XC60 - Speedo Calibration

[JasonSK]

Having recently received my XC60 D5 I am very please with it, except for the out of calibration speedo. Has any been able to get Volvo or another third party to alter the software module to correct the read out? I have heard Volvo can just replace the speedo software module with a very accurate one if they choose to.
If this is as good as Volvo can now do with the speedo then I am wondering if any of the high tech anti collusion software systems I paid a lot extra for would actually work when needed or would the result be no better than the new S60 they demonstrated to the press 2 weeks ago that was a total failure!!
Although I would recommend everybody get the adaptive cruse control system and factory Bluetooth.
My old S60AWD & S40 both had very accurate speedos.

[mas66]

Originally Posted by JasonSK

Having recently received my XC60 D5 I am very please with it, except for the out of calibration speedo. Has any been able to get Volvo or another third party to alter the software module to correct the read out? I have heard Volvo can just replace the speedo software module with a very accurate one if they choose to.
If this is as good as Volvo can now do with the speedo then I am wondering if any of the high tech anti collusion software systems I paid a lot extra for would actually work when needed or would the result be no better than the new S60 they demonstrated to the press 2 weeks ago that was a total failure!!
Although I would recommend everybody get the adaptive cruse control system and factory Bluetooth.
My old S60AWD & S40 both had very accurate speedos.

Out of interest what are you using as a benchmark to highlight the inaccuracy ?

[JasonSK]

We use a Garmin 765 and verify that against our police departments measuring points that are on our freeways. In Australia we are required by Law to know the error of our speedo's for blaming your speedo for speeding is not allowable evidence in court.
When checking your speedo it must be on flat ground, straight road on cruse control with no obstructions near the road to interfere with the readings.

[155mph]

Originally Posted by JasonSK

When checking your speedo it must be on flat ground, straight road on cruse control with no obstructions near the road to interfere with the readings.

Not many of these around my neck of the woods!

[Jack_of_all]

All speedos have an allowable margin of error...not sure what this is...

i measure mine accurately using GPS, and know currently that at 33 on the clock i am doing 30mph in reality.....tested this the other day with the cruise control on.

of course you have to be careful also with GPS as some units give a slightly delayed speed reading, so not quite as accurate as you might first think.


also consider that as your tyres wear, the speedo will change as its all based on revolutions of a known wheel/tyre size....obvioulsy an old tyre will turn more revlutions than a new tyre....so this will give you a different reading.

The police are well aware of this. in fact i took a bike ride with a police rider recently and one of his questions was did i know what my accurate speed was. He also beleoved that one of the other riders speedos was incorrect quite significnatly..(it was the rider driving to slow really).
There was the inference to drive at the known speed...ie. accurate GPS rather than my speedo. so i could drive at 71 on my motorbike speedo, and i was actually only going at 60mph.

[Ian W XC60]

Originally Posted by Jack_of_all

All speedos have an allowable margin of error...not sure what this is...

It's + or minus 10% in the UK, so if you're travelling at 30mph your speedo can legally read between 27-33mph. I think manufacturers set them low normally.

Prosecution for speeding guidelines were (probably still are) 10% + 2mph, so 35 in a 30 zone and 79 at national speed limit level.

[mu71rd]

i thought it was +10%, but it's illegal for it to be below. ie - if you are going 70, it can show up to 77, but not below 70. This way, you will always be going at either the speed you think you are, or slower.

this is why most speedos are set a little high, because it allows for changes of wheels and tyres/pressures etc that might drop the indicated speed, without it going below the actual speed.

[Ian W XC60]

Originally Posted by mu71rd

i thought it was +10%, but it's illegal for it to be below. ie - if you are going 70, it can show up to 77, but not below 70. This way, you will always be going at either the speed you think you are, or slower.

You are right, the minus 10% is no longer the case - probably due to technological advances - but it certainly was some years ago. Hence the guidelines on speeding prosecutions which still, with the exception of 20mph (ticket at 25mph), reflect 10%+2mph.

Towards the bottom of;
http://www.pepipoo.com/files/ACPO/AC...guidelines.htm

They are guidance though, aggravating factors like speeding near a school at chucking out time may result in a ticket or summons at lower speeds.