Trip Computer/multi-function display

[D6Stevie]

Just got a nice wee c30 R~Design... albeit it’s only the 1.6D Sport but it’s tidy, LOW miles and been well looked after.
It does not have the trip computer/multifunction display thing that gives ave speed etc.
Is it a serious chore to retrofit this new ecu etc etc or gas it been done?

[Clan]

Originally Posted by D6Stevie

Just got a nice wee c30 R~Design... albeit it’s only the 1.6D Sport but it’s tidy, LOW miles and been well looked after.
It does not have the trip computer/multifunction display thing that gives ave speed etc.
Is it a serious chore to retrofit this new ecu etc etc or gas it been done?

yes it is an accessory from volvo, if you already have the rotating drum on the left hand stalk all you need is the software upgrade from volvo to activate it ... if you do not have the rotating drum you will need the stalk with one which is about £50 extra .

[TheFiend]

It's something only a Volvo dealer can dealer enable..... it needs a software package downloaded to enable the functionality. I had it enabled on mine when I acquired my current C30.

[iainmd]

Beware though, it's not cheap. Hundreds of pounds for pretty limited functionality. MPG (instantaneous & average), Average Speed, Miles to empty tank. That's it really. I only ever use miles to empty and to be honest I kinda know how many miles range I have left based on the fuel gauge.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by iainmd

Beware though, it's not cheap. Hundreds of pounds for pretty limited functionality. MPG (instantaneous & average), Average Speed, Miles to empty tank. That's it really. I only ever use miles to empty and to be honest I kinda know how many miles range I have left based on the fuel gauge.

The fuel gauge itself is the only way to accurately determine how much fuel is left in the tank , the "miles to empty" can vary wildly , not because it is inaccurate but because different driving conditions can suddenly make it drop like a stone , and it gets more unreliable the lower the tank level is ..

[LizardOfBodom]

Originally Posted by Clan

The fuel gauge itself is the only way to accurately determine how much fuel is left in the tank , the "miles to empty" can vary wildly , not because it is inaccurate but because different driving conditions can suddenly make it drop like a stone , and it gets more unreliable the lower the tank level is ..

+1 to above, its all electronic algorithms trying to estimate whats going on based on various factors. Sometimes it can be pretty accurate, sometimes not. Even average/current consumption can vary because car calculates stuff based on injector timings, MAF readouts etc etc, but if you compare it to actual fuel put into tank vs driven miles it will usually be different than what you have on trip computer.

On my car (not sure about other engines) even fuel gauge is not so straightforward as it uses info from sender+calculations from CEM to estimate the amount of fuel, sometimes I observe needle to "adjust itself" in real time a bit when idling in traffic. Where are times of good old floaters like in toilet cisterns?... :P

[Clan]

Originally Posted by LizardOfBodom

+1 to above, its all electronic algorithms trying to estimate whats going on based on various factors. Sometimes it can be pretty accurate, sometimes not. Even average/current consumption can vary because car calculates stuff based on injector timings, MAF readouts etc etc, but if you compare it to actual fuel put into tank vs driven miles it will usually be different than what you have on trip computer.

On my car (not sure about other engines) even fuel gauge is not so straightforward as it uses info from sender+calculations from CEM to estimate the amount of fuel, sometimes I observe needle to "adjust itself" in real time a bit when idling in traffic. Where are times of good old floaters like in toilet cisterns?... :P

They still have floats but the tanks are all shallow and wide , so the first gallon or so results in a very small drop in the level .
The first model where they manipulated the needle was the S/V40 from 1996 . after it had estimated you had used a gallon it would artificially lower the needle , Otherwise it would not move during the first 100 miles ... After that first gallon it would revert to using the float , I wouldn't be surprised if this was still the case with the new models .
One thing for sure though on ALL volvos is that the gauge is very accurate where it needs to be that is at the E end !
They do not run out until the needle is just past the Lower mark on the gauge .