P0500 Code on '11 4Runner

[Crainbow]

Doing some highway driving and I got a check engine light, traction control light, and a flashing 4low light. The transmission seemed to be shifting oddly and poor engine performance. I took it to Autozone to get it scanned and it showed "P0500 - Vehicle Speed Sensor A"

I am assuming this is the VSS and not an ABS sensor, would that be correct?
Doing some research and I can find much info on 5th gen replacement of the VSS and it seemed that most people also reported that the speedometer was off and mine is not...

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[rigtec]

Doing some highway driving and I got a check engine light, traction control light, and a flashing 4low light. The transmission seemed to be shifting oddly and poor engine performance. I took it to Autozone to get it scanned and it showed "P0500 - Vehicle Speed Sensor A"

I am assuming this is the VSS and not an ABS sensor, would that be correct?
Doing some research and I can find much info on 5th gen replacement of the VSS and it seemed that most people also reported that the speedometer was off and mine is not...

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Crainbow,

You said:

"...I got a check engine light, traction control light, and a flashing 4low light..."

Because some of these trouble codes aren't related e.g., Check Engine light and 4Low..., I would do a "Master Reset" on the Main body ECU compu network 'BEFORE' I'd get freaked-out about it! What this does is return the factory firmware/software to it's factory default settings.

This inconvenience (which is what it amounts to), is like resetting a Windows O/S to it's original defaults; which deletes ALL temporary files, history logs, and corrupt software items stored in the Main body ECU (Electronic Control Unit), which has command over 26 or 27 other ecu's! I've had to do this more than a few times. Once this is done, you will need to reprogram your radio presets, and do a circle calibration on the compass!

It's really simple: you can either disconnect the negative battery cable from the battery, or, Pull the 10A IGN-1 ECU(B+) fuse from the main fusebox under the hood, and leave it without power for a Minimum of four hours; I usually do this after I'm done using the truck for the day, so it has plenty of time to discharge and delete bad files and software!

I think it's worth a shot being this problem is so very common! 'Best to you',

rig

 

[Crainbow]

Hi Crainbow,

You said:

Because some of these trouble codes aren't related e.g., Check Engine light and 4Low..., I would do a "Master Reset" on the Main body ECU compu network 'BEFORE' I'd get freaked-out about it! What this does is return the factory firmware/software to it's factory default settings.

This inconvenience (which is what it amounts to), is like resetting a Windows O/S to it's original defaults; which deletes ALL temporary files, history logs, and corrupt software items stored in the Main body ECU (Electronic Control Unit), which has command over 26 or 27 other ecu's! I've had to do this more a few times. Once this is done, you will need to reprogram your radio presets, and do a circle calibration on the compass!

It's really simple: you can either disconnect the negative battery cable from the battery, or, Pull the 10A IGN-1 ECU(B+) fuse from the main fusebox under the hood, and leave it without power for a Minimum of four hours; I usually do this after I'm done using the truck for the day, so it has plenty of time to discharge and delete bad files and software!

I think it's worth a shot being this problem is so very common! 'Best to you',

rig

I've done that before on other vehicle. Good place to start. Can you just turn on headlights or touch the positive to negative cable with battery removed to get rid of ECU charge and reset the computers? Save yourself the 4 hour wait or is there some module that issues a separate battery that could drain with that method?

If the code comes back, is this indicative of a VSS or an ABS sensor?

 

[rigtec]

I've done that before on other vehicle. Good place to start. Can you just turn on headlights or touch the positive to negative cable with battery removed to get rid of ECU charge and reset the computers? Save yourself the 4 hour wait or is there some module that issues a separate battery that could drain with that method?

If the code comes back, is this indicative of a VSS or an ABS sensor?

Hi Crainbow,

No, I seriously don't believe so; being that this is designed to assist the Toyota Techs to service the vehicles with 'NO RISK' of losing the customers radio preset data, then having to spend time to ask them... "what were your radio presets", or doing the "Compass circle calibration" on un-billable time; hence, no way around that without plugging in a "TechStream tool" and resetting!

rig, cheers!

 

[Crainbow]

Make sense.

Anyone know if this code indicates a VSS going bad or an ABS sensor?

I'm having terrible locating a VSS on this vehicle

 

[Crainbow]

Anyone know how to locate and replace the vehicle speed sensor on a 2011 Toyota 4Runner?

 

[rigtec]

Anyone know how to locate and replace the vehicle speed sensor on a 2011 Toyota 4Runner?

The Vehicle speed sensors are located at each wheel: "See below"



...and if you perform a "Master Reset" of the Main body ECU Compu Netwk, and the error code PO-500 comes back, you'll need to check the wiring 'FIRST', as these wires are extremely vulnerable to breakage/disconnection, usually resulting from brake work or other such modifications, so be sure to check all of these wires! 'Best',

rig, cheers!

 

[Crainbow]

So there is no singular, transmission mounted, vehicle speed sensor? It picks it up from all 4 ABS sensors?

 

[Crainbow]

Does anyone have a service manual or a write-up on how to replace the Vehicle Speed Sensor on a 2011 4Runner?

 

[Deep_palancar]

For the manuals and wiring diagrams see this post.

With only a P0500 it is not likely that there is an individual wheel sensor that is bad. If that were so there would also be a DTC pointing to the bad wheel.

There are transmission sensors also named VSS. These transmission sensors are only used for transmission shift logic on these trucks. Don't be misled by some of the internet stuff which points you to these, the transmission sensors for speed input went away in '09 or so.

The manuals (html ones) provide very detailed diagnostics for the VSS (P0500 type). You will have to have an oscilloscope to really tell whats going on.

Before you start throwing parts at it get yourself a copy Techstream and a decent Mini VCI J2534 cable, the repair manual, see if you can isolate the problem.

If you have the radio with NAV it would be a clue if Nav does not track well and it lets you input while moving. ie., it thinks you are not.

To get a P0500 only, the suspect part will be the combination meter (Toyoese for speedometer cluster). I've seen it on FJ Cruisers and several Tacomas. There are reports of people just unplugging and cleaning the connectors on the back of the speedo cluster and 'fixing' the problem.

If that's all just too much, I'd get a salvage cluster for about $150 and see what it does.

 

[Crainbow]

Using a snap-on scanner I was able to isolate it as the vehicle speed sensor and not anything anti-lock related (wheel sensor). I just can't seem to find any info on how to replace this sensor.

The speedometer is not having any issues reporting speed and function tests show it's functioning normally.

 

[Crainbow]

So starting to have issues again. The radio is changing volume on its own and the car won't turn off (push to start).

It's a long shot but I feel that those could both be failing speed sensor related.... Would that be accurate?

Anyone out there know how to replace the vehicle speed sensor on a 2011 4Runner?

 

[nismo.hanson]

Bringing back an old thread, but didn't see a resolution to this issue with a working speedo. It seems most of the time this code is accompanied by a dead cluster speedo.

Crainbow, any luck getting your P0500 code to stay away?

I have a '12 Trail and its complaining in a very similar way. The OBDII speedo works for a few miles after a reset, then the code comes back and the OBDII speedo is dead. But the cluster speedo is 100%.