if the speed signal is not getting to the tranny it can get pissed off, a 97 should have the older less failure prone module, it is not built like the later smaller one that seems to be installed in about every vehicle built after 98-99 (the bosses suburban even had one die) it is more like the e36 unit with the floppy board inside going to the solenoids and runs a separate computer to run it
take a look at the other rear abs sensor and see if it is bad too, they seem to be a problem on the early e39s and the wires can break off where it attaches to the frame, i just had a 97 where the left rear took out the speedo even though it is supposed to run off the right, but when i looked the right side was crap too it just hadn't snapped off yet, also double check the engine tranny and abs system for codes, sometimes the code will post to more then one system and keep things disabled

Originally Posted by
Ross
would a speed sensor cause it not to shift?
Last edited by winfred; 01-23-2009 at 09:36 AM.
all america wants is cold beer warm cat and a place to take a poop with a door on it