1998 Nissan Frontier - Instrument Cluster & Steering Column

[FrayedString]

So about two week ago I bought this 98 frontier. Got it for a great price because it had a few issues that I'm slowly working at, including the windshield washer pump (thanks sx moneypit).

Anyway, I've been driving it as my daily driver all this time and three days ago a new issue cropped up on me on the drive home that apparently is somewhat common with these first gen Frontiers. The speedometer stopped working, the odometer blanked out, and the temp gauge started jumping back and forth between 50% and 75% (towards hot). Everything stayed that way for about 10 minutes, then everything suddenly started working again. The next day on my drive home the same thing happened, for about the same period of time, except this time the check engine light came on while the other stuff was not working. Even after the guages all started working again, the check engine light stayed on. So when I got home I hooked my laptop up to the OBD II port and read the code and it was P0500 (speed sensor), but at this time the speedometer was working fine. So I did some searching and found that apparently the circuit runs from the speed sensor, to the cluster, then to the ECM; and that most likely my speed sensor is fine (as the speedometer does work fine for the most part) and the issue is my instrument cluster is going out.

Anyway, now on to the real question: has anyone else dealt with this issue and found any of the quick-fixes posted online to work (re-routing the fuse, or replacing the 2 transistors)? Or am I better off going with one of the cluster repair shops such as Mr Whizard or AutoExpressTech?


Question #2. My Frontier does not have a tilt wheel. Does anyone know if I bought a tilt wheel column from a wrecking yard if it would mount correctly in my Frontier without any major modifications?


Thanks so much,
Alan

[sx moneypit]

Check this forum here>
nissan-trucks-forum.html
lots of good information.