How accurate is the speedo? - LotusTalk

MikeC · 07-10-2006, 08:19 PM

Mine reads high by 7 MPH. I'm measuring it with a Garmin GPS that measures speed. My two other cars are dead on so I think the GPS is accurate. I hope it is adjustable.

I'll ask the dealer to fix it at my 1,000 mile service.

MikeW · 07-10-2006, 08:29 PM

The error you have is typical. My speedo was accurate at some speeds and 5 mph off at others. Get a passenger to read the gps and write it down if you want data for high speeds. The speedo doesn't coincide with what the ecu has if you read a scan tool. Too bad we can't display it instead and toss the speedo out. It's dead weight.

nvrblu · 07-10-2006, 08:38 PM

When I checked mine against a GPS receiver:

80 mph -> 76 mph by GPS
50 mph -> 47 mph by GPS

charliex · 07-10-2006, 08:42 PM

mine tested at about 7-8% your dealer can't fix it.

MikeW · 07-10-2006, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charliex

mine tested at about 7-8% your dealer can't fix it.

What's behind the face? It seems you couldn't make it much worse by fixing it yourself?

Is the oddometer ok or are we running out of warranty prematurely?

charliex · 07-10-2006, 09:06 PM

odometer is fine.

you could redo the face plate with new numbers as an easy fix, the cluster chip is probably reprogrammale but requires some special hardware.

i made a fix in the ecu code itself, but theres no way to give it to other people who have ordinary ecus.

rnr · 07-10-2006, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charliex

mine tested at about 7-8% your dealer can't fix it.

Mine is 8% as well

nas213 · 07-11-2006, 07:31 AM

Are the speedo inaccuracies similar for both 2005's and 2006's?

andykeck · 07-11-2006, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rnr

Mine is 8% as well

Yeah, I calculated mine to be in the high 7.x% range as well.

Skip · 07-11-2006, 08:04 AM

My speedo was way off when I first got my Elise last year.

Elise said= 60mph Actual= 40mph
Elise said= 80mph Actual= 60mph

And when I was sitting idle at a stop light/sign the speedo registered 10mph

I took it in and they replaced the whole head unit. Seems to be working fine ever since.

charliex · 07-11-2006, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nas213

Are the speedo inaccuracies similar for both 2005's and 2006's?

jack says the 06 is fine, i haven't comapared mine yet.

nas213 · 07-11-2006, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charliex

jack says the 06 is fine, i haven't comapared mine yet.

According to the stationary speed detector things on the side of the highway, my 06 appears to be accurate over the range of 25-60 mph.

MikeW · 07-11-2006, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charliex

jack says the 06 is fine, i haven't comapared mine yet.

My '06 isn't fine at all.

Baysailor · 07-11-2006, 10:52 AM

My '06 is about 7-8% off across what appears to be the whole range (verified by GPS). At a stand still, the speedometer needle doesn't go all the way to 0 either, it sits up around the 2-3 MPH area.

charliex · 07-11-2006, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baysailor

My '06 is about 7-8% off across what appears to be the whole range (verified by GPS). At a stand still, the speedometer needle doesn't go all the way to 0 either, it sits up around the 2-3 MPH area.

the cluster reset procedure should fix that if you haven't tried it already,
drivers door open, press the trip resest and turn on the ignition, if memory serves.

it doesn't suprise me the 06s are off too, my 1991 lotus is off by the same amount too

MikeW · 07-11-2006, 11:29 AM

Before I'm through owning this car I'm going to have so many redundant/additional instruments that I may as well make my own dash.

Spa digital tach/shift light (something that will work and is quickly readable)
Spa oil press/oil temp (something they forgot

)
wideband O2 (my obsession)
lap timer (my necessity)
water temp (can't see it readily but it's hiding there)
volt meter
Speedo? (would be nice to know how fast you're ACTUALLY going, isn't that the purpose?)

With the availability of modern day electronics, I find it odd that the instrumentation hasn't exceeded the capabilities of those in my 70 Camaro

thank God the fuel gauge works!

charliex · 07-11-2006, 11:33 AM

the speedo thing is deliberate due to european laws.

driving around in LA i've noticed no one seems to pay attention to their speed.

lotus hinted at a new track style cluster, my best guess would be that'd be the AIM unit they use on the GT3, theres supposed to be some announcement on stuff in the next week or so.

MikeW · 07-11-2006, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charliex

the speedo thing is deliberate due to european laws.

driving around in LA i've noticed no one seems to pay attention to their speed.

lotus hinted at a new track style cluster, my best guess would be that'd be the AIM unit they use on the GT3, theres supposed to be some announcement on stuff in the next week or so.

Charlie, you should tell me that stuff ahead of time!

Next time you hear of anything from Area 51 at Lotusland, give a holler.

wallabyguy · 07-11-2006, 12:21 PM

The Elise's speedometer is about as acurate as a shotgun from 100 yards.

Baysailor · 07-11-2006, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charliex

the cluster reset procedure should fix that if you haven't tried it already, drivers door open, press the trip resest and turn on the ignition, if memory serves.

Yeah, I tried this, but no joy. It isn't nearly as bad as some of the others I have heard (stuck up around 15 to 20 MPH), so I don't worry about it.

07-10-2006, 08:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
MikeC Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 218	How accurate is the speedo? Mine reads high by 7 MPH. I'm measuring it with a Garmin GPS that measures speed. My two other cars are dead on so I think the GPS is accurate. I hope it is adjustable. I'll ask the dealer to fix it at my 1,000 mile service. __________________ Keep the shiny side up MikeC 05 CO Elise 02 Audi S6 72 MB 280SE 4.5

07-10-2006, 08:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
charliex OSX Black hat Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Las Vegas , NV Posts: 9,935	mine tested at about 7-8% your dealer can't fix it. __________________ Black Exige S - http://goth.am 265 Mule / Elan M100.ECU Tuning, http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39660 West Coast Lotus Meet - Las Vegas - November 6-9 2009 http://www.westcoastlotus.com/

07-10-2006, 09:06 PM	#6 (permalink)
charliex OSX Black hat Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Las Vegas , NV Posts: 9,935	odometer is fine. you could redo the face plate with new numbers as an easy fix, the cluster chip is probably reprogrammale but requires some special hardware. i made a fix in the ecu code itself, but theres no way to give it to other people who have ordinary ecus. __________________ Black Exige S - http://goth.am 265 Mule / Elan M100.ECU Tuning, http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39660 West Coast Lotus Meet - Las Vegas - November 6-9 2009 http://www.westcoastlotus.com/

07-11-2006, 10:52 AM	#14 (permalink)
Baysailor Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 1,205	My '06 is about 7-8% off across what appears to be the whole range (verified by GPS). At a stand still, the speedometer needle doesn't go all the way to 0 either, it sits up around the 2-3 MPH area. __________________ 2006 Lotus Elise - Solar Yellow, HT, LSS, LSD/TC, Touring, StarShield, S111 RTDbrace, S111 microMirror, S111 Carpet Buttons, Painted A/C Surround, CF Center Console, Nitron S/A, Tempest BAB26-12 AGM Battery, Fujita Intake, Top Speed Pro 1 Exhaust, 4Tress Harness Bar, 6000k 35w HID kit, Moroso Oil Pan, Plinthless front clam, Team Dynamics Pro Race 1.2 Wheels w/ RE01-R's for street use, Heater Core By-Pass, Shifter Reinforcement, LETSLA v2 Shift Kit

07-11-2006, 11:29 AM	#16 (permalink)
MikeW Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,372	Before I'm through owning this car I'm going to have so many redundant/additional instruments that I may as well make my own dash. Spa digital tach/shift light (something that will work and is quickly readable) Spa oil press/oil temp (something they forgot ) wideband O2 (my obsession) lap timer (my necessity) water temp (can't see it readily but it's hiding there) volt meter Speedo? (would be nice to know how fast you're ACTUALLY going, isn't that the purpose?) With the availability of modern day electronics, I find it odd that the instrumentation hasn't exceeded the capabilities of those in my 70 Camaro thank God the fuel gauge works! Last edited by MikeW : 07-11-2006 at 11:45 AM.

07-10-2006, 08:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
MikeW Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,372	The error you have is typical. My speedo was accurate at some speeds and 5 mph off at others. Get a passenger to read the gps and write it down if you want data for high speeds. The speedo doesn't coincide with what the ecu has if you read a scan tool. Too bad we can't display it instead and toss the speedo out. It's dead weight.

07-10-2006, 08:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
nvrblu ... _ . ..._ . Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 3,386	When I checked mine against a GPS receiver: 80 mph -> 76 mph by GPS 50 mph -> 47 mph by GPS

07-11-2006, 07:31 AM	#8 (permalink)
nas213 Slow Thinkers Keep Right Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Lake Jackson, TX Posts: 1,139	Are the speedo inaccuracies similar for both 2005's and 2006's?

07-11-2006, 08:04 AM	#10 (permalink)
Skip Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: So. Cal Posts: 14	My speedo was way off when I first got my Elise last year. Elise said= 60mph Actual= 40mph Elise said= 80mph Actual= 60mph And when I was sitting idle at a stop light/sign the speedo registered 10mph I took it in and they replaced the whole head unit. Seems to be working fine ever since.

07-11-2006, 11:33 AM	#17 (permalink)
charliex OSX Black hat Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Las Vegas , NV Posts: 9,935	the speedo thing is deliberate due to european laws. driving around in LA i've noticed no one seems to pay attention to their speed. lotus hinted at a new track style cluster, my best guess would be that'd be the AIM unit they use on the GT3, theres supposed to be some announcement on stuff in the next week or so. __________________ Black Exige S - http://goth.am 265 Mule / Elan M100.ECU Tuning, http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39660 West Coast Lotus Meet - Las Vegas - November 6-9 2009 http://www.westcoastlotus.com/

07-11-2006, 12:21 PM	#19 (permalink)
wallabyguy Not Dead Yet Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 5,896	The Elise's speedometer is about as acurate as a shotgun from 100 yards. __________________ former Lotus Sales Robert (aka Sith Lord of LBL) 74 Elite 502 05 Elise (Snuffalupagous..RIP : Laser Blue, Black Leather, Touring Pack, Hardtop ) The Wallaby Will Ride Again

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