2016 Tacoma P0500 Nightmare

… hello everyone.

First off, I have done endless research on this and haven’t found an answer.

I bought my taco at 40k miles in late April and within a week I decided to swap out the factory stereo. After doing so, I decided to go for a drive and noticed the check engine light came on.

P0500 (VSS) Vehicle Speed Sensor A

Although it called for the VSS. There was no performance issues whatsoever. My speedometer worked fine.

only issues that rose was my traction control stayed off until I reached 30 mph and my cruise control deactivated.

Here’s where it gets interesting.

i dropped the truck off Toyota. They had it all day today. After about 4 hours I asked for an update and they told me their foreman was on the phone with Toyota trying to figure it out. Soon after, my advisor came to me and tried telling me that my aftermarket grill lights that I had hooked up piggybacking off a fuse, was the culprit.

However, I’ve had the code for about 2 months, and I JUST installed the aftermarket grill and lights a week ago.

When I told the advisor there was no was no way it was the lights, it’s as if I re opened a cold case that was considered closed lol.

This code seems to be a nightmare for anyone who gets it. I will update if Toyota finds a solution.!

*** if anyone has any suggestions please feel free to comment

 

Guess which two circuits are related? Something may have shorted during the radio swap.

 

Just received a call from toyota.

They quoted me $2,100 to replace the ECU.

I dont have the funds to do all that. although i believe replacing the cluster might do the trick.

My confidence with toyota dropped when they tried pointing fingers to my aftermarket lights.

Im going to order a new cluster from taninautoelectronix.com and hope that it does that trick.

 

Did you unplug the battery during the radio swap?

 

So...it worked just fine until you changed things around. Now you refuse to change them back to eliminate that as a viable suspect as the cause. Okay, now we get it!

 

I should have mentioned that i actually put everything back together when i first got the code but it stayed.

 

I should have mentioned that i actually didnt when i did the swap.

 

Sucks but this is on you. Clearly something happened when you installed the radio. Toyota is weird that the ground controls turning a lot of things on and off. So all of those wires in the back of the radio were still hot even though you had the key off. Most cars cut the power to the positive to turn things off. This is why its important to disconnect the battery.

 

Ya i think this one is just on you.... toyota is not responsible if you damage your stuff. ALWAYS unplug the battery when doing electrical on a modern car the computers are very sensitive.

 

Couldnt be anymore straight forward my friend.

Although i see it as a learning experience and im excited to fix it myself. i just need to figure out how.

My two theories are the ECU and/or Cluster

 

The PDF the shirttucker posted above is going to be your best bet. Follow it to a T. I think you should read it a few times and get vary familiar with it before you pick your truck up. When you go to pick your truck up try to talk to the tech and see if he followed it. If he did it should give you a head start on your trouble shooting. Good luck.

 

Dude.

 

brah

 

Being the nice, caring, sympathetic guy that I am.... I am willing to take that truck of yours off your hands. I'll buy it from you, but since you went and fried the ECU I'm gonna need a $15k discount on it. Final offer!

 

Yeah no chance man lol nice try though

 

UPDATE July 28

I managed to replace the ECU myself.

After installing and reprogramming the new ECU, I took a test drive and the Codes re appeared within a minute of driving down the street.

I had a feeling toyota was wrong with their diagnose. I have a feeling it may be the cluster.

 

Attached is the troubleshooting steps for your P0500 (P050031) per the repair manual. Based on the documentation, it doesn't appear to be a challenging issue to troubleshoot.

I have also attached the electrical wiring diagram for the combination meter and ECM.

I do want to note that the pin leaving the combination meter to the ECM is the one in the corner (Pin 40). It's entirely possible that the C9 connector isn't fully seated therefore you're getting an error, I've seen it before.

 

UPDATE October 20, 2022

So after all, the Cluster was replaced and P0500 has been resolved with my cruise control retained and everything back to normal!

I bought a new cluster from www.teamequip.com.

Now my only issue is getting the Miles programmed into my new cluster. Toyota says i have to leave my truck with them while the new cluster gets sent to the their main warehouse to get programmed and returned to install. Looking at a 2 week period so im looking for other solutions before i decide to give toyota more money.

 

Good luck man. Finally somebody owned it so good on you.
I refilled my windshield washer tank tonight. I disconnected the battery....