Speedometer/Odometer Not Working + Related Warning Lights (P0500)

[skcolb]

Edit: For anybody reading this in the future, this specific problem and solution applies to 2001 and 2002 4Runners and is resolved by replacing the ABS/TRC/VSC module (P/N 89540-35270). Read below and this post for more details.

Sorry for the wordy post, writing this up to both consult the 3rd Gen Brain Trust and also record the troubleshooting and hopefully resolution of this problem.

This afternoon I was driving up to central California at freeway speeds (65-70mph) when all of a sudden I heard a click sound, the speedometer went to 0, and a bunch of warning lights came on. (None were on before this.)

• (!) BRAKE
• VSC OFF
• VSC TRAC
• ABS

I still had full control of the throttle so I drove in the slow lane to the next exit to try to figure out what was going on. During that short drive I noticed that the odometer was no longer working, which got me thinking that this was a wheel speed sensor issue....

Once parked, I tried the simplest fix (off and on), no dice. Looked at all the fuses in the driver footwell and the relevant ones in the hood box, all good. The Owner's Manual didn't have anything useful to say except of course to contact the dealer. Eventually I reasoned that it was safe for both the vehicle and me to continue, and to just be mindful that I didn't have ABS.

After taking off, the Check Engine light also came on after a mile or so.

On the way back, I noticed a couple times (could have happened more times unnoticed) that the slip indicator light to the left of the coolant temperature gauge flashed on, accompanied by a brief jump of the speedometer needle. It made it to maybe 20mph and the whole event was less than a second. No action from the throttle or brakes, and no buzzer noise.

Anyway I made it to where I was going and read the codes out. The code is P0500 which is "Vehicle Speed Sensor Malfunction." I'm starting to dig through forum topics and the Factory Service Manual and it looks like I'm in for a fun holiday weekend. :dance:

The symptoms are almost identical to this posting on ToyotaNation which sounds like an expensive replacement job. Yikes.
Speedometer and Odometer not working - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Collection of other relevant links:
02 ckengine, brake, abs, vsc trac indicators on - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/158954-please-help-quick-p0500-code-question.html
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/106753-another-p0500-issue.html
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/146104-p0500-cant-clear-code.html
Cel p0500 - YotaTech Forums
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/153257-speedometer-odometer-not-working.html
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/probl...ts-zero-point-calibration-10.html#post1864894
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...s-replace-their-skid-control-modules-yet.html
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/172601-abs-trc-vsc-control-module-89540-35270-a.html
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/179640-vsc-off-vtc-off-abs-brake-lights-all.html

Attached pic is of the instrument panel after I got home. Hit the cruise button because hey, it's Christmas gotta turn on all the lights.

 

[Doc2012]

I know people on here have wired switches into the 4Runner that has allowed them to disable the ABS and VSC.

Maybe instead of having to get the ECU, you can try that?

I'll see if I can find the thread, though it won't be soon, probably sometime tonight.

When I got rid of my ABS('99), I had to incorporate a Tacoma speed sensor, as well as a Dakota Digital SGI-5.

That will bring your speedo back, but not the ABS, VSC, or any thing like that.

 

[4RunnerLifer]

I had a similar thing happen when I unplugged the Bcm(?) the one on the pass side kick panel.

When it was unplugged my lights lit up and the speedometer stopped functioning.

 

[skcolb]

Edit: This post is just my one of my troubleshooting steps and didn't lead to a solution.

I pulled out the glove compartment and plastic panel behind it to get to the ECM underneath the passenger airbag. I actually skipped a step in the P0500 troubleshooting guide, but this was way easier to get to.

Jacked up the right rear wheel so it could spin freely in neutral, turned the ignition ON.

I measured voltage on the SP1 terminal of the E12 connector on the ECM against body ground, when it was both connected and disconnected. This signal is supposed to go from 0 to 4-6V when the wheel is spinning. It stayed at 4.6V constant regardless of the wheel position.

So I guess it's removal of the instrument panel next to get to the combination meter behind it for the speedometer and harness checkout....

 

[skcolb]

Edit: This post is just my one of my troubleshooting steps and didn't lead to a solution.

I checked out the harness to the combination meter (connector C28 pin 3) and it was fine, as evidenced by the 5V pullup from the ECM being present.

Next up I looked at the ABS/VSC unit mounted on the left side of the driver footwell. It is supposed to collect the pulses from the 4 wheel sensors and feed the combination meter with a single pulse line (which then feeds the ECM).

I measured 9.9V steady on SP1 (connector V18, pin 16) with the left rear wheel jacked up and being spun slowly.

I then put the multimeter between RL+ (connector V19, pin 20) and RL- (connector V19, pin 21) which should go directly to the wheel sensor. It seems to be centered on 25mV and I saw some fluctuations of ~10mV when the wheel was being spun. Anybody know what voltage levels the wheels sensors put out? Is this a normal reading?

Edit: Looked into this closer and because these are analog sensors, the voltage is speed-dependent. So my low readings are probably okay. Really wish I had an oscilloscope with me. Re-read the second thread I posted in the OP and also the attached.

 

[bamascooter]

Same issue

My son just purchased a 2001 4Runner that has the same issues with exception of the !Brake light which is not lit. Car history report is pretty clean, showing one apparently minor wreck in 2005. The last recorded/reported mileage was 183,000, in 2010. It was sold twice since then and mileage was not reported (exempt). The odometer is now showing just over 48,000 miles. Current owner said there was some electrical problem, perhaps associated with a brake caliper failure, which caused the lights to go on and the odometer to go to "zero".

Sounds like the ABS module may be the culprit, perhaps combined with a bad instrument cluster. But, that's just a guess based on the other links.

We plan to pick it up on Monday, at which time the diagnostics will begin. Very appreciative of finding this thread and hope I can contribute, but hoping even more that you post a solution before then.... Will report back with my findings.

 

[skcolb]

My son just purchased a 2001 4Runner that has the same issues with exception of the !Brake light which is not lit. Car history report is pretty clean, showing one apparently minor wreck in 2005. The last recorded/reported mileage was 183,000, in 2010. It was sold twice since then and mileage was not reported (exempt). The odometer is now showing just over 48,000 miles. Current owner said there was some electrical problem, perhaps associated with a brake caliper failure, which caused the lights to go on and the odometer to go to "zero".

Sounds like the ABS module may be the culprit, perhaps combined with a bad instrument cluster. But, that's just a guess based on the other links.

We plan to pick it up on Monday, at which time the diagnostics will begin. Very appreciative of finding this thread and hope I can contribute, but hoping even more that you post a solution before then.... Will report back with my findings.

Hey, didn't see your post until now. I've pretty much decided that the ABS/VSC module is bad like you say. The signals in to the ABS/VSC module are good (analog wheel sensors) but the signal going out to the ECU and speedometer are bad. I don't think that the instrument cluster is bad -- I think it was replaced unnecessarily in one of those linked threads.

However I'm still trying to find a replacement part out of an '01 or '02 (89540-35270). The ones on eBay are too expensive for me right now. I'll update when I get one and install it. Hopefully that will fix it, and then I'm going to crack open the old module to see if there's anything obviously wrong.

Curious to hear how things turned out with your son's 4Runner. Maybe the brake light is burned out? As far as I can tell, the mileage in the digital odometer on the newer 3rd gen 4Runners is stored in the ECU module behind the glove compartment, so that would have had to have been replaced or tampered with in order to read different now.

 

[afg10000]

Had the same issue after an unfortunate incident with a evil mud pit. Don't know if this will work for ya. The VSS had actually came loose when I was getting pulled out of the pit. All we did was clear the mud and sand away from the VSS plug on top of the tranny and re-seat it. Fixed. At least give it a look see.

 

[skcolb]

Finally scored a ABS/TRC/VSC module (P/N 89540-35270) on eBay for a decent price ($119 shipped). It was from a rollover and had some surface rust, see below. For anybody looking for these, on junkyard search engines they are listed as "Computer Box Not Engine" and go for around $200-300. On eBay the Buy It Now listings are usually $240-300.

Bolted it in and hooked up all the harnessing, and all the lights went off except Check Engine, VSC OFF, and VSC TRAC. Drove it around the block to confirm that the speedometer and odometer were working again. I then used my OBDLink MX and my phone to clear the codes, and all the lights were off. I was a little surprised that the VSC lights went off because I thought I might have to recalibrate the vehicle yaw sensor with this new module, but apparently not.

Anyway, figured I'd update this with the resolution for anybody who has this issue in the future. I might tear open the old module later to see if I can figure out what went bad with it.

 

[mikew159]

Thanks for the post I have a 2002 4 runner had exact problem replaced computer all well now


Thanks

 

[stir_fry_boy]

P0500 codes are very difficult to fix. Glad you got yours resolved.

 

[BulletBarry]

I have this same issue -- Speedo and odo suddenly stopped working. Two different shops got the P0500 code.

I see the post at the top stating "this problem only applies to 2001 and 2002 4Runners and is resolved by replacing the ABS/TRC/VSC module (P/N 89540-35270)." Two issues with that; a) can that really always be the solution? and b) the module P/N on my 2001 4Runner is 89666-35410.

I've tried many of the diagnostic/solutions in this forum and others. 1) checked fuses, 2) replaced VSS - made no difference, 3) pulled reconnected all instrument cluster connectors, 4) followed directions to test pin 6 on E14 of ECM -- with connector on I get ~4.6v constant and with connector E14 off I get 0.0v, both while rotating rear wheel and therefore driveshaft.

Any more ideas here? I appreciate any suggestions or helpful comments.

Also, is there any danger in swapping out my ECM with one from a similar 2001 or 2002 4Runner?

 

[skcolb]

I have this same issue -- Speedo and odo suddenly stopped working. Two different shops got the P0500 code.

I see the post at the top stating "this problem only applies to 2001 and 2002 4Runners and is resolved by replacing the ABS/TRC/VSC module (P/N 89540-35270)." Two issues with that; a) can that really always be the solution? and b) the module P/N on my 2001 4Runner is 89666-35410.

I've tried many of the diagnostic/solutions in this forum and others. 1) checked fuses, 2) replaced VSS - made no difference, 3) pulled reconnected all instrument cluster connectors, 4) followed directions to test pin 6 on E14 of ECM -- with connector on I get ~4.6v constant and with connector E14 off I get 0.0v, both while rotating rear wheel and therefore driveshaft.

Any more ideas here? I appreciate any suggestions or helpful comments.

Also, is there any danger in swapping out my ECM with one from a similar 2001 or 2002 4Runner?

a) I can't say that it's always the solution, but when I experienced this issue, all the research I did pointed to that being the solution.
b) Are you sure that's your ABS/TRC/TRAC module? I'm showing that P/N as the ECU/ECM. The ABS module is by the driver left foot.

If I remember correctly, I never proved to myself with certainty that this module had gone bad before replacing it, but given others' experiences, I convinced myself that replacing it would probably fix it. Hopefully you can purchase a module at a reasonable cost.

 

[BulletBarry]

b) Are you sure that's your ABS/TRC/TRAC module? I'm showing that P/N as the ECU/ECM. The ABS module is by the driver left foot.

You are correct skcolb -- that is my ECU/ECM, behind the glove box. Now I know where the ABS/TRC/TRAC module is. I'm still learning about this issue.

 

[BulletBarry]

I took the 4Runner to a shop nearby that has a reputation for solving difficult electronic glitches. After comprehensive testing, they concluded I do have a bad ABS/TRC/VSC module (P/N 89540-35270). As there were none to be sourced locally at a reasonable price, I ordered one off ebay. Should be here in a few days.

Is there any special procedure for getting the system running correctly after installing the replacement module?

 

[skcolb]

Is there any special procedure for getting the system running correctly after installing the replacement module?

Not that I know of. All I had to do was clear the code after replacing the module and everything was back to normal.

 

[BulletBarry]

Thanks. I hope it works like that for me, too.

 

[BulletBarry]

I was not willing to replace the module, which costs $1600 or more at the dealer, without more confidence that was the problem. I took it to a local shop that has a good reputation for diagnosing this kind of problem.

They concluded that the ABS TRC VSC Module was indeed defective. I ordered one from United Parts Wholesale through eBay for $246. Upon putting in the “new” module, my speedo and odo began to work, but the TRC, VSC and Check Engine Light remained on. After about 6 miles and a few restarts, all warning lights went out. The technician was not sure if a calibration procedure would be needed or not. None was needed, just a little driving and a few restarts and all is well.

Happy ending, without spending an exorbitant amount.

 

[skcolb]

I was not willing to replace the module, which costs $1600 or more at the dealer, without more confidence that was the problem. I took it to a local shop that has a good reputation for diagnosing this kind of problem.

They concluded that the ABS TRC VSC Module was indeed defective. I ordered one from United Parts Wholesale through eBay for $246. Upon putting in the “new” module, my speedo and odo began to work, but the TRC, VSC and Check Engine Light remained on. After about 6 miles and a few restarts, all warning lights went out. The technician was not sure if a calibration procedure would be needed or not. None was needed, just a little driving and a few restarts and all is well.

Happy ending, without spending an exorbitant amount.

Yeah, the dealer cost for that module is ridiculous! Glad you were able to find a used one and that the replacement worked out.

 

[yadusky]

Module Replacement Worked for Me, too.

Same symptoms (lights/traction control offline).
Various short term outages over several years, all related to high-slippage driving in 4wd-high.
Ordered a salvage part for $200 on eBay...plug and play outside of the gymnastics of ratcheting a bolt off and on when it's about a foot north of the hood latch lever.
All systems good. Nothing miraculous. Haven't done any high-slippage 4-wheel driving, since...fingers crossed.
Thanks for all of the prior posts and comments.
Viva la 4Runner!