Hi Fellas, I own a 3rd gen Max and I had my speed sensor quit on me. Well my girlfriends parent have a business exporting auto parts and they ended up getting me two aftermarket sensor. The first one I recieved was the exact part for my car and I installed it and everything works fine now.

The second sensor I recieved has a significantly shorter cable than the first one I recieved. The 2 sensors look exactly alike except for the difference in cable length. Keep in mind that both parts are specific Maxima parts.

I was wondering if this sensor is for a 4th gen (95-99) Maxima. Can one of you guys do me a HUGE favor and measure the length of the cable that is attached to yout speed sensor??

Thanks,
Kevin

 

Do yourself a favor and post any numbers that may be stamped on the sensor housing - better yet, take the sensor to your local Nissan Parts counter, they'll be able to identify it for you & eliminate any guesswork.

 

So how hard an install is this on a 1997 manual tranny? I'm about to the point where I'm tired of trying to use the wacked out speed sensor in my car. It works unless I'm decelerating. And when I go down a hill. When I decelerate, the speedometer basically falls to zero. The real reason I want it working again is that it screws up the cruise control. Cruise works fine until I get to a hill and go down the hill and the accelerator has to let up a hair.

 

From Haynes Repair Manual - Nissan Maxima 1993 thru 1999 (Section 6-17)

1) Summary of what the speed sensor is/does ("magnet generator mounted on the transaxle case; produces an AC voltage sine wave, frequency of which is proportional to vehicle speed...")
2) Remove the vehicle speed sensor from the transaxle as described below.
3) Connect a voltmeter to the two terminals of the vehicle speed sensor, set the meter to A/C scale; spin the sensor drive gear by hand. Sensor should generate approximately 0.5 volts A/C.
4) If no A/C voltage signal is produced, replace the sensor.
5) If the vehicle speed sensor is good, check for continuity between the sensor connector and the instrument cluster (refer to wiring diagrams). If the wiring is good, have the instrument cluster and PCM diagnosed by a qualified service technician.

REMOVAL/REPLACEMENT:

6) Raise vehicle & support securely on jackstands.
7) Disconnect electrical connector from vehicle speed sensor.
8) Remove the hold-down bolt & clamp and remove the vehicle speed sensor from the transaxle (see illustration [U need 2 buy a Haynes manual 4 this]).
9) Inspect the o-ring on the sensor and replace if damaged. If you are installing a new sensor, install a new o-ring.
10) Installation is reverse of removal.

This is an easy part to simply "swap." If you have a little technical know-how and a multimeter, you can actually diagnose the part, before condemning it. There are other possible sources to your problem, as you can see from reading the how-to. It could be wiring, or even a problem with your PCM. Do the diagnosis to be sure before buying an electrical part you can't return. I can't say it enough: BUY A HAYNE'S MANUAL!!!! It will save you $$$$$.

-K-

 

Now that's what I wanted to hear. I actually have the Haynes manual and it's been indispensible. But I could hardly tell what I was looking at in the picture. But looking at it last night, and with the above statement, I could see that I was looking from where the battery should be. Yeah I'm gonna rip that thing out first chance. I don't have a multimeter, though. I thought I stole the little pocket one from my dad, but all I can find is the box. I'm like 75% sure it's the sensor, though. If it was the wiring, I'd think that the function, or malfunction, wouldn't be consistent the way it is. Whenever my speed is constant or increasing, the speedometer works fine. But on deceleration, it settles down. The more sharp the deceleration, the faster the speedometer falls. Would you recommend buying this only from Nissan? I think they told me thirty something bucks.

 

If the OEM part is that inexpensive, I'd go for it. I only go aftermarket on bigger ticket items like alternators, starter motors, etc., where the savings can really add up vs. OEM parts. Good luck!

 

Dude I don't think the pic in the Haynes manual is of a 4th gen. I do not see the setup that I see in picture 15.8 on page 6-17, and consequently, I don't know which of the little devices I see around the transaxle on my car is the speed sensor. You got any pics? Or perhaps I should take a pic and have you tell me where the speed sensor is?