Nissan Repair: Service Engine Soon, vehicle speed sensor, checker auto

Question
Von, I have a 97 maxima with 101,000 miles and the service engine light came on,but the car runs fine. The Code from Checker Auto was   P0500: speed sensor.  I asked a nissan dealer and 2 mechancs what the this meant and got 3 completely different answers.  Please let me know what you think it is???  Also if i reset it and it does not come back on should it come back on?  what damage can i do to the car?

Answer
Doug,

Buy a vehicle speed sensor and replace yours.  It is easy and you can do it yourself.  Then, disconnect the battery for five minutes to clear the code and you should be fine.  You can drive the car as long as it shifts properly.  The computer picks up the vehicles speed at the speedometer cluster and if the vehicle speed sensor is defective, which it is, can cause the car to shift strange.  courtesyparts.com is a good source for a direct replacement at much less than the dealer and it is a dealer so you get the part for the Jobber price and you get a real nissan part.