First of all, I have done some searches and have come up with a few good threads about this issue, but none of the cars are 5th Gens nor manual transmission, so it makes me wonder if there could be more to it...

Fist, what I own. Its a 2000 boosted manual transmission SE.

The issue: The issue started last weekend. My speedometer started jumping all over the place and then back to zero. Now its always at zero, unless I hit bump hard enough, it'll jump for a few secs and then go back to zero. Is there any sensors I should check? Cables? I've seen a few threads where replacing they're cluster fixed the issue, but again they are either a different year/generation or automatic, Im sure it'd make a difference.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Check the plugs in the back make sure they are snapped in

 

check the connector at the transmission side and see if it is plugged in

also you can remove the sensor and with the car on idling, spin the wheel and see if the speedo needle moves ( may need a friend to help with that one )

 

Which Plug? What's the name of it so I can look for it...

Which connector? Which Sensor?

 

2 brown connectors on back of cluster you caint miss them also you say your boosted i would look at the ECU connections also to see if something is loose down there

 

transmission speed sensor located on the bell housing connector facing up, close to the firewall.

a 10 mm bolt holds it into the transmission, the diff. spins the wheel to send the speed signal