if I spun a rod, would the ses light throw off a code? The ses light is on right now because the vss is out on the transmission (or so I think), but I dont know if something like that would throw off a code.

 

No.....SES codes are mostly related to the Emission Control items.

 

What year is your car? In OBD-II a problem like that might possibly show up as a misfire, since might alter crank rotational velocities and be picked up by the crank position sensor. That would cause a flashing SES light. There's no other way the PCM could detect a problem with a rod.