OBD Guide

P0501

Vehicle Speed Sensor A Circuit Range/Performance

Severity
⚠️ Medium
Can you drive?
Do not drive — repair immediately
Approx. repair cost
$22–111 (est.)

Symptoms

  • Check Engine Light Is On
  • Incorrect or absent speedometer readings
  • Incorrect operation of the automatic transmission
  • Cruise control failure
  • Possible activation of the ABS signal

Causes

  • Faulty Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS)
  • The sensor is contaminated with metal shavings or dirt
  • Damage to the ring gear (tone ring)
  • Open or short circuit in the sensor circuit
  • Oxidation of the sensor connector
  • Malfunction of the ECU or ABS unit

How to Fix

  1. Read error codes and check for associated ABS codes
  2. Find speed sensor A (usually on the gearbox or gearbox) according to the diagram
  3. Inspect the sensor and its connector for damage and contamination
  4. Clean the sensor and tone ring from dirt and metal shavings
  5. Check the gap between the sensor and the ring gear
  6. Measure the sensor resistance and signal voltage with a multimeter
  7. Replace the sensor if the parameters do not correspond to the norm
  8. Reset the error and check the readings on a test drive

Related codes

Error P0501 by Vehicle Brand