P0500 Speed Sensor A (1 Viewer)

[nsaladin]

04 Cruiser threw the P0500 code (Vehicle Speed Sensor A). No evidence or rodent gnawing on wires. Have unplugged and cleaned the contacts.

Unsure whether to buy the sensor or take to a shop for diagnosis. When using the scanner, I can drive around and the vehicle speed stays at 0 on the scanner, but the speedometer on the dash shows correct speed. Clear codes and it comes back within 30 seconds or so.

I have seen other threads where the vehicle was fixed by replacing cluster, sensor or just cleaning contacts etc. just unsure of next steps.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[Julian Stead]

Try and reseat your instrument cluster, it looks like the speed data is getting to the instrument cluster but isn't then being sent to Engine ECM. Is your engine light on? And what ECU does your scanner read the vehicle speed data from?

 

[nsaladin]

Try and reseat your instrument cluster, it looks like the speed data is getting to the instrument cluster but isn't then being sent to Engine ECM. Is your engine light on? And what ECU does your scanner read the vehicle speed data from?

By reseat do you mean the gauge cluster connector? I’m not entirely sure which ECU the scanner gets its speed from. My check engine light is on and throwing p0500 code

 

[Julian Stead]

Yes, the gauge cluster connector, they are a pain to get to sit correctly. Have you had it out recently for any reason?

 

[nsaladin]

Yes, the gauge cluster connector, they are a pain to get to sit correctly. Have you had it out recently for any reason?

Nope haven’t had it out for any reason.

 

[Julian Stead]

 

[Julian Stead]

Just make sure this is correct for your year

 

[Julian Stead]

You are interested in 2, this is the procedure on the last page. It is to test if the ECM is getting the vehicle speed data or not as your speedo is working.

 

[nsaladin]

You are interested in 2, this is the procedure on the last page. It is to test if the ECM is getting the vehicle speed data or not as your speedo is working.

Alright well I went ahead and tried to reseat the instrument cluster and make sure all connections at ECU were secure. Dont have access to a multimeter right now. Is there a way to visually inspect the wires between the ECU and instrument cluster? I would guess that there isn't without taking the whole dash off.

 

[Julian Stead]

No, It wouldn't really prove anything without the multimeter.

 

[nsaladin]

No, It wouldn't really prove anything without the multimeter.

Thought so, also not sure I mentioned in the OP, but the cruise control does not work when this code is present or right after I clear the code. Was working before

 

[Julian Stead]

The ECM needs the vehicle speed data to manage the cruise control.

 

[nsaladin]

The check engine light with P0500 also triggers the VSC TRAC VSC OFF lights as well. (Just thought I would include all available info for anyone reading this thread in the future)

 

[nsaladin]

I resolved this after fixing my fuel pump, I decided to pull the carpet to shampoo it and ended up removing the 3rd party DVD player, iPod hookup, power inverter, and all associated wiring all the way to the battery (it was all junk). Lo and behold, the check engine light thats been on for a year plus turned off and has been off for well over 150 miles and 10 starts.

I think it was the splice into a wire that was going into the ignition switch, Vehicle Speed Sensor A might not have been getting as much power as it should have.

 

[nsaladin]

 

[saucebox]

Over the weekend I got this same CEL, and the associated Christmas tree of lights. Thanks to this thread, and a couple of others, I found the issue. I'll add my steps for future searches. Mostly because searching P0500 without context leads one to think that the sensor is bad ($200), the cluster could be bad ($1000?), or it could be the wiring harness ($OMG).

Along with the CEL, the speedo was lifeless, and the P-N-D-etc. lights in the center of the cluster were out. The first thing I saw was of course @Julian Stead’s post with the FSM diagnostics.

First step: hard reset. I disconnected the battery, and left it for 30 minutes before reconnecting. I cleared the code with a scanner, then went for a drive. No dice, code came right back. But between disconnect and test drive, the sun set. When I left, I noticed my reverse lights didn’t work.

Well…they didn’t work because I did a hack job at adding a rear camera—I got lazy, and rather than doing it right, I just used the vampire taps that came with the camera. That caused a short that popped the fuse—the same fuse that controls tree lights and the speedometer. Without the speedometer, the cluster can’t send the right signal to the ECU, so….CEL. Mine was the 10A fuse on the passenger side. GUAGE2 I think.

Removed the camera wiring (at least until I can do it right), replaced the fuse—all is well again.

 

[MongooseGA]

My turn! Same issues today after a 12 hour trip. About a mile before getting off at my home exit, I lost cruise control. Speedo went dead. Odometer not counting. After a few minutes, the dash lights came on as everyone else has described. Cleared the codes with the SG, drove it around the block and no codes. No speedo or odo either. I just had resistors added to my LED tail lights. Guess I know where to start looking...

 

[saucebox]

My turn! Same issues today after a 12 hour trip. About a mile before getting off at my home exit, I lost cruise control. Speedo went dead. Odometer not counting. After a few minutes, the dash lights came on as everyone else has described. Cleared the codes with the SG, drove it around the block and no codes. No speedo or odo either. I just had resistors added to my LED tail lights. Guess I know where to start looking...

Well...damn. I've been meaning to ask you about the resistors. I have the same light that I'd like to get taken care of.

 

[MongooseGA]

Well...damn. I've been meaning to ask you about the resistors. I have the same light that I'd like to get taken care of.

Mine were just done by my indy last week.

Fun fact: you'll need to account for not only the brake lights, but also all of the bulbs that turn on when the headlights are on. My dash light returns with the headlights.

 

[saucebox]

Well, plan B I guess: remove the bulb. Dang.

Maybe I'll repurpose it for the locker, though I'm not even sure it's possible to "repurpose".