Speedometer Idea Update: First Report.

[Fordum]

Speedometer problems and questions abound here. Anytime anyone changes gears, tires, they have to deal with inaccurate speedos.

OK, that sounds like a wardrobe malfunction......

Anyway, when I went to 12.50/33s on my '89 F250, I was able to find some gears for the 205 that put me back real close.
Surprisingly enough, my worst problem is with my M-class Mercedes. The speedometer is fairly accurate, but its just super hard to read. The numbers are so close together, the needle is about 3-5 mph wide.

My solution and the one I have recommended here, is a GPS on the dash or windshield.
I like it. I seldom use the navigation function, but the speedometer and trip odometer function are nice..

But, its a pain to move between the three vehicles. And buying three Garmins just to get accurate speedometers seems excessive even for me.

So, I have ordered one of these.

http://www.amazon.com/Head-Up-Displ...stallation/dp/B005X4QCAA/ref=cm_cd_ql_qh_dp_t

I got it as a test to see if I like the HUD. If it works and I like it, I may spring for a slightly more expensive one with a trip odometer.
It won't help folks who have shift problems due to an inaccurate VSS, or someone who just wants their stock unit to be right.

But its cheap and simple if you want to know how fast you are going no matter what tires you are running.

Its tentatively due in tomorrow. If it makes it, I will probably plug it in and toss it on the dash on the way home.
Then I will probably mount it in the truck, although I may leave it in the car for a while since its my DD until hunting season rolls around.

Eventually I intend to hardwire it in to a switched power source. I will post my impressions after I try it.

 

[TREA18]

That's a pretty cool plan. Pretty neat if it works out like you hope.

 

[riflerk20]

i'm interested

 

[Blue85]

You can buy a Garmin for the same money, which also gets you navigation and such. So the value here is that it's a HUD. But you can also get smartphone apps that do the same thing. An important consideration is how quickly it locks and how well it keeps it around mountains, big buildings, etc. - especially if it's your only speedo. A HUD is kind of intuitive and addictive, so when you jump in a car without one you think briefly: "how the heck am I supposed to know how fast I'm going?"

 

[blazinzuk]

I use my phone. Sure its not 100% accurate all the time but dang close. Mostly it is accurate.

 

[ktmoutfront]

I could not use one of those. I can not stand a reflection on the windshield. I turn the dash lights down at night.

But a neat idea if you speedo is off.

 

[blazinzuk]

I could not use one of those. I can not stand a reflection on the windshield. I turn the dash lights down at night.

But a neat idea if you speedo is off.

Glad to know I am not the only one who does this. I leave em on just enougb to see the gauges. My hud on my car doesn't bother me at all though. I dim it way down at night too

 

[Fordum]

OK, preliminary report:
It works.
It is NOT a true projection HUD display. Your speed is on the windshield, but its not projected up.
You have a small black box with mirror image green numbers that lays on your dash.
You see the reflection of the box in the windshield.
It runs on 5 volts. The lighter plug is a 5 volt power supply. Of course, with so many USB goodies running around, finding a 5 volt source is not a problem these days.
Plus it has a miniUSB plug, so alternate cords are not a problem either.

Dead cold startup, right out of the box and tossed on the dash took about a minute and ten seconds.
It went off with the ignition when I got gas, and was back up and locked in by the time I got my seatbelt buckled.

Some units I have seen talk about some speedometers being purposely 5KH fast, and seem to indicate that this might be one.
But they also say its adjustable.
I left it on the dash and started driving across the parking lot with my Nuvi on also.
At about 10 mph, it seemed to read 15. So, I figured I would have to adjust it. But when I hit the highway, it started going bad fast.
In seconds it was 20mph fast, and climbing.

I was thinking I was going to have to send it back, when I happened to notice that my dual marked German speedometer was tracking it in KM.

I said a few choice words about my denseness, pulled over and grabbed the little one sheet instructions.
Two quick button presses, and it was reading MPH and tracking my Nuvi exactly.

I will be interested to see how it does in my truck. My M-class basically does not have a hood you can see from the windshield.
So, the background for this unit is the highway.

On blacktop, it shows up well. The dirt roads to my farm are white, and its less than perfect against that.
The little piece of plastic will cure that if I use it. But, against my truck's dark hood, I doubt I will need it.

I noticed that the angle of the unit to the glass is important. I did not put on the little mount, but when I turned it so that it was facing directly to the glass, it was brighter, a little clearer, and less affected by the background.

As for not liking reflections in the windshield, it might not be bad. It has a light sensor that dims it at night.
I would not suggest that you buy one to try, but if you knew someone from who you could borrow one, it would be worth your time to see.

So far, I need to try it at night, and in the truck to give a better review. At the present time, if I were going to change anything, I would add an on/off switch for the mirror function.
If you look directly at the display, its mirror imaged. But, I think it might be better turned on edge and facing me directly.
It would be clearer, the background would not be a problem, and it would be a better setup.
Let me use it a couple of days, and I will post a better report and probably add pictures.
BTW, since my car kills power to it when the key is off, I was worried about the settings.
But it remembered to stay on MPH when I turned the car back on.