p0500 code

[budsang1]

Hi, i believe this is my first post, i've used the forum in the past to search out problems with my wifes car.

it is a 99 Toyota Solara. Lately it has had problems, the trouble code is p0500. From my searching it sounds like I may need to replace the the vehicle speed sensor, but they aren't cheap, so I want to get your input on the problem.

When it occurs almost everything stops working, all the gauges, no speedo, no tach, no odometer, the heat stops working as well. The radio and clock are the only thing that keep working. Turn signal indicators stop working, but i'm not sure if the actual blinking lights out side the car stop or not. Whenever this happens if you stop and just shut the car off and turn it back on the problem goes away.

On a 150 mile trip it might happen once or twice.

What are your thoughts? Definitely the speed sensor or possibly something else?

[LynchburgCSI]

to posting on TN!

I can't really help on this one but... My thoughts: Why would a bad speed sensor cause everything you listed to not work? Rhetorical question. Pretty sure that an avalon that I occasionally work on threw a p0500 a few years back. And all that did was cause the speedo not to work. Hmmm. I'll be interested to see what the solution is though!

[Lash70]

Originally Posted by budsang1

it is a 99 Toyota Solara. Lately it has had problems, the trouble code is p0500. From my searching it sounds like I may need to replace the the vehicle speed sensor, but they aren't cheap, so I want to get your input on the problem.

What are your thoughts? Definitely the speed sensor or possibly something else?

You are definitely in the right ball park. If you took the vehicle in to autozone to have the code checked with their generic OBD-II scanners, then don't do anything, take it to a dealer and have them check the past and pending codes, because the P0500 code might be a "blocker code" meaning it blocks all other codes from appearing because since it did not respond to the computer when you turned the car on, the computer stopped it's scan to make sure all other components are functioning properly. It will most likely have another P05xx code other than just the P0500 code.

Basically, just don't waste money by throwing parts at it.

[budsang1]

yeah, that's what i'm trying to avoid, throwing parts into it...i might check the dealer, see how much they charge. I was using a cheapo scanner i bought from harbor freight, so I imagine it's garbage

[fenixus]

top off the transmission fluid if it's low on HOT car. I had this code when fluid level was at LOW, not sure why it got there in first place, but that was before I boought the car. I myself tend to rather overfill it on refills LOL

otherwise it might be a Vehicle Speed Sensor sitting on top of the differential housing. sensor itself may be going bad, as it carries some plastic teeth that may get broken off (especially if ATF was low for a long time).

another option, especially if tachometer doesn't work correctly is to check wiring.

...but since you have multiple electrical issues when P0500 happens, I would pay special attention to fuses, relays and wiring in general, some ground point servicing this area may be going bad (rusty, too high resistance).

so check your ground points first:
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/sh....php?p=3230226

[budsang1]

wiring looks ok to me, but I didn't cut the loom off to inspect it further.
I will check the fluid

Also,
I assumed this was unrelated, but maybe not...on my old nissan it pointed towards the alternator going bad, but she hasn't had any issues, but the parking brake light will light up and remain on while driving, it is on most of the time

[jhummel]

Originally Posted by fenixus

top off the transmission fluid if it's low on HOT car. I had this code when fluid level was at LOW, not sure why it got there in first place, but that was before I boought the car. I myself tend to rather overfill it on refills LOL

otherwise it might be a Vehicle Speed Sensor sitting on top of the differential housing. sensor itself may be going bad, as it carries some plastic teeth that may get broken off (especially if ATF was low for a long time).

another option, especially if tachometer doesn't work correctly is to check wiring.

...but since you have multiple electrical issues when P0500 happens, I would pay special attention to fuses, relays and wiring in general, some ground point servicing this area may be going bad (rusty, too high resistance).

so check your ground points first:
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/sh....php?p=3230226

[jhummel]

Let's try that again ...
I had a similar issue with P0500 code on a 2000 Avalon. I had a water leak in the A pillar that dripped rainwater on the wiring harness. It was hard to diagnose because it didn't happen every time it rained, and once it dried out the problems went away. Depending on how much water got in, I had problems with a variety of systems ranging from ABS VSS headlights heater/ac speedometer etc... The car would always start and idle, but if enough water got in it would stall when auxiliary systems were turned on or when I tried to drive forward or reverse. If you have unexplained electrical problems with what appears to be unrelated systems, you might want to consider this ... Toyota put out a TSB for this water leaking problem on some models, but they never tied it to all these electrical gremlins. It wouldn't surprise me if some of the cases of unintended acceleration were caused by water induced electrical shorts.