Trip Computer Weirdness

[annap]

Hi

I have just taken delivery of my used Rav4 - 53 plate 20k miles. I'm being a typical new owner and pressing all the buttons to see what they all do and have noticed that the trip computer doesn't work properly. My mpg swings wildly even at constant speed from 0 up to 99.9 mpg. I am prepared to be impressed by my Ravs fuel efficiency but I don't think I can believe 99.9 mpg. Is there any common reason why trip computers stop working on what is essentially a young car? The salesman made some lame excuse I can't remember but what is concerning me is that a car I had a while ago, a Ford, had a similar glitch and it was related to a gear box sensor that had to be replaced. My Ford had done £100k so I could forgive it but am I justified in being worried about this on the Rav?

[cfc1]

My mpg swings wildly even at constant speed from 0 up to 99.9 mpg.

It looks to me like you are actually looking at your "current" MPG and not your average MPG.

Current MPG tells you what you are getting at that particular moment, say at 50mph you take your foot off the accelerator, your MPG will shoot up to the 99mpg as since you are coasting (with clutch out) your engine isn't useing any fuel at all. Put your foot hard down on the accelerator and your MPG at that point will drop as you are now attempting to go faster thus injecting more fuel into the engine. The harder you press the pedal the less MPG yyou get, the less you press the pedal the more MPG you get (as will be showing on the display)

[anchorman]

My mpg swings wildly even at constant speed from 0 up to 99.9 mpg.

It looks to me like you are actually looking at your "current" MPG and not your average MPG.

Current MPG tells you what you are getting at that particular moment, say at 50mph you take your foot off the accelerator, your MPG will shoot up to the 99mpg as since you are coasting (with clutch out) your engine isn't useing any fuel at all. Put your foot hard down on the accelerator and your MPG at that point will drop as you are now attempting to go faster thus injecting more fuel into the engine. The harder you press the pedal the less MPG yyou get, the less you press the pedal the more MPG you get (as will be showing on the display)

Yeh I think so too. Just look at the book to change the mode and it should be OK.

Regards

[annap]

My mpg swings wildly even at constant speed from 0 up to 99.9 mpg.

It looks to me like you are actually looking at your "current" MPG and not your average MPG.

Current MPG tells you what you are getting at that particular moment, say at 50mph you take your foot off the accelerator, your MPG will shoot up to the 99mpg as since you are coasting (with clutch out) your engine isn't useing any fuel at all. Put your foot hard down on the accelerator and your MPG at that point will drop as you are now attempting to go faster thus injecting more fuel into the engine. The harder you press the pedal the less MPG yyou get, the less you press the pedal the more MPG you get (as will be showing on the display)

Yeh I think so too. Just look at the book to change the mode and it should be OK.

Regards

Thanks for that but the display changes when I'm stationery(ary?) at traffic lights with the car out of gear and the handbrake on. I was stuck on the M40 today for an hour and was mesmerised by the display telling me I was doing 15mpg one second and 67 mpg the next - with my foot nowhere near the peddles. The figure does not correlate with the speed I am going or the amount of acceleration. Am I still expecting too much?

[chatman]

Thanks for that but the display changes when I'm stationery(ary?) at traffic lights with the car out of gear and the handbrake on. I was stuck on the M40 today for an hour and was mesmerised by the display telling me I was doing 15mpg one second and 67 mpg the next - with my foot nowhere near the peddles. The figure does not correlate with the speed I am going or the amount of acceleration. Am I still expecting too much?

Annap,

On the radio press the Trip Navi button until is displays the AV text and this will be a true mpg of your RAV.....

The image below is taken from my RAV and shows the screen your after and the MPG as well.... Most users have shown a deviation of the MPG read out of about 3 - 4 mpg

If yours is displaying the wrong measurement say in KMH rather than MPH etc. You can change this by using the Mode ENT button. Press this in then scroll though until you find the desired settings to change. Leave for 5 seconds and screen will return to normal from settings screen.

[bothwell_buyer]

Thanks for that but the display changes when I'm stationery(ary?) at traffic lights with the car out of gear and the handbrake on. I was stuck on the M40 today for an hour and was mesmerised by the display telling me I was doing 15mpg one second and 67 mpg the next - with my foot nowhere near the peddles. The figure does not correlate with the speed I am going or the amount of acceleration. Am I still expecting too much?

Annap,

On the radio press the Trip Navi button until is displays the AV text and this will be a true mpg of your RAV.....

The image below is taken from my RAV and shows the screen your after and the MPG as well.... Most users have shown a deviation of the MPG read out of about 3 - 4 mpg

If yours is displaying the wrong measurement say in KMH rather than MPH etc. You can change this by using the Mode ENT button. Press this in then scroll though until you find the desired settings to change. Leave for 5 seconds and screen will return to normal from settings screen.

Is that a cassette player I see before mine eyes???

[chatman]

Is that a cassette player I see before mine eyes???

Yep as the 6 disk CD stacker is under the passenger seat....

[RowanR4]

Hi Annap,

My average mpg sit's pretty static although over the last month has gone from a happy 31.9 to this weekend where it now reads 29.4 but it is constant. The current mpg is quite erratic too but not when stationary however, I understand why it's constantly changing when I'm moving. My average mph however, has stuck on 21mph ever since I've had Rowan even after I've been sat on a motorway for around an hour at 70ish... I can't figure that one out myself!!!!! :)

I'll keep an eye on this post to see if you find a happy answer :) :)

PS: I've got a tape player too but not so lucky to have a six cd changer under my seat :) :( :) :( :) ;)

Rowan

[freestyle]

Anyone know why the trip computer updates even when stationary?

Never noticed it before but was amazed today to see my average mpg going down while sitting stationary at traffic lights!

[anchorman]

Instantanious cannot be displayed but average still can. Basically you are going nowhere and still using fuel so when the meter updates avery 20 secs or whatever it is the value falls.