P0501 means Vehicle Speed Sensor A Range/Performance. The vehicle speed signal does not make sense compared with other information such as engine speed and gear. It is a generic OBD-II code, so the definition is the same on any make, but the most likely cause varies by engine; confirm with a scan tool and the service information for your vehicle before buying parts.
What P0501 means
Most engine sensors receive a 5-volt reference and return a signal between roughly 0 and 5 volts. Codes ending in circuit high or circuit low usually point to an electrical fault: an open circuit, a short or an unplugged connector. Range/performance codes mean a signal is present but disagrees with what the computer expects from the other sensors, which more often points to a dirty sensor, an air leak or a mechanical problem.
P0501 symptoms
- Erratic or dead speedometer
- Erratic shifting
- Cruise control or ABS lights on some vehicles
Common causes of P0501
- Failing speed sensor
- Damaged wiring or connector
- Wrong tire size or gear ratio programmed
- Faulty instrument cluster on some vehicles
How to diagnose P0501
- Compare the speed reading with GPS speed
- Inspect the sensor and wiring
- Check whether the vehicle uses a wheel speed sensor for vehicle speed
Can you drive with P0501?
Yes, carefully, but the speedometer may be wrong.
P0501 tips
If tires much larger or smaller than stock were fitted without reprogramming, the speed reading will disagree with other data and can set this code.
Will P0501 clear itself?
If the fault stops, the computer turns off the check engine light by itself after several drive cycles without seeing it again, and the code stays in memory as history for a while. Clearing P0501 with a scan tool after a repair is fine, but if the cause is still there the code returns, sometimes within one drive. Disconnecting the battery also clears codes on most vehicles, but it erases learned fuel trims and idle settings as well.
Related codes
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| P0500 | Vehicle Speed Sensor A Malfunction |
| P0720 | Output Speed Sensor Circuit |
| P0503 | Vehicle Speed Sensor A Intermittent/Erratic/High |
Guides that help
When it is more than a sensor
Sensor codes are usually fixed with a sensor, a connector, wiring or a leak repair rather than major parts. If testing turns up internal engine trouble instead, see how to tell if an engine is blown and compare engines by code on our engines page.
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