Hey guys
Every once in a while while driving, my speedo will stop working. If I tap on the plastic in front of the needle, it will start working again. Is there a fix for this, and if so, can someone explain exactly how to do it, or do I need to buy a new cluster? I am not throwing any codes for VSS so I think its the speedo gauge itself. EDIT: I have tried tightening the 4 screws behind the speedo but that has not helped. And, if my cruise is set and the speedo stops working, the cruise shuts down and the green cruise light starts blinking til I get the speedo working again and restart the car.

 

best advice is the spedo mechanism it self is shot, look for a self service junkyard around where you live, and you can pick one up for under $10. You tightened the four screws behind your cluster, so im assuming you know how to take it all out. I just recently put blue lights in all my guages, and sanded my needles so everything is blue, it's pretty sweet!

 

i have an se cluster for sale for a 97 maxima se with 129675 miles in perfect working condition.

 

^^^ how much you looking to get for that?

 

I have a couple of clusters also if u need one they in perfect working order let me know they just taking up space in my room

 

or you could just fix it. If you tap it and it works then its not broke. If you are half way decent with electronics then take it apart and look for a loose wire or half-way broken solder point

 

Yeah, I'm not real good In the electrical department. I also notice that when It is working, it makes a ticking sound that gets faster as my speed increases.

 

PM'd

 

Mine did the same thing too. But stopped after I took it out, removed the screws and screwed them back in.
Dr J

 

I too have had the screws out and back in several times but have had no luck fixing it that way either. Hopefully one of the guys who said they had clusters will get back to me.

 

Someone has my cluster. If you really want it, I'll put you in touch with him. Send me PM
Dr J

 

Well, I ended up taking the thing apart and looking at it. Pulled the speedo completely out and noticed what looked like a solder point under the circled screw in the pic below. Well, it was pretty worn away and did not seem to be making contact with the screw any more but there was still a TINY bit of solder left. Since I am no good with soldering, i just got a larger washer to increase the contact area and put that on. Screwed everything back together and, knock on wood, no speedo issues for 3-4 days.

 

having the same issues, but i have the vss code thrown on mine. if i tap the cluster it works as well, my cruise has stopped working also. gonna replace the vss and see if that helps

 

Is your cel on even when the speedo is working? Reason I ask is, I have no light on and when my speedo stops working, I get it working again within a couple seconds and didn't know if I should leave it not working for a bit to see if the cel comes on.

 

my cel is on for the egr but the speedo usually always works above 50mph, it just fails to move when i pull off, or sometimes when i brake below 45mph. But like u if i tap it it starts to work. I'm not sure when it threw the code though, my cel is on due to the egr. My car dies down to like 300rmps when i stop sometimes and im wondering if that is due to a failing vss maybe? It could just be your speedo, id wait till it threw the cel before replacing the vss, however its only a $25 part.

 

All PM's replied still have the clusters if u need them

 

Mine is still working with my "Ghetto" rig job LOL. Its just making an annoying tick - tick - tick sound that gets faster with my speed which is kind of annoying but I gotta deal with it for now. Getting ready to drop some money on some other personal matters. Just for reference, any idea what the shipping to 04910 would be?

 

Can anyone help with the ticking I am getting? It starts ticking behind the gauges as soon as I start moving and gets faster (not louder) the faster I go. I'm going to start unplugging the tach and speedo to isolate which it is, but my bet is the speedo since i've been having problems with it. IF it is the speedo head, any way to fix it...lube specific parts with something? Beat it with a Big Fng Hammer? It's starting to get annoying and all the threads I've searched have had no answers other than the smart a$$ ones saying did you drop your watch etc.

 

I have had same problems since the summer. I replaced the vss first because that was most likely and easiest to get too. Didn't help. Speedo and cruise control stopped working under load. Finally took the instrument cluster out today and took the speedo out today. Thanks for the pic 2brosgixxer. I noticed the solder point as well. I took screw out and in and tightened all screws a bit. Everything is back together. The speedometer and cruise control seem to be working. I was able to go up our big hill using cruise control and everything was fine. Don't know what to tell you about the ticking though. Good luck and good post.

 

So, this "Ticking" is driving me crazy so I decided to take a video of it tonight and post it to see what you guys think. The video makes it seem deeper sounding that it is when in actuality, it is fairly "tinny" sounding and can only be heard with the heater and radio off. Any thoughts here? I have to believe it is something simple that just needs to be tweaked. The speedo and all other gauges have been working fine and this is the only issue. Turn the volume up to hear it...it'll be a rhythmic ticking about every second. PLEASE HELP!!

http://s1112.photobucket.com/albums/...=VIDEO0054.mp4

 

^^^ Dude again ???? LOL why dont u just get another cluster and case closed ??

 

Meh, it still works so its not really broken. Lol. It has made that sound for a long time. I enjoy the satisfaction that comes with fixing things on my own so I'd rather exhaust every option before buying something...but since you brought it up, did you say u had the se cluster? Mileage? Shipping to 04901? Maybe when my taxes come back I'll buy 1 from you.

Edit: You have PM