I own a 2000 Maxima. I've had it for about 6 months. Recently my SES came on with the code p0720. The solutions were either a bad VSS or a short.

Even with the code light on, it still ran perfect(smooth shifts, good power,etc..)


About 3 days after the light went on, I was about a mile from my house and the car went into limp mode. Pulled to the side of the road, turned the car off, waited a minute, started her up and it ran fine.

The next day I went to O'Reilly's and bought a new VSS and installed it.

Three weeks later it goes into limp mode and the SES light comes on. I called a friend of mine who runs a transmission shop and told him my story of woe. He said I needed to change the other sensor, the one that looks like a cam sensor.

This morning I did that and so far all is well.

Does anyone have any ideas why this would fix the problem? I asked him about the TCM and the transmission. His diagnostic computer showed no problems at all. Now, I'm sweating bullets every time I drive the car. I really hope that was the problem.

Yes, I searched this site. It seems like anybody with the same problems would say they would post when it was fixed, then they fell off the planet of the earth.


TIA

 

http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Maxima/2000/at.pdf scroll dowt to at-134.

Looks like you replaced the vss sensor first and the revolution sensor second which was what the code referred to in the first place.

first replacement was a mis diagnosis.

 

I hope so. As long as it works.

 

According to O'Reilly's computer, the VSS needed to be replaced and that's what I did first.

 

One more issue.

My cluster light is out. Could this be related to the previous problem. My speedo and tach work fine.

 

Its your cluster. Just posted on different thread my 6mo battle with trans slipping p0720 and limp mode. I removed cluster and tightened all screws some of which were loose and bingo all fixed.