Congratulations on your new ride! It can be perplexing to see a different unit of measurement on your car’s display than you’re used to.
Fortunately, by following these simple instructions, you can convert kilometers to miles on a Toyota Yaris:
- Turn your key once in the ignition while you are inside the car to activate accessory mode.
- The trip reset button should be on or next to your steering wheel.
- Hold this button down for a short while. When you do this, make sure your headlights are turned off and your odometer is visible.
- You should see a conversion from kilometers to miles in your units.
You are prepared! But before you get back on the road, see if you’re paying too much for car insurance by downloading the Jerry app for free.
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In This Article...
How do I adjust the speedometer on my car?
Remove the negative battery cable in the first step. Finding the negative battery terminal is the first step. So that there is no possibility of electrical damage when dealing with the speedometer, the negative battery cable should be cut.
Remove the negative battery cable by loosening the battery cable bolt. To prevent the cord from touching the battery, set it aside.
Remove the instrument cluster in step two. Find the screws that are securing the instrument cluster.
It’s possible that some of these screws are concealed under other panels that must be removed. Depending on the brand and model.
Start removing the screws as soon as you’ve found them. Check to see if the instrument cluster is loose after all the screws have been removed.
Just enough removal of the cluster will allow the wiring to be seen. There could be several plugs. So that the instrument cluster is entirely free, unhook every connector from it.
The instrument panel should be completely removed from the car and placed on a towel in a secure work area.
Access the speedometer in step three. The plastic cover on the clusters must be taken off in order to reach the speedometer. To detach the covering tabs, lightly pull up on them with a little screwdriver.
Once the plastic cover can be removed, do this all the way around the cluster.
The speedometer should be taken out of the instrument cluster in step 4. Finding the fasteners holding the speedometer in place should be easy once the plastic cover has been removed.
How can I alter the readout on my speedometer?
The task of accurately estimating a vehicle’s speed is left to the speedometer. When purchasing a car from a dealer, the speedometer is calibrated or set to the stock components of the vehicle. The calibration of the speedometer may be thrown off if the owner chooses to alter stock components, such as the tires, giving the driver the incorrect indication for the vehicle’s speed. When using larger tires, the speedometer displays a lower speed than the car is actually traveling at. Similar to this, changing to smaller tires makes the speedometer indicate that the car is moving faster. The speedometer needs to be adjusted once the tires are changed. Here are some easy to follow instructions for changing the calibration of a mechanical or electrical speedometer.
If your speedometer is mechanical, you should find the transmission by opening the hood of your car. The speedometer cable and the bolt holding the gear housing cover should then be removed. Two gears will be visible once the plate has been removed. The amount of teeth on the gears should be counted, therefore note it down. The tire’s diameter should next be obtained and divided by 20,168. The tire’s revolutions per mile are as follows. Add another multiplier for the vehicle’s axle ratio after multiplying this by the number of teeth in your gears (which can be found in the vehicles supporting documents). Purchase the driving gear your vehicle needs. Pull the old driven gear out of its clips, then clip the new driven gear in place. Back the speedometer cable and the gear housing cover into place.
If your speedometer is electric, you need first figure out how far you would need to drive to recalibrate it. This information can be found in the vehicle’s accompanying documentation. Start the car by pressing and holding the calibration button on the speedometer. Then, let go of the button. Then, start the test drive after pressing that button once more. Press the button again after covering the necessary distance, and the speedometer will adjust itself to the larger tire size. You may now get those new tires you have your eye on because you know how to change the speedometer calibration.
Can a speedometer be converted?
You already know that late-model overdrive transmissions have evolved into the standard upgrade for all performance vehicles. These transmissions’ quantity and variety make that choice rather simple. Let’s say you plunged headfirst into the deep end of the pool and installed a 4L80E automatic or a T-56 six-speed in your Chevelle. At some point during the conversion, you discovered that these gearboxes had long since flushed out those cumbersome mechanical speedometers that were operated by gears. Today, every modern transmission sends an electrical pulse known as a vehicle speed sensor (VSS) electrical pulse. Yes, if you want to go that path, there are aftermarket extension housings that convert to a mechanical drive, but we were seeking for something that incorporates the precision and smoothness of a recent electronic speedometer.
The process of converting to electricity can be done in a number of ways. Let’s begin by taking the quickest path. Let’s take a first- or second-generation Camaro that is powered by a 4L60/70/75E or a 4L80/85E as an example. A specific electronic transmission control device is necessary for these electronically controlled overdrives. Five of these units have already been examined by us (“In Control,” Mar. 2012). All of these control boxes output a vehicle speed signal that is compatible with the majority of aftermarket electronic speedometers if you are using one of them. The output is even programmable for the CompuShift II box.
Now suppose you are utilizing a factory manual overdrive, such as the T-56 six-speed. These transmissions often produce a VSS signal that can be connected directly to an aftermarket electronic speedometer. The aftermarket speedos, like those made by Auto Meter or VDO, can be calibrated by simply pressing a button on the speedo, traveling a predetermined distance (in the case of Auto Meter, two miles), and then pressing the button once more. This makes the setup absurdly simple by calibrating the speedo to your specific tire size and gear ratio.
Only if you were attempting to calibrate a late-model transmission to a factory-installed electronic speedometer would you require a calibration box. A user-friendly box is available from Classic Instruments, Dakota Digital, and Auto Meter. Consider wiring the VSS output to the speedometer after connecting it to the Classic Instruments unit. Push the interface button, drive the car a precise calculated distance, and then press the button once more. The speedometer will be accurate after this calibrates the VSS signal entering it from the VSS output. The Classic Instruments SN-74 box is an improved model of the original box that does away with switching dipswitches. This converter box would only be necessary when using a speedometer that was made by the manufacturer.
A different path will completely cut off links to the transmission via a GPS speedometer signal. A GPS box with an antenna that triangulates from a minimum of three geosynchronous satellites is sold by companies like Auto Meter, Classic Instruments, and others, and it provides the speedometer with extremely accurate speed and distance data. Practically all aftermarket electronic speedometers are compatible with these systems. The only drawback we can identify with these is that they can take a minute or more to make satellite contact and can lose signal in long tunnels.
The challenge therefore becomes locating an electric speedometer. Using an aftermarket device from a business like Classic Industries, Auto Meter, Speedhut, or Stewart-Warner is the simplest solution. Budget-friendly 120 mph electronic aftermarket speedometer from Auto Meter with a 318-inch diameter is available from Summit Racing for for $135. A Speedway Motors 120 mph speedometer was also available for $69. In order to calibrate the signal between a low-cost speedometer and the VSS sender, an interface box is typically required. Because it doesn’t require an interconnection, the Auto Meter device might be a better option.
Tim Moore, a member of the Car Craft family, purchased an 85 mph electronic speedometer off a 1990s Chevy van for $20. Finding a factory speedometer that will fit your dash and still appear to belong is a challenge. That probably won’t be simple. Shannon Hudson at Redline Gauge Works told us that you should be able to use a Dakota Digital or Classic Instruments interface box to modify the transmission signal so that it meets the requirements of a factory digital dash, but he was hesitant to guarantee that these boxes would work in all circumstances.
Hudson advised us that he frequently changes older mechanical speedos to electronic, which can be done for as cheap as $300350 if that’s all you need. This is a more practical solution. The updated speedometer won’t be completely stock because of this change, which also results in a digital odometer reading. According to Shannon, the majority of his clients actually choose the digital odometer.
This concludes our brief overview of potential electric speedometer choices for an aftermarket overdrive transmission in an older vehicle. Actually, there isn’t a ridiculously inexpensive $29.95 alternative, but then then, neither is switching to an overdrive automatic or manual transmission. Of course, you already know that these are actually more appropriately referred to be speed suggestion gauges if you’ve ever lived with an old, needle-bouncing, cable-driven speedometer. After spending hours tuning it with dozens of plastic gears, that is. We’ve been there, and for a variety of low-stress reasons, that merely makes an electronic speedometer much more appealing.
What’s wrong with my digital speedometer?
There are a few more likely issues that your car’s speedometer might start indicating. The aging of the vehicle is to blame for many of these. If any of these problems are visible on your speedometer, a replacement or repair might be necessary.
Speedometer Not Working: Speedometer Is Dead
There are two potential causes for a dead speedometer. The cable connecting the speedometer to the transmission breaking is the most frequent cause in older cars. Speed sensors are typically used in cars made after 1990, although they are prone to crashes that prevent the speed information from being shown. A damaged speedometer head may be a more serious problem; to identify and address this, a professional is needed.
Digital speed sensors frequently experience component malfunctions, which is a problem. These sensors send no data to the vehicle’s computer after they quit functioning. The CEL (Check Engine Light) illuminates when the computer tries to estimate the road speed since it has no data to work with.
This problem can be resolved by replacing the speed sensor, but if the CEL isn’t lit and the speedometer behaves strangely or stops working altogether, we advise using the cruise control in the car. The same sensors are used by both of them, so there might be a problem there.
The CEL usually indicates a problem with the speedometer itself when the cruise control is operational and it is on. This might call for the instrument panel to be changed. An illuminated CEL is a significant issue on its own, and it needs to be checked as soon as possible.
Speedometer Not Working: Jerking Or Bouncing Of Speedometer
What should you do if the speedometer is only partially functional? The speedometer alternates between readings rather than settling on one. If there is a cable system, the cause is almost always poor wiring, or a bad speed sensor. In most cases, replacing the wire resolves the problem. The sensors need to be re-calibrated if that fails.
Does Toyota use little fuel?
The gas-saving Toyota has a pleasant ride and outstanding fuel economy in all trim levels. This exciting hatchback seamlessly combines flair and fuel economy. Learn more about the 2.0-liter Dynamic Force Engine’s 32/42/36 (city/highway/combined) MPG EPA estimate.
Why does my vehicle use kilometers rather than miles?
All you have to do is press and hold the trip button to see the speedometer’s odometer flip between metric and normal U.S. measurements. Seek out a specialist, like one from Your Mechanic, if you require more assistance with setting the odometer.