Check Engine Light: Code P0500 -- Bad News

A couple of months ago, my '06 Tacoma's Check Engine light came on, and it's been coming on intermittently ever since. The fault code is P0500. The speedometer seems to run fine, but the cruise control doesn't always work when the light is on.

I took it in to the dealership and they spent the better part of a day with it, but somehow they were unable to diagnose the problem. They told me it was likely something to do with the ABS or the instrument cluster, and they'd need me to leave my truck with them for two or three days so they could drive it around long enough to get a good reading to determine the issue. They also told me it could be as much as $3000 to fix it. Yikes!

I contacted a local garage for a second opinion, but they suggested I'd be better off at the dealership using their factory scanner, so I'm back to square one.

Is this a common problem with ten-year-old Tacomas? I've really babied my truck, getting its scheduled servicing done religiously, so to hear I may have such an enormously expensive issue has me reeling. Should I continue to try and get a second opinion, or is the dealer really my best option to fix such a problem?

 

No part on the truck will cost that much to fix if the tech actually fixes the problem, as opposed to throwing parts at it until the light goes away. That said, some diagnosis can be tough. IMO find an independent tech who is competent and willing to think it through carefully. Then with any luck, a singular faulty part can be replaced. I.E. find a mechanic, not a parts swapper.

 

Thanks for weighing in, Badmonkey. I took your advice and found an independent tech. He was able to zero in on what hopefully is the problem -- a new instrument cluster. Cost to put a used one in will be about $475. Better than the $3000 the dealer was talking about. I'll just keep my fingers crossed that this resolves the problem.

I appreciate the reply.

 

Sure hope it works out for you. Good luck! If you don't mind, please follow up in case the solution helps someone else. Have a great day!

 

Raymondo17, I'm having this same problem, were you able to get it fixed by replacing the instrument cluster? Thanks.

 

I’m also having the same problem did getting a whole new instrument cluster fix it?

 

Dcallicoat, yes, replacing the whole instrument cluster did fix the problem. The mechanic was able to set the odometer to my actual milage and it's worked ever since. I did lose my Cruise Control though, but whether that's related to this fix or not, I'm not sure. I almost never use my CC so it wasn't a problem.

Yelklub, sorry to keep you hangin' there.