DTC P0500: Vehicle Speed Sensor (M/T): Description
WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 13 other vehicles, including the 2002 GMC Yukon XL, 2002 GMC Sierra, 2002 GMC Savana Special, 2002 GMC Savana Camper Special, and 2002 GMC Savana. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
The Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) assembly provides vehicle speed information to the Powertrain Control Module (PCM). The VSS assembly is a permanent magnet generator. The VSS produces alternating current (AC) as the rotor teeth on the output shaft of the transmission (2WD) or transfer case (4WD) pass through the magnetic field of the sensor. The frequency and amplitude of the AC waveform increase as vehicle speed increases. If the PCM detects no vehicle speed for a specified length of time, while other sensors indicate that the vehicle is moving, DTC P0500 sets.