I believe the speedometer goes off the VSS, and other system use the ABS. the only issue is that if it is an individual sensor it should be showing a specific code. The easiest diagnosis would be to see which sensors are actually giving a reading while youre driving but you need a pretty good scanner for that. Did the problem start only as the P0500 came on?

Lift also runs off ABS but I didn't know the 2008 matrix had an XRS trim level. Is the ABS light on as well?

 

I believe the speedometer goes off the VSS, and other system use the ABS. the only issue is that if it is an individual sensor it should be showing a specific code. The easiest diagnosis would be to see which sensors are actually giving a reading while youre driving but you need a pretty good scanner for that. Did the problem start only as the P0500 came on?

Lift also runs off ABS but I didn't know the 2008 matrix had an XRS trim level. Is the ABS light on as well?

Correction: 2008 Matrix XR, 5 speed.
That's the weird thing about the speedo still working with the DTC P0500. (Vehicle speed sensor A malfunction)
ABS light is off. CEL is on.

This 5 speed has no VSS in the tranny.
The mounting hole for the VSS is blanked off.
So, do you think the ABS wheel speed sensor is also the VSS in this particular 5 speed Matrix?

Not sure when the P0500 and cruise malfunction happened.
She does not use the cruise control.
I just noticed it when I drove the car home.


What's a reasonably priced code reader with ABS?

 

Welcome, back to Toyota nation. I have a Launch crp123 scan tool. Check it out. It’s reasonable priced and does abs codes.

 

That changes things. If your VSS hole is blanked off then it uses ABS to determine speed which is strange. In that case the ABS light should illuminate if there's a failed sensor. If it's not then you don't need to worry about an ABS code reader.

 

Yes, no ABS fault, just DTC P0500.
I reset the trouble code after cleaning the front sensors and holes. I pumped some grease in the bearings and cleaned the reluctor wheel of excess grease. CEL came back on after driving about 6 miles.


So which sensor sets off the P0500?
Front driver or front passenger?

 

It would be hard to tell without seeing the read outs of all four sensors. Did cruise control work before the CEL came back on? And you have 4 sensors, one at each wheel.

Can you visually confirm all four ABS tone rings are undamaged?

 

Hardtopte, there was no VSS in the tranny. That section is blocked off.
Is your picture is taken from below?

I will take a pic. How do I attach a picture?

 

Ok. It's just a drag and drop method. I will take a pic of the 5 speed transmission differential section that shows the VSS hole is blocked off.

 

Here is a pic of the differential section of the 5 speed transmission.
This view is from the top between the firewall and engine.

You can see the mounting hole for the VSS is blocked off.


So I think the speed sensor is in one of the ABS wheel sensors.
Anybody can share the ABS diagram for a 2008 Matrix XR 5 speed?

 

I decided to work on the cruise control until I can find some info on the vehicle speed sensor.


I manage to pull the brake pedal switch today.
The switch has two sets of contacts.
One set of bigger male spade connectors I believe are for the brake lights.
A second set of smaller male spade connectors I assume is for the cruise cancel switch.


The brake contacts were good. It open and close based on digital meter test.
The cruise contacts were flaky. Resistance readings were all over the place.
It has very high resistance when normally closed position and resistance was jumping when the switch is pushed in.
I will get one from Advance and hope it works.

 

Advance auto has an aftermarket cheap replacement brake switch.
Intermotor made in China, $13.24 after 25% discount. I will try it just for troubleshooting the cruise.
If it fixes the c

ruise, I'm happy, I'll just drive it for a while and get a genuine Toyota par later.

 

I believe the sensors stick inside the hub of each wheel. I'm not really sure on that though as I've never seen a ninth gen with ABS.

 

With a new stoplight switch on the brake pedal, cruise control still not functional.
At least one item off the list.


I will move on to the front wheel sensors next.
I plan to buy one front wheel ABS sensor and use this one to test both front sensors.
If fronts are good, I will buy one new wheel sensor to test the rear one at a time.



Rockauto has one for the front at $87, Beck/Arnley.
Rear is $67.79.


Hopefully this solve the cruise control issue and clear the P0500 trouble code.

 

The tone rings can also cause problems if the teeth are messed up but usually if that's the case ABS will just turn on randomly every time it gets to the messed up spot. On some Toyota's it's a magnetic ring but I believe the corollas and matrixs use a tone ring on the CV axle.

 

Thanks for the tip. If you are talking about the toothed reluctor wheel in the front axle, yes I already inspected both sides and they were good and cleaned the sensors of iron filings.


I went to a friendly nearby Toyota dealership and gave them the vin # and inquired about the availability of the vehicle speed sensor.
The parts guy said that I dont have a speed sensor in the transmission. The system showed two front wheel sensors. And they were $280 a piece.


Armed with that information, I went ahead and bought one wheel sensor from Rockauto for $87. I should be able to test each side one at a time using the new sensor and hopefully find out which one is being used as a speed sensor and which one is bad.

 

Honestly I don't agree with throwing parts at problems but in this instance, without the use of techstream, it is a pretty good start. I know select C59 did not cone with VSS as the vehicles that they were installed in had ABS which is more accurate in determining a vehicles true speed is comparison to a single gear mated to a drive gear such as a VSS. im still surprised a failed wheels speed sensor would not activate the ABS light. Please update use when you get a chance.

 

I am getting tempted to get a code reader with ABS feature, but they are at least $300.


Yes, I still cannot get it why there is no ABS fault and speedometer is working. Only thing ON is CEL with a trouble code P0500 and cruise control is not functional.


I also found out that the 2008 Pontiac Vibe AC Delco ABS wheel sensors are way cheaper.
Front passenger is $65, and front driver side is $33.
Are they the same?

 

The difference in price is likely the length of cable though I could be wrong. As far as price of sensors, it could be the brands. One is AC Delco which is OEM for GM vehicles such as the vibe and the other could be Denso though I'm not sure they ever made ABS sensors. Also the plugs could be different. I'm not very familiar with the ABS systems on the 9th gen because like I said, I have never actually seen one in person.

The best scanner is techstream. It'll tell you everything you need to know. I did have one that I purchased used and it was excellent.

 

CorollaCharlie, can you share the model and how much did you pay for it?
Is this software base and OBD2 cable?


Will this work?


Thank you.

 

I've seen people using that but I purchased something called an AllScanner way back in 2014. It came with version 7 of techstream I believe and had a big dongle to communicate between the car and computer. I'll try to find an example if it.

 

ABS wheel sensor from Rockauto came in today.
It is a Beck/Arnley ABS wheel sensor. $87. Toyota sensor from the dealer is $280.



I immediately replaced the one on the driver side.
The trouble description was P0500, " Vehicle speed sensor A malfunction".
Cleared the code and drove it for about 6 miles.
CEL still off. Cruise control however is still not functional.



I will drive it again tomorrow and give an update.

 

That sucks. So it doesn't work even with the CEL off. So it's possible that they are totally unrelated.

 

Yeah, I thought the P0500 trouble code was also causing the cruise not to work.
Possibly unrelated. I already replaced the brake switch.
Where is the cruise control brain? I may need to do some voltage tests.



Anybody has a cruise control schematics?

 

On vehicules with ABS, the vehicle speed sensor is integrated in the abs/skid control ECU (abs module/pump).

Your brake switch was good, if not, there would have been some brake switch codes.

Don’t replace ABS sensors. You will loose your time and money since you don’t have codes for ABS sensor. Your ABS module is faulty, or you have some problems in your wiring harness.


Envoyé de mon iPad en utilisant Tapatalk

 

If the ABS module was faulty there would be a code lol. Cruise control is through the ECU since you have drive by wire. Has the code come back?

 

It will not show a code "P0XXX - ABS Module Faulty". The internal of the ABS module is more complex than that.

Did you scan for ABS codes? Even without the light on, it is possible that there are some codes.

 

Another question... Is the Cruise control light flashing? Do the A/C work? If no, check the attached file.

 

Thanks.

When I turn ON the cruise, it lights up and is solid green "Cruise". But not functional.

A/C works,
Speedo works.
Tach works.
All instruments work.

CEL on: P0500, Vehicle speed sensor A malfunction

ABS light is off.

 

Such a strange combination. Dubs is correct, sometimes there are ABS codes that do not show up, but you can see them on techstream. I doubt the ABS unit is faulty though. The ECU knows you're pressing the button but it's acting like it's unable to set a speed yet the ECU knows how fast the car is going as the speedometer works. I would purchase that techstream to be honest. That would be the best diagnostic tool you could have. It'll show you the speed of each wheel, what the ECU is seeing from the cruise switch, etc.

 

I was reading the reviews on that techstream obd2 cable and software cd.
It has a lot of issues. I think it is a bootleg copy.


I will try to save up for an ACTRON with OBD2 and ABS capability.

 

According to Toyota, on a manual transmission model with ABS and a working combination meter speed signal (i.e. speedometer is working), you need to check the ECM for speed signal input. If input is there, the ECM is bad. If no input is there, the wiring between the ABS module and ECM has a problem.

If the speedometer is working, the speed sensor is good.

I have the repair document for a 2005, complete with ECM terminals, but I'm not 100% sure they are the same for your 2008.

Send me a PM and I'll get you what I have.

 

According to Toyota, on a manual transmission model with ABS and a working combination meter speed signal (i.e. speedometer is working), you need to check the ECM for speed signal input. If input is there, the ECM is bad. If no input is there, the wiring between the ABS module and ECM has a problem.

If the speedometer is working, the speed sensor is good.

I have the repair document for a 2005, complete with ECM terminals, but I'm not 100% sure they are the same for your 2008.

Send me a PM and I'll get you what I have.

Thank you Hardtopte72 for the ECM pinout for a 2005 Matrix. I hope it's similar to the 2008.
I just got back in town from a long trip. I will dig into the ECM connectors tomorrow and check if they are similar.


Now I understand why the speedo works based on your documentation.
The wheel sensor signal goes to the ABS module first, then to the combination meter then to the ECU.
The speedo works so the wheel sensor is sending the signal for the speedometer but it is not getting to the ECU thus, the P0500 fault and no cruise control.


Here is the diagram.

 

Well, I started to look at the ECM connectors under the glove box.
I can't tell which one on the E5 connector is terminal 17.
Anybody care to pin point E5-17 (+) speed signal?