i'm on my way to work, going between 75-80 on the highway when the speedometer starts fluctuating between 70-80, then around 60-70, 55-65, 40-50, then it just goes down to 0. car runs fine, no light at the time, but when i went out later after driving for a few minutes the check engine light came on. its 7am and i just got in so i havent had a chance to get the code read yet, and i don't even know if it has anything to do with the speedo, but i thought i'd see if anyone has had a similar problem or might know what it is in advance... sooo any ideas?

 

I've had my odometer die and I've had my tach die. For the tach I pulled the internals off of my black faced gauges and eyeball calibrated it. I wouldn't recomend this for the speedo.

Todd

 

Well I know that my sister had an older Altima (93) and she had the same problem. In the end she took it to a repair shop and it costed like $500+ (maybe even close to $700) CDN to fix.

 

just get a new cluster. Im getting a new one because my trip odometer and odometer stopped working. Everything else works Perfectly fine. If i knew how to take those things apart i would but im just going to get a whole new cluster.

 

The vehicle speed sensor is bad mine does the same thing it will work then all of a sudden it will drop out but it eventually comes back. When you get the code read it will be a vehicle speed sensor malfunction.

 

clusters are on back order from nissan. have been since june. supposed to be able to order on th 11th, it costs 479 untaxed at dealer. i got a bad cluster too thats why im waiting

 

how hard/expensive are the speed sensors to replace? and is it something id have to get from a dealer

 

Ive been having trouble recently with my max.
recently passed inspection after I reset the ECU, and the mechanic ran the codes, and nothing came up. The day after i got it inspected I went for a little cruise on the highway, and used my cruise control, and sooon after my little friend the check engine light came on. The car runs fine, starts great (except for a loose belt that whines after i start it up)..any suggestions as to what it could be..has anyone experienced anything like it?

 

Check your codes.

 

The vss is located on top of the differential on the tranny below the fire wall. 1 bolt, 1 connector and youre done. It is an expensive little bastard though over $100 if from one of the wholesalers.

Are you tripping a code for it?? If not then dont worry about the vss. My friend had the exact same problem and he pulled the gauge cluter and tightened the screws on the back of it after I told him about a thread on here where a guy solved the probelm that way. After that the problem never came back.

 

i30ds - I tried to find where the vss was by looking at the engine bay, from the driverside fender, and couldn't locate it. Haynes calls for you to jack the car up and look for it...I was just trying to get an approximate location before going through the trouble. Do you have a more explainatory explaination of the location of the vss?

 

Yes. First remove the air intake up to the tb (this is not absolutely needed, but it help when you are trying to find it for the first time). Look down at the tranny and follow it back towards the fire wall. The sensor sits back in there on top of the differential.

Here is a pic. The vss sits right where the black plug is (has a blue arrow pionting towards it).

 

can't say that i have, hmmmm

 

i agree. i bought another one off of ebay for around $50. just try removing ur speedo and stickin it in the other cluster. nissan quoeted over $100 just for the gas gauge.
Takin it apart is quite easy...well maybe cause i ripped it apart nearly 30 times and only takes me 5 minutes to get the cluster out

 

Why get a new cluster when the problem is the speed sensor?

 

sorry, must of missed that

 

my friends 96 altima did the same thing, everytime the speedometer went dead, he would give it a good smack on the dash and it would spring back to life.

 

stupid altimas

 

Yes Altimas are stupid. Especially the 2000 era ones...the stupid steering wheel...tilted to the highest point, i'm still driving on my lap.

 

I just pulled my auto speed sensor and replaced it with a 5spd one. If you're an auto, PM me and I'll sell it to you.

 

Why?? Its the same vss. I am running an auto one in mine with no problems right now...