Inaccurate speedometer and RSA over speed warnings.

[CenJay]

The speedometer on my 2 week old RAV4 PHEV is reading 2 to 3mph fast at 30mph - when compared to my GPS and roadside speed detector signs. The RSA over speed warning sounds only just over 30mph - and is irritating when trying to maintain 30 given that it is really 27mph.

Two questions:

Is it possible to recalibrate the speedometer (I suspect that is the visit the dealer option!)

In previous cars I have owned you could slightly vary the speed at which the over speed alarm sounded. I can’t find any info in my manual but is this ability hidden in one of the setting menus. It maybe that the latest regulations preclude this but is it possible? 

Thanks

[ernieb]

Normal for my ‘21 PHEV, usually at least +3mph.

[Oscarmax]

Mines the same

[Nick72]

4 hours ago, CenJay said:

The speedometer on my 2 week old RAV4 PHEV is reading 2 to 3mph fast at 30mph - when compared to my GPS and roadside speed detector signs. The RSA over speed warning sounds only just over 30mph - and is irritating when trying to maintain 30 given that it is really 27mph.

Two questions:

Is it possible to recalibrate the speedometer (I suspect that is the visit the dealer option!)

In previous cars I have owned you could slightly vary the speed at which the over speed alarm sounded. I can’t find any info in my manual but is this ability hidden in one of the setting menus. It maybe that the latest regulations preclude this but is it possible? 

Thanks

 

Mine is 10% over. So about 3 mph over at 30mph actual. 7mph over at 70mph actual. 

Fortunately I switched mine off permanently, other than the visual indicator. 2021 PHEV. 

You'll either need to live with it, which will be painful, or remember to disable it before each drive. 

Not looking forward to it when I swap over to the 2024 GR Sport R4P end of the month. It's going to be painful.

[philip42h]

4 hours ago, CenJay said:

Two questions:

Is it possible to recalibrate the speedometer (I suspect that is the visit the dealer option!)

In previous cars I have owned you could slightly vary the speed at which the over speed alarm sounded. I can’t find any info in my manual

Two answers:

1. No - it is correctly calibrated as it is designed to be.
2. Sadly, apparently not. If you hunt through the manual it suggests that there is an option to do this but this is not available on current UK cars.

[CenJay]

Thanks for the responses - the answers were more or less what I feared to be the case.☹️

[Nick72]

3 minutes ago, CenJay said:

Thanks for the responses - the answers were more or less what I feared to be the case.☹️

But you can switch off the audio warning at the beginning of each drive 😉

[FROSTYBALLS]

4 hours ago, CenJay said:

The speedometer on my 2 week old RAV4 PHEV is reading 2 to 3mph fast at 30mph - when compared to my GPS and roadside speed detector signs. The RSA over speed warning sounds only just over 30mph - and is irritating when trying to maintain 30 given that it is really 27mph.

Is it possible to recalibrate the speedometer (I suspect that is the visit the dealer option!)

The speedometer falls within legal requirements.

In the UK, the indicated speed must never be less than the actual speed, i.e. it should not be possible to inadvertently speed because of an incorrect speedometer reading.

The indicated speed must not be more than 110 percent of the true speed, and for all actual speeds between 25 mph and 70 mph (or the vehicles' maximum speed if it is lower than this), the indicated speed must not exceed 110% of the actual speed, plus 6.25 mph.

For example, if the vehicle is actually traveling at 50 mph, the speedometer must not show more than 61.25 mph or less than 50 mph.

 

[FROSTYBALLS]

Although GPS is the most accurate speed reading generally available, it is still an average over a given number of points.

[Maxrob]

Yes, agree with all the above - our GR Sport is exactly the same in all respects - at least we bought our models before the mandatory speed limiter comes in.  Another thing, round here on our local roads, there are specific places where, on an unlimited speed stretch, a spurious 30 m.p.h. warning suddenly flashes up for a couple of hundred yards then disappears; would love to know why and how the car is picking those up, and a speed limiter kicking in would be a real pain!

[ernieb]

12 hours ago, Nick72 said:

But you can switch off the audio warning at the beginning of each drive 😉

On my '21, not much help on a '24, I set mine to +5mph and this is useful to me and makes a significant impact on audible alarms. 

[ColinB]

The over speed warning can be set to +1, 3 or 5mph in my Yaris Cross - but resets every time the car is started. Shame, as I'd quite happily keep the bongs if I could keep it set to +3mph.

[Nick72]

11 hours ago, ernieb said:

On my '21, not much help on a '24, I set mine to +5mph and this is useful to me and makes a significant impact on audible alarms. 

Forgot about that Ernie. Yes, did the same. The red visible warning when 5mph over (really 2mph over when at 30mph) is useful. Not so much at 70mph this 75mph warning which is really 68 or 69mph.

[Uragan]

Mines the same … I think most cars are 

[Paul john]

5 minutes ago, Uragan said:

Mines the same … I think most cars are 

Agreed.

I guess we are all needing to revert to “old skool” driving. Where when we jump in our vehicle, we set all the settings that need to be changed as our “preflight check” then have a happy drive. After all pushing a few buttons for a minute or so isn't a great fuss compared to what we used to have to do before driving off   

Say…

setting the manual choke and waiting for the engine to heat up enough so it could be turned off…

or if you had a really ancient car, priming the engine before initial start.

watching a wobbly analogue speedo shake between 68 and 70 when you were in reality only doing 65 because it was wholly inaccurate  

perhaps even walking round the car to visually check the tyre pressures. 

[DavidinDerbyshire]

On 8/3/2024 at 6:16 PM, Nick72 said:

Not looking forward to it when I swap over to the 2024 GR Sport R4P end of the month. It's going to be painful.

It is, I promise, a real pain in the RRRs.  I am now in the habit of the sequence of turning the power on then:   "OK - scroll down to RSA and then OK to turn it off."  I then hold the LTS button for five seconds until the sign goes red. All this can only be done AFTER your passengers have closed all the doors or else you can't see the centre section of the display.  I don't bother on very short journeys but just put up with the donging which, as the OP says, is triggered even though your true speed is under 30mph  And if there is a way to re calibrate the speedo I would be very surprised. I can't see a dealership allowing it. I have had a lot of adverse comments saying "Why do you need to exceed the limits?" but proper drivers know that efficient driving means going as quickly as you need on any particular journey bearing in mind all conditions and for most of my 62 year driving life I have used the ten percent rule of thumb as a safe and summons-free journey.   I really don't need the overbearing technical supervision. Or the long queue of traffic behind me because I am doing a Toyota 29mph. (Or in 50mph roadworks, the driver in Lane 2 who is actually doing 44 mph) 

[P_J]

1 hour ago, DavidinDerbyshire said:

turning the power on then:   "OK - scroll down to RSA and then OK to turn it off."

I can help - but only to say scroll up instead of down - its a couple clicks quicker. 

[Nick72]

9 hours ago, DavidinDerbyshire said:

It is, I promise, a real pain in the RRRs.  I am now in the habit of the sequence of turning the power on then:   "OK - scroll down to RSA and then OK to turn it off."  I then hold the LTS button for five seconds until the sign goes red. All this can only be done AFTER your passengers have closed all the doors or else you can't see the centre section of the display.  I don't bother on very short journeys but just put up with the donging which, as the OP says, is triggered even though your true speed is under 30mph  And if there is a way to re calibrate the speedo I would be very surprised. I can't see a dealership allowing it. I have had a lot of adverse comments saying "Why do you need to exceed the limits?" but proper drivers know that efficient driving means going as quickly as you need on any particular journey bearing in mind all conditions and for most of my 62 year driving life I have used the ten percent rule of thumb as a safe and summons-free journey.   I really don't need the overbearing technical supervision. Or the long queue of traffic behind me because I am doing a Toyota 29mph. (Or in 50mph roadworks, the driver in Lane 2 who is actually doing 44 mph) 

LTS? Lane Tracing ...? Is that on by default also? 🤦💥

[Paul john]

24 minutes ago, Nick72 said:

LTS? Lane Tracing ...? Is that on by default also? 🤦💥

Remember to turn Traction control and launch assist off also

[ernieb]

Sounds like a pre flight check list and co pilot are required for each start procedure.

[Hadrian1]

On 8/3/2024 at 2:04 PM, CenJay said:

The speedometer on my 2 week old RAV4 PHEV is reading 2 to 3mph fast at 30mph -

Speedos in all cars read over the speed you are actually doing. 

[Nick72]

9 hours ago, Paul john said:

Remember to turn Traction control and launch assist off also

Launch assist? 😂

[Nick72]

9 hours ago, Paul john said:

Remember to turn Traction control and launch assist off also

Seriously though the Lane Tracing is terrible. I hope that's not on by default. I'm all for safety features likes ABS, traction control, stability control etc. but not the things which adds zero value or make things worse. 

[P_J]

There are 3 options - by default (and turned on at each start) is a basic vibrate the steering wheel and turn in slightly, if you cross the line without signalling. 

You can then turn on the full lane centre assist which attempts to keep you mid-lane. Works very well on motorways (IMO) but not useful when most A/B roads dont have clear markings. I only use on motorways - but for me its so good I wouldn't need to hold the wheel for easily a 50 mile stretch - if it didn't also monitor the wheel to prove you're holding it 😆.

Or the OFF option - which is not retained after power off.

I usually just leave as default, and put up with the occasional auto-steer into the parked car I'm trying to drive past, when I forget/choose not to indicate. 
Would rather it was off by default though - feels more dangerous to have it steer you towards parked things when crossing the mid line.
My fault for not indicating I guess, but the main road in question is lined with parked cars every 20 yards down one side, so everyone drifts across the mid line with plenty room on opposite lane for oncoming traffic. Just learn to live with it I guess 😔

[Pannett]

My brother's new RAV4 PHEV is exactly the same and is annoying him intensely. Oddly, my Octavia PHEV read 1 mph high at all speeds. I haven't checked the Corolla yet as the Nextbase 380GW dash cam doesn't have a display, unlike the one in the Octy. I may be able to get a display on my iPad if it's linked to the dashcam: can anyone advise?