Our '02 ES 300 has 150k miles and the VSC and traction control warning lights are on. I was told by the diagnostic place that the car needs a new vehicle speed sensor although the speedometer and odometer are working. The error codes reported are P0051 and P0500. They want about $800 to fix the problem. Does this sound reasonable?

 

P0051 is a code having to do with your oxygen sensor in bank 2 sensor 1, which means it is closest to the engine. A new sensor is around $100 and a $10 socket is needed to install it.

P0500 is a code for the vehicle speed sensor, this sensor is located under the air box and some have had luck just cleaning the contacts on it with abrasive paper. A new sensor seems to run about $30.

The replacement of both of these sensors should not take more than 1 to 1.5 hours

Here is a link to a thread currently ongoing regarding the VSS

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es-...ed-sensor.html

Either way, $800 seems a little on the high side.

 

Thanks much, I thought the estimate was too high.

 

Luckily for you bank 2 is in the front of the engine, making the o2 sensor a 5 minute job. The VSS is under the air box and held on by 1 bolt so it should take maybe 15 to 20 minutes because you have to remove the airbox. Both very easy jobs to DIY. The bank 1 o2 sensor is a bit more involved as you have to get under the car to access it, still a trivial job though.

 

I also got an P302 error code which I thought was the O2 sensor (probably just the heater though). Does that have anything to do with the VSS? Thanks again.

 

P0302 is a cylinder 2 misfire code, you could start with changing the spark plugs and go from there. Just a warning, the rear spark plugs are a real pain to get to, the main reason I don't like transverse v6 engines. Link to info on p0302:

http://engine-codes.com/p0302.html