Nissan Change CVT Transmission Speed Sensor

It can cause hard shifting, check engine light, or a bang when you move the shifter from Park to Drive or Reverse gears.

This transmission is installed on multiple cars, including Nissan Altima, Cube, Juke, Maxima, Murano, NV Cargo, Pathfinder, and Quest.

Symptoms

Symptoms of bad transmission speed sensor

• Engine bangs when placed in Drive / Reverse.
• Check Engine Light On
• P0720 Fault Code
• P0500 - Vehicle Speed Sensor
• Harsh shifting
• Cruise control stopped working.
• Possibly Related Fault Codes
  • P0703, P0705 Range Sensor,
  • P0706, P0711, P0712, P0713, P0715,
  • P0717 Input speed sensor,
  • P0730 incorrect gear ratio,
  • P0740 torque converter,
  • P0743, P0779, P776, P0746

What you need

• Nissan CVT Speed Sensor
• Jack or Car Ramps
• Jack Stands
• 10mm socket, extension, and ratchet.
  • 1/4" socket and ratchet drive recommended.
• 4" Extension
  • Flexible ratchet extension can make it easier to get to the 10mm bolt.

Procedure

There are two methods to replace the speed sensor on Nissan CVT transmission.

This first requires removing the battery and the starter, which will take a lot of time.

The second is to access the speed sensor from the bottom of the engine. The sensor is on the side of the transmission housing facing the front. It is on the same side as the starter. 

1. Jack up the vehicle or drive it on ramps. A secure vehicle with jack stands.
2. Remove the plastic splash shield from the bottom of the engine.
3. Locate the transmission speed sensor. In this Nissan Quest, you can see the sensor on the driver side, between the radiator and transmission housing. The black part is the starter. You will need to get under the vehicle to access this sensor. 
4. Disconnect the electrical connector. Use a flat screwdriver to pry the plug away from the sensor.
5. Remove the 10mm bolt. Get it loose using your 10mm socket and ratchet. Next, remove the bolt by hand.
6. Remove the old speed sensor from the transmission housing. There may be a tiny amount of oil leaking from the sensor hole.
7. Reinstall the new sensor. Make sure it has the O-ring in place. Apply a little bit of oil on the O-ring before installation. It is not recommended to reuse the old O-ring.
8. Tighten the 10mm bolt. Connect the electrical connector. 
9. Lower the vehicle and follow the proper procedure to check the automatic transmission fluid level.

If the check engine light is on, plug an OBD2 scanner into the diagnostic port under the dashboard (driver's side) to read and clear any stored fault codes.