I know there have been a few threads about speedometer issues - personally my speedometer has been messed up for a couple years.
When I got my first Max, after driving like 50 miles I noticed the needle jumping around and occasionally dropping out. I bought the car knowing I had to put a clutch in it, so when I took it to the shop I had them check out the speedo, too. They told me I needed the nylon pinion gear. They had to order the part and ended up mailing it to me a week after I got my car back. Put it on, speedo worked somewhat but was not cured.
Sometimes when it cut out I could smack the dash (usually out of frustration) and it would twitch back to life for a while. Ok, so now I'm convinced there has to be a problem with the cluster. A few months later I find a nice cluster on ebay or something. I had a trip planned from Alabama to New York and really wanted to have a working speedo, but more importantly (to me) working cruise control. As most of you know, if the speedo doesn't work, there is no cruise control. The guy with the new cluster was on my way up north, so I brought some tools with me and swapped out clusters in his parking lot. Off I go on my roadtrip, speedo working and cruise locked in. Yah! Right? Well, it worked almost flawlessly for the fist 800-1000 miles, but by the return trip it was dead again. WTF?? Arrrrgh!
Several months go by and I end up finding my current car, which was all parted out when I got it. The entire interior from my old car was transplanted, including all switches, gauges, etc., as well as the speedo issue. I was sure the speed sensor was the culprit of all speedo issues, but it was not a priority as I had bigger problems/projects on hand. About six months ago I finally bit the bullet and bought a brand new speed sensor from Nissan. After all the problems and aggravation I'd had, I was not going to buy a used sensor.
When the sensor arrived, I put it in right away - I was eager to resolve this nagging issue once and for all. I install it on my lunch break and take a spin in the parking lot - nothing, not even a twitch. Arrrrrgh! Now some might say it's an issue in the wiring harness, but I was sure this was not my problem. This problem carried over from one car to the next, and the chances of a faulty wire in both cars was slim to none.
I had tested the old speed sensor, and it fluctuated more than the specs and I was pretty sure it needed to be replaced, so why was it still dead with the new sensor installed? I had a theory - perhaps the old sensor would 'spike' or something and subsequently damage/fry something in the cluster? I had two clusters share the same fate connected to the same speed sensor. If that's the case, then the answer was to replace the cluster one last time.
I was on ebay last week and saw a good 92-94 SE 5spd cluster for sale - so I just said f*ck it and 'bought it now'. It arrived yesterday and about an hour later was installed and ready to test - fingers crossed. Start her up, pull out of the shop and take a lap around the lot - YAH!! It works flawlessly!! Finally!! You couldn't knock the grin off my face last night as I was driving around with my speedo working and, alas, cruise control!
So what's the moral of the story? Some people will suggest quick fixes for quirky speedo issues, but save yourself a lot of time and frustration and buy the speed sensor - chances are this is the root of your problem. If you don't have the cash on hand, at least unplug it until you can get the replacement or it will damage the cluster. Don't get cluster f*cked!

 

How long did it take you to change out your cluster? I've got a bad odometer for a while now and I am planning to change out the cluster.

 

Honestly, it takes about 15 minutes to get the cluster out.
Pull the ashtray
Pull the radio/ac trim piece (4 screws, 3 snappy things at the top), disconnect lighter and hazard switch.
Pull the dash switches (4 screws), disconnect switches. *Note: lower the steering column all the way down to be able to pull the switches/panel out.
Pull the vents/cluster trim piece (4 on the top side, 5 or 6 on the bottom). When all the screws are out, give it a tug so it pops free - disconnect clock. It takes a little finesse, but you can get this piece out without removing the steering column trim. Wiggle it around a little, and with the steering wheel all the way down you should be able to get it to come out of there.
Pull the cluster (4 screws). There are 3 wiring harnesses attached to the back, disconnect all.

 

92-94 is slightly different,
on the 92-94 there are only 2 screws on the radio surround, not sure about the rest.


Yes I know the person asking has a 90. I only posted this in case someone actually searches

 

Dude I am having the same issues.................my mechanic believes it is the cluster but I know deep down it's the sensor..............I have had this since September.............Well changing the VSS cure this or should I do the cluster also..........??? I guess try the VSS and go from there...............Is there a chance I screwed my cluster cause I have waited too llong?

This is a great thread btw!

 

mine just started this (either not working or jumping up to my speed and randomly falling to 0 and going back up to speed) last night and should i disconnect the speed meter incase it frys my cluster? I want a VE cluster and it would be an excuse, but yet something else to spend money on. I was thinking of that last night, I remembered this thread from last year. any way Ill start looking for a vss sensor.

~Alex

 

i have a VE guage cluster for sale!!!!!!!..... it is probably a solder joint that came loose... i heard of people trying to fix them.. but i heard it was a b*tch to fix

 

My mechanic told me the other day that a failing VSS would cause the car to drive all messed up like the tranny not shifting correctly cause of the varying speedo and this and that.....................is this true cause everybody else I talk to say that the main symptom is the bouncy speedo needle.......... ...............Will it mess up the way the car drives or just mess up the speedo reading?

Thanks.

 

That same problem occured in my old accord, the problem right now is a fried link to the temp gauge so I got no temp, I fixed it with some copper wire as a temporary fix but the wire comes loose on bump lol, also my freakin wipers are completely gone, do you have any experience with blown fuses for wipers? fyi motor, relay, and switch have been unplugged and still burning fuses.

 

I have the same problem. I want to replace the speed sensor but can't locate it in my car. I know it is in the transmission but i took the air intake out and still cant find it. Can anybody help me, please? Picture would be helpful.

 

it's on the top of transmission