftermarket part number 78410-sv4-003 which cost me $7 shipped to my door and it worked perfectly. Bear in mind, I'm not endorsing this, but the item is dimensionally identical to part 78410-sl4-007 and it worked. Perfectly.
The most difficult part of the procedure is removing the plastic shroud to gain access. If you have small or dexterous hands you may be able to not remove it, but I do. There's a number of bolts and plastic fasteners holding it on, but just bite the bullet and take it off. Then lube the bolts. Once you gain access from below the whole job only takes a few minutes.
I also spritzed some Deoxit onto the connector.