Which one's right? The speedo or the trip comp? - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

Kerazy S-Pak · 10-27-2002, 01:32

Hi everyone, Ive had my ED Fairmont for a couple of weeks, and after using the cruise control a fair bit, Ive seen that the speed the trip computer displays is apprx 4 kms slower than what the speedo shows. Is the speedo overstating, is the trip computer understating, or are both out of whack and only show approximate speeds?
Anyone got any ideas/advice?

MADNC_8 · 10-27-2002, 03:24

i have been told that hte ave speed is just that it picks up how many kms you have traveled, and works out how much time it took to do it and gives the average so if ya slowed down a tad for that slow ricer till ya could pass then it buggeres up the average see wat i mean here

the trippo is just an average-meter

i hardly go by it n e mores

Troutman · 10-27-2002, 22:56

Quote:

Originally posted by MADNC_8
i have been told that hte ave speed is just that it picks up how many kms you have traveled, and works out how much time it took to do it and gives the average so if ya slowed down a tad for that slow ricer till ya could pass then it buggeres up the average see wat i mean here

the trippo is just an average-meter

i hardly go by it n e mores

Off topic, please watch your spelling mate... re-reading a reply before posting and making any corrections makes it much easier to read. Thanks matey.

MightyEFGhia · 10-27-2002, 23:01

The only function in which I use my trip computer for is to find out my average litres per 100kms and how many kilometers are left in the tank, it tends to be fairly wild with alot of its measurements. Just remember that the displays on the dashboard take precedent over the trip computer, it is just there as a guide

Brent79 · 10-28-2002, 22:47

They should be pretty much both spot on when u hit the reset button on yer T/C. If one was to be 'out' it would probably be yer needle on yer dash... I have the digital dash and mine are both pretty much spot on with eachother...

Brent

Kerazy S-Pak · 10-29-2002, 14:04

Thanx for the replies guys.
If thats the case Brent79, then my old school speedometer is overstating by about 4kms (not a bad thing, i should avoid speeding fines that way) Is there any reason why the digi speedo on the trip comp (or digi dash in the EA ghias) would be more accurate?
Also the speedometer on my trip comp doesnt run constantly, after i hit reset it takes a couple of seconds to decide what speed im doing, then sits on it regardless of me accel/deccel, is this meant to happen?

Brent79 · 10-29-2002, 20:33

Well the digital dash and T/C are fully electronic intruments... they use the pulse from the speedo sensor in the gearbox to figure oout the speed so id assume there would be less of an error margin in them compared with the mechanical aspect of the needle type. The needle type uses a magnetic field to move the needle which would make it slightly less effective. Thats what i reckon anyhow :) Hmmm my T/C will display instantly what speed im going when i hit the reset then will start to average from there...

Brent