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speedo reads 55mph at 70mph

Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 2:45 pm
by dans_t16s
Hi all, sorry my first post is a question. I've owned my Bongo for about 6 months, and am aware that speedos often are not reading correctly. Mine has an MPH face but the true figures are way out (as checked by both satnav and driving alongside my wife's car).
At 70mph (true) the speedo dial is at almost 12 o'clock, whereas all other dials i've seen it's at 1 o'clock. My tyres are brand new 195/70/R15C.
Is it possible to get a replacement speedometer face that matches my true speeds.

Also I presume my 'mileage' is incorrect as well.

Picture of my speedo and markings:

Image

Re: speedo reads 55mph at 70mph

Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 3:10 pm
by Muzorewa
Ours has the 60 mph at 12 o'clock and reads pretty well spot-on....

Image

If you're running 195/70 all round, that won't affect the speedo reading but you should be running 215/65 on the rear, look at the sizes quoted on your driver's door-pillar or in the handbook. Your insurance may back out of a claim if they can state you were running non-standard or undersized tyres :wink:

Re: speedo reads 55mph at 70mph

Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 3:34 pm
by dans_t16s
Thanks for the reply.

Every other Bongo I've seen has 60mph at 12 o'clock, but mine is a true 70 at that point. What's causing it? Any ideas? (the markings i've put on my speedo are all double checked with Sat Nav and wife's car.)

Re: speedo reads 55mph at 70mph

Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 4:45 pm
by the1andonly
My speedo shows 60mph half way between 12 and 1 oclock.
I recalibtated mine by moving the dial to show an indicated 30 @ a measured 30 mph
the indicated 70 mph gives a measured 65 +-1.
My tyres are 215/65/15 all around on a 97 4x4.

http://igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/view ... =3&t=65825

http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... 73#p405273

Re: speedo reads 55mph at 70mph

Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 6:17 pm
by Bob
Under reading will be an MOT fail so this need addressing, re mileage I just wouldn't worry, condition is everything.

Re: speedo reads 55mph at 70mph

Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 6:24 pm
by dans_t16s
Bob wrote:Under reading will be an MOT fail so this need addressing, re mileage I just wouldn't worry, condition is everything.

My diy tipex marks on the speedo were there when I had it MoTd a few weeks ago. Passed no problem.
It's just damned irritating.

Re: speedo reads 55mph at 70mph

Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 6:27 pm
by Bob
Fair shout, I didn't realise the marks were actually on the speedo rather than the pic.

That should indeed be OK, but I agree a little annoying.

Let's hope for an easy solution. [-o<

Re: speedo reads 55mph at 70mph

Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 9:18 am
by rita
Bob wrote:Under reading will be an MOT fail so this need addressing, re mileage I just wouldn't worry, condition is everything.

Hi Bob ,that's a new one, when did the MOTT start testing speedometers for accuracy, normally they don't even check them to see whether they are reading MPH or KMH.

Re: speedo reads 55mph at 70mph

Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 9:36 am
by roosmith
rita wrote:
Bob wrote:Under reading will be an MOT fail so this need addressing, re mileage I just wouldn't worry, condition is everything.

Hi Bob ,that's a new one, when did the MOTT start testing speedometers for accuracy, normally they don't even check them to see whether they are reading MPH or KMH.
I thought that. They only started checking speedo's a couple of years ago, and it is whether it is "clearly inoperative" or not. Accuracy is not part of the test.

Re: speedo reads 55mph at 70mph

Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2014 4:27 pm
by Tony x
Dans - You could pull the needle off the speedo and replace it in an accurate position. I did this when I changed the dial and removed the chip that converted kmh to mph (which I would suggest you do as the gearbox worked much better following - it decides when to change based on the speed)
It's not too bad a task and involves driving around with a sat nav and the clear plastic cover off the dials, repositioning the needle lightly until you get it just right / over reading a little.

Don't let my recent post on fuel gauge needles put you off. That's different.

Re: speedo reads 55mph at 70mph

Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2014 12:56 am
by Coradia63
Hi

I had exactly the same issue with mine I cured it by taking the needle off and re-fitting it in a slightly different position what I found on mine is when you turn the ignition on the needle will move up slightly I set the needle to line up with the small line just past the 0 MPH mark when the ignition was on and now its pretty much spot on if you do this there are two small counter balance weights in the back of the needle that will fall out so you have to be carefull taking it off I used a bit of super glue to hold these in as it can be hard to get them to stay in place when refitting you should find your mileage reading is accurate irrelevant of what the speedo is reading unless you genuinely have a duff speedo

Re: speedo reads 55mph at 70mph

Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2014 11:10 pm
by Simon Jones
You could check the odometer by comparing distances with a sat nav or even road signs. In the unlikely event that it is wrong, the other possibility is the speed sensor in the gearbox.