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VDO speedometer reading higher than actual speed

May 09, 2018, 04:00:13 pm

My speedometer has began giving higher than actual speeds. If I slow down it will decrease the reading,but still will be too high. Does anyone know what the cause is and is it repairable?

1996 U-320 40ft.
83.000 mi.

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Re: VDO speedometer reading higher than actual speed

Reply #1 – May 09, 2018, 08:03:40 pm

Same problem. 74 on gauge is really 70

Speed on gauge has to do with tire size and gear in transmission. 

From time to time i want to compare miles driven to mile markers to see how or if off there but have never done.

Mileage display comes and goes when it wants to

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Re: VDO speedometer reading higher than actual speed

Reply #2 – May 10, 2018, 07:44:28 am

See if this helps

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Re: VDO speedometer reading higher than actual speed

Reply #3 – May 10, 2018, 05:36:52 pm

Quote from: stump – May 10, 2018, 07:44:28 am

See if this helps

It will help if it's a digital (as in tripmeter) speedometer if not you're probably looking at a new speedometer. No parts for the old analog ones. You can buy a new one and program it yourself.

see ya
ken

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Re: VDO speedometer reading higher than actual speed

Reply #4 – May 11, 2018, 09:36:52 am

Ken I went to Lauderdale speedometer in Florida. I sent my old there and they could not repair. They sent a new one set my odometer and calibrated it. . I plugged it in and it works great. Prior mine was doing what your did and then it quit. Good luck

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Re: VDO speedometer reading higher than actual speed

Reply #5 – May 11, 2018, 04:27:31 pm

After several calls to VDO dealers I have not found anyone that will repair mine, so it looks like I will have to buy a new one, but I sure hate to give up the trip odometer.

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Re: VDO speedometer reading higher than actual speed

Reply #6 – May 11, 2018, 04:35:01 pm

VDO can recommend dealers who can set your new speedometer to show you mileage on the old one.

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Re: VDO speedometer reading higher than actual speed

Reply #7 – May 11, 2018, 04:56:52 pm

Lauderdale speedometer 1-954-532-4880, if it is repairable the will fix it,if not they can sell you a new and pull the codes from your old one.

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Re: VDO speedometer reading higher than actual speed

Reply #8 – May 11, 2018, 06:05:01 pm

After installing the Silverleaf, I noticed the discrepancy with the VDO and monitor.  I found that the Silverleaf was the accurate one when checked against the highway metered mile markers.  The bad news is that I was not getting the mpg that I had previously calculated.  Since I use the monitor almost exclusively, there is no need to change out or calibrate my gauge.

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Re: VDO speedometer reading higher than actual speed

Reply #9 – May 11, 2018, 09:15:39 pm

I had pretty good luck with these guys:

Nichols speedometer and Instrument

My speedometer was recording OK (not great) but the odometer was dying (sometimes it showed mileage, other time nothing) and the tach was completely fried.

They pulled the existing data from the odometer and reprogrammed a new module, then provided a new tach and some decent hands-on help in re-calibrating it.

I suspect that if you pull your unit and get it to them before it's completely fried they can pull the calibration numbers and set up a new one with all your old info.

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Re: VDO speedometer reading higher than actual speed

Reply #10 – May 11, 2018, 11:07:31 pm

For some reason I think that the speedo reading higher than actual speed is SOP.  Mine reads 74 at 70. Yet the speed from the ICU is correct. I have checked it against radar and satellite.  I have a Toyota car and it's off in about the same range.  I've checked numerous cars with radar and they their speedo seem to show higher than the  actual speed.  Police cars always came with certified speedometers from factory.  The plain civilian cars were not. Maybe it's the manufacturer fudging so that it runs out of warranty quicker than it actually does......that's it, it's a conspiracy!  I wonder how much the mileage is off from what the ICU reads and what's shown on the speedo on all the coaches out there.  Mine was changed out when I bought it so I took a pic of the readout so I can keep up with my total mileage. They refused to change it and said it was illegal.....huh!

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Re: VDO speedometer reading higher than actual speed

Reply #11 – May 12, 2018, 07:09:53 am

My speedometer has always matched my Road Relay(ICU) and GPS as precisely as I can read it. And I've had to change speedos three times over 200 K miles.

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Re: VDO speedometer reading higher than actual speed

Reply #12 – May 12, 2018, 09:32:41 pm

Speedometers are required to be within 7% that leaves a lot of leeway.

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