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XB Odometer 4.5% Too Low

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Old 07-06-2004 | 10:28 PM
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Default XB Odometer 4.5% Too Low

On my first extended highway drive, I noticed that the odometer read 4.5% too low when calibrated against the highway mileage markers.

I expect all xBs might have this problem.

It helps to explain some of the low mpg readings some have reported: mpg ought to be 4.5% higher.

Any others notice this?

phil
Old 07-06-2004 | 10:38 PM
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i have noticed something like this also....

i installed a gps navi unit in my xB when i had 400 miles on the odo, 0 miles on the gps.

at 2000 miles on the odo, the navi also showed 2000 miles.

thats a 400 mile odo loss to 2000 gps miles, or 5%
(i also don't know how accurate the navi gps is...)
Old 07-06-2004 | 10:39 PM
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You cant really judge by the highway markers. What is your normal "cruising" RPM? Probably someone to properly convert from the metric system to the US system
Old 07-07-2004 | 05:03 AM
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all i kno is that there is somthing wrong with it
Old 07-07-2004 | 07:42 AM
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aftermarket wheels mabey??
Old 07-07-2004 | 11:11 AM
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I noticed this as well.

When I drive to work in my STi it is exactly 35.0 miles. When I drive my Scion (totally stock) to work it is 33.3 so something is definitely off. Also, according to mapquest it should also be right around 35 miles.

So how would this be fixed? I am getting cruise control installed anyways in about a week or so and will ask the tech to check it out. My calculations would determine it is 4.8% too low. I have been getting about 31-32MPG (Highway/City- but mostly highway) so perhaps my MPG should be better.
Old 07-07-2004 | 12:52 PM
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all stock steelies on my ride, stock size tires too.
so that is not a cause.



the fix is to get slightly smaller (diameter) tires.

i need to use my radar gun and check the accuracy of the speedo now. (how far off is that?)

could also be the reason some people are getting bad gas milage?
Old 07-07-2004 | 01:09 PM
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Look at the bright side ar vehicles are showing less miles than what is really on them.
Old 07-07-2004 | 01:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Fr8mvr
Look at the bright side ar vehicles are showing less miles than what is really on them.
Good point, so when my odometer reads 57K, it is really 60K . If I leave as is, I will just make sure I will increase my MPG by 5% so that is accurate
Old 07-07-2004 | 01:47 PM
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cool the warranty is longer.........
Old 07-07-2004 | 07:37 PM
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5% longer warranty, but also 5% higher speed when cop pulls you over for speeding. I usually stay within 5mph above the limit, this could add a couple more and be enough to get pulled over...
Old 07-09-2004 | 10:45 AM
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Can others test their Xbs and report how much they find the odometer off?

Phil
Old 07-09-2004 | 10:51 AM
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Anyone reported this to Scion Corp or a reputable Toyota/Scion service center?
Old 07-09-2004 | 11:00 PM
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hmm.. couldn't somone test this on a dyno too? Most speedo's are electronic now, so they'd prolly be able to reprogram it when we threaten the lawsuit!
Old 07-11-2004 | 02:25 AM
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The ODOMETER is off about 4.3 - 4.4/5 percent. The ODOMETER.

I have RS #510 , it's off. Buddy of mine has a TCM - off by the same percent. We both ran I-65 from mile marker 7 in Mobile to 107 north of Evergreen. We both registered low. Me, 102.9, him 102.8 miles. (he also has a slightly diff. tire diameter than I, accounting for a small difference between us)

The SPEEDEOMETER is NOT off, only the odometers!

For nitpickers , the speedo IS off. We did 10 runs in both xB's on a flying mile, all 20 runs ran at 60.0x seconds - every time. The 100'ths of seconds variable is well within operator variances etc etc etc.

In short... the ODOMETERS ARE off. Granted - in the owners favor though.
Old 07-11-2004 | 12:46 PM
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you have the oposite of what this thread was started about...

you traveled 100 miles and you car says you went 102-103 miles

what we are seeing is we will travel 100 miles, our cars tell us we went 95-96 miles.



i did check my speedo (radar), it was under actual speed by manufacture tolerances.
speedo 80
actual 78

all readings and tests were done with the stock 15 inch tire and rubber.
Old 07-12-2004 | 04:36 AM
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I just reread what I wrote - and it reads about as stupid as it sounds. I wrote it completely backwards from what I was writing. UH DUH ... God, and to think I advocate the prompt execution of the terminally stupid. I THOUGHT it right - wrote it wrong - LOL.

We DROVE until we got 100 miles and then compared it how far we'd actually gone. Anyhow - I'm a temporary idiot - no need for a lengthy explanation, I'm sure everyone can figure out now what I MEANT (which is the total opposite of what I said....)

MORAL OF THE STORY. On BRAND NEW TIRES the xB speedometers are dead-on, the ODOMETER IS SLOW by about X.XX%.

As your tires wear, your speedo will read that you are going faster than you really are (opposite effect of course on things like redneck trucks with oversized tires - the speedo says you're doing 65 when you might actually be going 75)

Anyhow - my bad - I wrote my math backwards - got the rest right - just f'd up the only really important part. Uh der.
Old 07-12-2004 | 05:03 AM
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George did a very accurate test sometime last year and indeed its off... OH well better resale..
Old 07-14-2004 | 12:24 PM
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The last several weeks I have have done numerous mileage tests in the xB and w/my other car on the same strip and have noted a reading of 5.1% too low on the xB (not 4.8% as indicated previously). I assume that each xB owner will report a different number as the problem may be different on each xB as well as other factors. I am getting cruise control installed on my box next week and will ask the tech if he has heard anything about this issue. I really doubt they can provide a "quick-fix" (even if I wanted it). Typically, odometers have an error tolerance between 1-2%, but 5% is too much.

For folks complaining that they haven't been able to achieve the EPA mpg on the xB, you may have this problem and in that case you should increase you MPG calcuation by this %.
Old 07-25-2004 | 01:48 PM
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Anyone know if the xA has the same problem?
phil


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