Speedometer legalities

[merc-blue]

Does anyone know what the laws regarding speedometers are?
EG do i have to have one? i assmue yes,
Car is 71 so it can be mph or kph (if changed from std does it have to be kph?)
are digital units legal?
Number readouts legal as opposed to dials?

any help is good
Cheers

[RONA]

Just get a Navman and have a GPS speedo

[merc-blue]

legal though?

[NeoNasty]

Get one of those push bike speedos. They work awsome and some can go up to 250Kph or something.

They are just a magnet which you can attach to your tailshaft, then a small bracket to the sensor. You put in the diameter of the tyre and done! The best part is that you can change your tyres/wheels and simply adjust the settings and your speedo is accurate again.

[-==L=a=N=c=E==-]

Get one of those push bike speedos. They work awsome and some can go up to 250Kph or something.

They are just a magnet which you can attach to your tailshaft, then a small bracket to the sensor. You put in the diameter of the tyre and done! The best part is that you can change your tyres/wheels and simply adjust the settings and your speedo is accurate again.

Now thats a brilliant idea why didn't i think of that. (not as a legal speedo replacement, but as a checker.

[deviant]

I'm not sure on the legalities of using the magnetic bike one.
When my imported car was being complienced it was found that the speedo was broken (the nylon drive gear buried in the diff was broken ) and I suggested using one just to get me on the road but the workshop was pretty convinced that it would never pass the pits as it would be extremely difficult to prove its callibration.

[Rodger]

I would think it is really only the mileage that may come under a legal cloud if and when you sell the car? That would be covered if you say that the speedo has been changed and do not quote mileage.

As far as speed indication: you would have no case if you claim you were doing 60kph as indicated on your speedo when the law recorded 75kph. It is a matter of knowing what your true speed is and relating that to your indicated speed.

It would however be worthwhile contacting the relavent state authority.

That said I see no reason why speedos cannot be changed or not used at all.

Regards

Rodger

[Sigmeister]

I am pretty sure it is a legal requirement. Even if it isn't it's stupid not to have one.
I believe if you are to replce it, it would need to be what ever origionally came with the vehicle (MPH, KPH). I don't know how you'd go changing it anyway as the dial would be out if you changed from MPH to KPH. Althoguh I guess you could just get the magnets adjusted?

If you change to electric then you should be able to do it.

I assume digital is OK as long as it is not distracting to the driver. IE lights up the whole car at night time. And is mounted properly.

[merc-blue]

I was going to design and build a little digital unit,
Aslong as i can prove its calibrated to +/-10KPh of my actual speed i recon it should be fine (as thats whats required of any other speedo to make roadworthness)
testing would be done same as any other speedo,

[Rodger]

Just been reading some ADR guidelines regarding speedos.

The Old ADR requirements stated that if a speedo is to be fitted by manufactures then it shall be +-10% accurate.

The current ADR prohibits any under-reading:

"5.3. The speed indicated shall not be less than the true speed of the vehicle. At the test speeds specified in paragraph 5.2.5. above, there shall be the following relationship between the speed displayed (V1 ) and the true speed (V2).
0 ² (V1 - V2) ² 0.1 V2 + 4 km/h." (From the ADR guidelines.)

This formula means that the vehicle's actual (true) speed must not be greater than the displayed speed. The displayed speed is permitted to be greater than actual speed by up to 4kmh plus 10% of actual speed. So that means that if your car's actual speed is 100kmh, the displayed speed is permitted to be anywhere between 100kmh and 114kmh.

Also from the guidelines

18.2. `VISUAL INDICATORS' FOR MA VEHICLES ONLY
18.2.1. The display of information presented by the following 'Visual Indicators', if fitted. shall be subject to control under this Rule:

Group I
(a) Speedometer
(b) Direction indicator "tell-tale" lamp or lamps
(c) High beam indicator

Group II
(d) Tachometer
(e) Odometer
(f) Service brake failure indicator lamp
(g) Parking brake indicator lamp
(h) Stop lamp failure indicator
(i) Oil temperature indictor
(j) Pressure indicator
(k) Water temperature indicator
(l) Battery charge failure indicator
(m) Fuel level indicator.

Indicates that a speed indication device does not need to be fitted.

More digging may reveal if it is an actual legal requirement but from what I read if one is installed it must comply however only for new vehicles.

Regards

Rodger

[deviant]

I would think that even if it isnt a legal requirement it would still cause an uncomfortable half hour if you ever get pulled over and would more than likely result in a yellow sticker!

[Rodger]

A couple of paragraphs down:

18.5. SPEEDOMETERS AND ODOMETERS (ALL VEHICLES)
18.5.1. Speedometers
18.5.1.1. Unless otherwise 'Approved', every vehicle shall be fitted with a speedometer which shall:
18.5.1.1.1. indicate vehicle speed only in kilometres per hour and
18.5.1.1.2. indicate the actual vehicle speed, for all speeds above 40 km/h, to an accuracy of ± 10 percent
18.5.1.2. The speedometer shall be installed so that its indication is readily visible to the driver when seated in the normal driving position.

Which now is saying to me that if the vehicle was or is built to meet ADRs then it should have had a speedo that meets the requirements.

I then suppose you will need one to make the vehicle continue to comply but as far as which one, then all it has to do is meet the ADRs for speedos.

Regards

Rodger

[Rodger]

There is little or no defence if you claim ignorance as to how accurate the speedo is. You will get fined regardless.

I have read the Vic police remove 2-3kph from their readings so they can cover the known variations in gaining accurate readings.

Regards

Rodger

[merc-blue]

Rodger,
Thats the exact info i was looking for,
I will be fine with my little digital unit, as i can dial the accuracy far better than my origional unit

[CrUZida]

You MUST have a working odometer that cannot be reset as well.