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P0501: Vehicle speed sensor range/performance

The speed signal is there, but it does not match engine revs and the gear selected. Usually the sensor, the wiring or non-standard wheels.

Code P0501 at a glance
CodeP0501
SystemEngine and transmission
GroupP05xx, Speed, idle and auxiliary inputs
TypeGeneric: it means the same on every make
Can you keep driving?With care

What P0501 means

The ECU compares the speed signal with other data, such as engine revs, the gear selected and load. If the value is implausible or jumps about, it sets this code. Sometimes the cause is a change of wheel or tyre size, or a sensor that fails now and then.

Most common causes

  • Dirty speed sensor or one failing intermittently
  • Poor contact at the connector or a chafed wire
  • Wheels or tyres of a different size from standard
  • Fault in an ABS wheel sensor, where the speed comes from there
  • ECU settings not matching the car after a repair

Symptoms

  • Speedometer reading oddly or jumping
  • Automatic gearbox with harsh or badly timed shifts
  • Cruise control cutting out
  • Engine warning light on

Can you drive with P0501?

With care You can drive with care, but do not trust the speedometer and the gearbox may misbehave. Get it checked soon.

How to check it

Record vehicle speed and engine revs on your scanner during a drive: if speed drops to zero or jumps while revs stay steady, the fault is in the sensor or its wiring.

How to read and clear P0501 with Final OBD

Plug an OBD2 scanner in under the steering wheel, switch the ignition on and open Final OBD. Under Faults you’ll see P0501 with this same explanation and whether it’s confirmed, pending or permanent.

With Free you read this code with its short description for nothing, and clear it if the engine stores it over standard OBD. With Pro you get the full explanation, how the car was running when it was logged (revs, temperature, load) and clearing in every control unit.

Clearing the code only turns the light off: if the cause is still there, it comes back. Clear it once it’s fixed, and not right before the ITV. It’s all in how to read and clear fault codes and in the ITV and OBD.

Similar codes

P0501 is a generic code, so it means the same on any make, for example on Alfa Romeo, Cupra, Dacia, Jeep, Nissan, Škoda. See what Final OBD does on your car in makes and models.

What does code P0501 mean?

The ECU compares the speed signal with other data, such as engine revs, the gear selected and load. If the value is implausible or jumps about, it sets this code. Sometimes the cause is a change of wheel or tyre size, or a sensor that fails now and then.

Can you drive with P0501?

You can drive with care, but do not trust the speedometer and the gearbox may misbehave. Get it checked soon.

How do you clear P0501?

With an OBD2 scanner and an app like Final OBD, which clears it for free if it’s stored by the engine control unit. But clearing it only turns the light off: if the cause isn’t fixed, P0501 comes back.