New member-Replace started-Spedo not working???
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New member-Replaced starter-Spedo not working???
Hello, new to this forum. So the story goes i bought my son a 1996 Maxima as he was about to become a legal driver. I was looking for a safe reliable car, decent gas mileage and the plan is also to teach him car maintenace it just so happened my neighbor put hers up for sale. We purchase it, original owner car with 110,000 on the spedo. We had it for about 7 months and the starter died. I called a few shops to see what the replacement job would cost, i got three quotes from $350-$450 
Being that im mechanically inclined i decided this would be his first job. (he's grown up with me tinkering on old aircooled vw's so this isn't new to him entirely). We purchased the part, set aside an afternoon and i supervised the process and guided him through it. The whole job took a total of 30 minutes, far and away the easiest starter i've taken out (that wasn't an aircooled car). The big moment came when he went to see if the starter would actually start his car. Cranked right up, he couldn't get that smile off his face, he was so happy and i was so proud. So a day later he comes in and tells me the spedometer doesn't move when he's driving and the mileage doesn't rotate??? Being that he is a young driver i really need to figure out why its not working. I checked all the connections and everything looks good. I looked at a Haynes manual and it was useless. Anyone have any idea of what the problem might be.
Being that im mechanically inclined i decided this would be his first job. (he's grown up with me tinkering on old aircooled vw's so this isn't new to him entirely). We purchased the part, set aside an afternoon and i supervised the process and guided him through it. The whole job took a total of 30 minutes, far and away the easiest starter i've taken out (that wasn't an aircooled car). The big moment came when he went to see if the starter would actually start his car. Cranked right up, he couldn't get that smile off his face, he was so happy and i was so proud. So a day later he comes in and tells me the spedometer doesn't move when he's driving and the mileage doesn't rotate??? Being that he is a young driver i really need to figure out why its not working. I checked all the connections and everything looks good. I looked at a Haynes manual and it was useless. Anyone have any idea of what the problem might be.
Last edited by Max Murder; Aug 13, 2012 at 07:22 PM. Reason: spelling
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 704
From: Oakland, CA
Is it throwing any codes? I'd expect to see the code for vehicle speed sensor. Even if the CEL isn't on, test for codes anyway. The bulb could be burned out.
Typically, the approach is 3 steps:
1. Replace the vehicle speed sensor. Normally you don't want to just throw parts at a problem, but it was only around $25 last time I bought one. It's an easy fix. It fits into the tranny housing just a little ways past the starter. I think there are pix in a thread here somewhere.
2. If that doesn't fix it, tighten the screws on the back of the instrument cluster. This is also easy once you've done it a time or two. Again, there should be a number of threads here on getting this out.
3. If that doesn't work, replace the cluster with a used one. I got one here for around $40 IIRC correctly. You'll have to deal with the mileage difference somehow. I got one with about 12K fewer miles on it, so if I ever sell it I'll just disclose it. But I plan to drive it into the ground anyway...
Typically, the approach is 3 steps:
1. Replace the vehicle speed sensor. Normally you don't want to just throw parts at a problem, but it was only around $25 last time I bought one. It's an easy fix. It fits into the tranny housing just a little ways past the starter. I think there are pix in a thread here somewhere.
2. If that doesn't fix it, tighten the screws on the back of the instrument cluster. This is also easy once you've done it a time or two. Again, there should be a number of threads here on getting this out.
3. If that doesn't work, replace the cluster with a used one. I got one here for around $40 IIRC correctly. You'll have to deal with the mileage difference somehow. I got one with about 12K fewer miles on it, so if I ever sell it I'll just disclose it. But I plan to drive it into the ground anyway...
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,524
From: Maine
Is it throwing any codes? I'd expect to see the code for vehicle speed sensor. Even if the CEL isn't on, test for codes anyway. The bulb could be burned out.
Typically, the approach is 3 steps:
1. Replace the vehicle speed sensor. Normally you don't want to just throw parts at a problem, but it was only around $25 last time I bought one. It's an easy fix. It fits into the tranny housing just a little ways past the starter. I think there are pix in a thread here somewhere.
2. If that doesn't fix it, tighten the screws on the back of the instrument cluster. This is also easy once you've done it a time or two. Again, there should be a number of threads here on getting this out.
3. If that doesn't work, replace the cluster with a used one. I got one here for around $40 IIRC correctly. You'll have to deal with the mileage difference somehow. I got one with about 12K fewer miles on it, so if I ever sell it I'll just disclose it. But I plan to drive it into the ground anyway...
Typically, the approach is 3 steps:
1. Replace the vehicle speed sensor. Normally you don't want to just throw parts at a problem, but it was only around $25 last time I bought one. It's an easy fix. It fits into the tranny housing just a little ways past the starter. I think there are pix in a thread here somewhere.
2. If that doesn't fix it, tighten the screws on the back of the instrument cluster. This is also easy once you've done it a time or two. Again, there should be a number of threads here on getting this out.
3. If that doesn't work, replace the cluster with a used one. I got one here for around $40 IIRC correctly. You'll have to deal with the mileage difference somehow. I got one with about 12K fewer miles on it, so if I ever sell it I'll just disclose it. But I plan to drive it into the ground anyway...
Make sure to check for codes before you replace the VSS though. Does tapping the speedo bring it back to life?
Most likely it's not the VSS (speed sensor). The speedo's on these 4th gens seem to be poorly made. Mine went out as well. I got a cluster from an org member for about $30 shipped, and another parts one for $10 shipped. My bet is on the cluster itself, not the vss.
Last edited by 2brosgixxer; Aug 13, 2012 at 06:59 PM.
Follow the wires to the VSS to see if they got damaged or disconnected.
If you would like to download the Nissan FSM (Factory Service Manual), go here:
http://boredmder.com/FSMs/Nissan/Maxima/
If you would like to download the Nissan FSM (Factory Service Manual), go here:
http://boredmder.com/FSMs/Nissan/Maxima/
Last edited by DennisMik; Aug 13, 2012 at 06:59 PM.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3
Fellas, i followed the directions to remove the starter. Reinstalled it and then the starter stopped working. Til we relaced the starter there was no issue's. I could uninstall everything again and put some electrical contact point grease on all the parts and reinstall???
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,524
From: Maine
Fellas, i followed the directions to remove the starter. Reinstalled it and then the starter stopped working. Til we relaced the starter there was no issue's. I could uninstall everything again and put some electrical contact point grease on all the parts and reinstall???
Here is where I am confused...You removed the new starter and reinstalled it??? Why???
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,524
From: Maine
OP, theres not many reasons the speedo will stop...either VSS related or Cluster.
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