Nissan Repair: gauge problems, nissan maxima se, vehicle speed sensor

Question
I have a 2000 Nissan Maxima SE, I have been having problems with my gauges (speedometer, odometer, gas guage, rpm gauge, temp gauge) when I start the car in the morning the gauges will be working fine, but after driving for a while the will all just freeze and usually stay off till I leave work or sometimes they come back on. The DTC is P0500(vehicle speed sensor), I tried to have my local mechanic fix the problem  he said it was the speed sensor on the transmission. He said he went through the whole car and that was definetly it, but he said Nissan would not give them the right part so they could not do it, so I had to go to Nissan. I brought it to them and they said I had to replace the speedometer, so I paid $360 for their diagnostic work(even though I knew the code) and the speedometer. I installed the new speedometer and wouldn't you know it, the gauges still didn't work. Also besides the engine light being on everytime I start the car after the gauges freezing the o/d light flashes 16 times. This problem has been going on for 6 months now and some how no one can help me? not even Nissan! this is driving me crazy!! I also heard that two wires could have bent in the harnsess by the right strut tower that could cause this(light green/grey and brown/white) and I did have an illumination wire burn up in  my car that went to the radio(aftermarket) If you can help I would really appreciate it, because this is stressing me out. thank you.  

Answer
HI Matt,

Well the BS that was given to you from the first moron saying that he couldn't get the right part from Nissan is total crap and the dealer #$%^ed you worse. Where do you live? I want to pass this on to everyone that lives out there. In the mean time, the speed sensor is on the transmission. There are two of them. You need the output speed sensor. This tells the computer how fast you are going and makes the speed and odometer work. That is all they do though. No other gauges are effected by the speed sensor. I have a feeling the wire burn out you discribed is causing other problems and even could be jacking the ECU. I suggest taking it to a Cottman or Aamco transmission shop and have them do a free diagnostic service for you. I also suggest taking it to an auto electronic specialist. They will not be free, but the ones I have seen are very good.

Let me know the name of the jerk o%% machanic shop and the name of the dealer. I want all of our readers to know who they are. It makes me very angery for these "shops" to grind someone.