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P1501

Vehicle Speed Sensor Circuit Intermittent.

  • Chrysler
  • Powertrain
  • Manufacturer code
  • Medium severity

How this code is built

P
SystemPowertrain
1
Defined byThe manufacturer
5
AreaVehicle speed, idle control and auxiliary inputs
01
FaultThe specific fault in that area

What it means

On Chrysler vehicles, P1501 means the powertrain control module has seen an intermittent fault in the vehicle speed sensor circuit. The speed signal drops out, becomes erratic or does not agree with other inputs such as engine speed, load or the signal from the transmission or ABS system. The exact sensor and signal path depend on the model, engine and transmission fitted.

Symptoms

  • Speedometer flickering, dropping to zero or reading wrongly
  • Engine warning light on
  • Erratic or harsh gear changes on automatic models
  • Cruise control cutting out or not working
  • Rough idle or stalling when slowing to a stop
  • Fault coming and going with bumps, heat or damp

Possible causes

  • Damaged, chafed or corroded wiring to the vehicle speed sensorlikely
  • Loose, corroded or water-contaminated connector at the sensor or control modulelikely
  • Failing vehicle speed or output speed sensorlikely
  • Metal debris on the sensor tip or a damaged tone wheel or reluctor ringpossible
  • Faulty wheel speed signal from the ABS system if the speed signal is shared on this modelpossible
  • Poor power or earth supply to the sensor circuitpossible
  • Internal fault in the powertrain control module or an outdated calibrationrare

How to diagnose

  1. Read all stored and pending codes and record the freeze frame data, noting road speed, engine speed and load when the fault set
  2. Check for other codes, particularly ABS, transmission or speedometer faults, and deal with those first as they may point to a shared signal fault
  3. Compare the scan tool's displayed vehicle speed against the real speed on a road test and watch for dropouts
  4. Inspect the sensor wiring and connectors along their full length for chafing, heat damage, water ingress and bent or corroded terminals
  5. Wiggle test the harness and connector with live data displayed to see whether the speed signal drops out
  6. Remove the sensor and check the tip for metal debris, damage or a wrong air gap, and inspect the tone wheel or reluctor teeth
  7. Check the sensor supply voltage, earth and signal output against the manufacturer's specification for that model
  8. Check for a relevant technical bulletin or calibration update for the vehicle if the wiring and sensor test correctly

How to fix

  • Repair or replace damaged wiring and renew any corroded terminals
  • Clean, secure or replace the affected connector and seal it against moisture
  • Replace the faulty speed sensor and refit it with a new seal or O-ring where fitted
  • Clean off debris or repair or replace a damaged tone wheel or reluctor ring
  • Repair the ABS wheel speed signal fault if that is the source of the speed signal
  • Update the powertrain control module calibration only if a known fault with the existing software is confirmed

Can I keep driving?

Medium severity

The car can usually be driven for a short time, but gear changes, cruise control and the speedometer may be unreliable, so get it checked soon. Avoid long journeys if the gearbox is shifting harshly or the engine stalls.

Guide written by AI from the code's definition. Confirm with a diagnosis before replacing parts.

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