Speedo wrong
#1
Registered!!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Minnesota
Age: 39
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 0 Speedo wrong
Hey!
My new (to me) 99 LX Automatic has a slow speedo, it's 5-6 slow (60=55, etc). I arrived at this conclusion by comparing the speedo to two different GPS based speed apps on my phone, on the freeway with the cruise set at 55 (according to the car) and found I was doing 49-50. Is there a way to re calibrate it without taking it to the dealer?
My new (to me) 99 LX Automatic has a slow speedo, it's 5-6 slow (60=55, etc). I arrived at this conclusion by comparing the speedo to two different GPS based speed apps on my phone, on the freeway with the cruise set at 55 (according to the car) and found I was doing 49-50. Is there a way to re calibrate it without taking it to the dealer?
#4
Registered!!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Minnesota
Age: 39
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 0 Re: Speedo wrong
I thought of the tire thing, I've had that issue before (I once ran my 1995 Saturn SL1 on four compact spares from the junkyard for four months....)
#5
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Re: Speedo wrong
Nope, and a dealer can't adjust anything in it either. All a dealer would do is try to sell you a new speedometer, and that may or may not change anything.
Make sure the tires are the correct size for the car according to the label in the door jamb.
What does the law say, within 10% error tolerance? It's at or within 10%.....
Make sure the tires are the correct size for the car according to the label in the door jamb.
What does the law say, within 10% error tolerance? It's at or within 10%.....
#6
Registered!!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Minnesota
Age: 39
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 0 Re: Speedo wrong
Nope, and a dealer can't adjust anything in it either. All a dealer would do is try to sell you a new speedometer, and that may or may not change anything.
Make sure the tires are the correct size for the car according to the label in the door jamb.
What does the law say, within 10% error tolerance? It's at or within 10%.....
Make sure the tires are the correct size for the car according to the label in the door jamb.
What does the law say, within 10% error tolerance? It's at or within 10%.....
I work at a dealer but we don't have a Honda dealership in our group, if we did I would at least get a semi-reasonable discount.
One of our service writers here told me about taking the cluster apart on his 95 Integra, setting the cruise to match a friend at 55, and taking the needle off and then putting it where it goes. I don't want to go through all that.
#7
Registered!!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Minnesota
Age: 39
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 0 Re: Speedo wrong
And it's more than double 10% on 25mph parkways and school zones..... I'm not worried about tickets, I can compensate for the bad number on the dash. I just want it to work right, especially if doing so were reasonably easy/inexpensive.
#8
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Re: Speedo wrong
Official Honda/Acura parts, but no discount prices
http://estore.honda.com/
Discount /wholesale prices, but shipping might kill the discount so be careful
www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/
I use this one all the time to hotlink catalog pics in the forums...
You can google for more, there are a ton of dealers selling at deep discount on the web.
I work at a dealer
If the VSS data is more accurate or matches pace with another car or GPS....that might make it easier to make a decision on your speedo.
taking the needle off and then putting it where it goes.
#9
Re: Speedo wrong
to be honest, in case if most people haven't realized it yet anolog cluster/gauges aren't accurate to begin with. and that the ecu has to convert votage/data from vss to a anolog signal for the speedo to be able to read it and that where numbers starts getting way off our vss get +12v to power the sensor then the signal wire sends 0-5v reference to ecu which then the 0-5v get rescaled to 0-12v values that the anolog speedo can read
#10
Re: Speedo wrong
you can also check to see if your vss is sending the correct signal our vss is quare wave so if you turn your wheels the signal should read go from 0 5 0 5 as you keep turning your wheel. also if your car has vtec also if your vss is bad your vtec won't engage
#11
Registered!!
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Paradise Ca
Age: 41
Posts: 1,472
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
2 Posts
Rep Power: 183 Re: Speedo wrong
Sounds like wrong size tires. I would double check. You might be able to change the sender. That has worked on other cars for me. You can get a speedo-healer. But it sounds like something is the wrong part.
#14
Registered!!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Minnesota
Age: 39
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 0 Re: Speedo wrong
I'm probably done worrying about this.
#15
PITA Admin
Administrator
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: TN
Age: 52
Posts: 14,783
Received 1,442 Likes
on
1,198 Posts
Rep Power: 338 Re: Speedo wrong
Like ezone said, hook a scanner and double check what computer is seeing. If the car computer is off, something in between speedo and trans is not working. If good, then likely it's the speedo itself in the dash.
Miss EJ 6 is also giving very good technical pointers
Miss EJ 6 is also giving very good technical pointers
#17
PITA Admin
Administrator
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: TN
Age: 52
Posts: 14,783
Received 1,442 Likes
on
1,198 Posts
Rep Power: 338 Re: Speedo wrong
I use a scangauge hooked up. As long as the computer is getting right numbers, it will show speed. Nothing different than having a Garmin GPS in the car.
Thread
Thread Starter
Honda Civic Forum
Replies
Last Post
mgcivicdriver
Engine start problems
16
12-10-2015 11:58 PM
Youngrob650
Mechanical Problems/Vehicle Issues and Fix-it Forum
4
11-12-2015 11:01 PM
NewHondaCivic
Mechanical Problems/Vehicle Issues and Fix-it Forum
4
11-09-2015 01:17 PM