CivicFix

P0500 on Honda Civic FC: Vehicle Speed Sensor A Malfunction

Short answer: P0500 means “Vehicle Speed Sensor A Malfunction”. The car’s computer has found a fault in the Engine system and turns on the Check engine light (MIL). First check: read the code and freeze-frame data with an OBD-II scanner.

Standard OBD-II code Same meaning on all cars (SAE J2012). Not checked against this car’s factory manual.

Code
P0500
System
Engine
Dashboard light
Check engine light (MIL)
Applies to
Generic OBD-II meaning. Not every code is used by this car.
Confidence
medium (generic OBD-II definition, not checked against the factory manual for this car)
Source
obd-codes.com

Symptoms and when it is set

  1. Check engine light on
  2. Loss of anti-lock brakes
  3. The "anti-lock" or "brake" warning lamps on the dash
  4. May be lit
  5. The speedometer or odometer may not work properly (or at all)
  6. Your vehicle's RPM limiter may be decreased

Likely causes

  1. The Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) is not reading (functioning) properly
  2. There is a broken/frayed wire leading to the vehicle speed sensor
  3. The vehicle's PCM is not correctly configured for the actual tire size on
  4. The vehicle

What to check, in order

  1. Read the code and freeze-frame data with an OBD-II scanner
  2. Check the connector and wiring of the part named in the code
  3. Test the part with scanner live data or a multimeter, using the values in the repair manual
  4. Fix the cause, clear the code and test-drive

Related on this car

Same code on other cars

← P0455 P0505 →

Clearing the code does not fix the fault. If it comes back, the problem is still there. For brakes, airbags and steering, see a trained mechanic.