If the ________ provides an incorrect signal to the control module, shift points will occur at the wrong road speed.

If the ________ provides an incorrect signal to the control module, shift points will occur at the wrong road speed.

• A. TPS
• B. MAF
• C. VSS
• D. MAP

Answer: (C)

Shifts in many modern transmissions depend on real road speed data fed from the vehicle speed sensor. When the control module receives an inaccurate road speed signal, it misreads how fast the vehicle is actually moving and chooses shift points that don’t match the true speed, so shifts happen at the wrong road speeds. The other sensors listed—throttle position, air intake mass, and manifold pressure—inform the engine’s fuel, torque, and load management, but they don’t provide the direct road-speed input used to time transmission shifts. A faulty vehicle speed sensor can also cause speedometer errors and odd shifting behavior, reinforcing why this sensor is the correct choice.

Shifts in many modern transmissions depend on real road speed data fed from the vehicle speed sensor. When the control module receives an inaccurate road speed signal, it misreads how fast the vehicle is actually moving and chooses shift points that don’t match the true speed, so shifts happen at the wrong road speeds. The other sensors listed—throttle position, air intake mass, and manifold pressure—inform the engine’s fuel, torque, and load management, but they don’t provide the direct road-speed input used to time transmission shifts. A faulty vehicle speed sensor can also cause speedometer errors and odd shifting behavior, reinforcing why this sensor is the correct choice.