Speedo shows I'm going faster than I actually am

[Bertie..]

hi,

my speedo always shows me as driving faster than I actually am - when checked against the sat nav it's a constant 7 mph faster than the sat nav shows.

Is this normal? if not, is there anything I can do about it?

cheers

Bertie..

[dandywarhol]

Are your tyres standard size? If they are you can remove the needle with a teaspoon handle and reset it. You need to do it with the ignition ON as it will be out again if you don't

[missfixit70]

Sounds about normal, it's when it's reading under you get problems.
You can move the position of the need on the spindle if it bothers you that much, 4 screws to take out the binnacle, another 4 to get the plastic cover off ( I think), then a teaspoon handle to lever the needle off using the metal "stop" as a fulcrum, don't lose the weights inside it then you want a straight bit of road, stick it at a set speed by your sat nav & stick the needle back on (usual disclaimers apply regarding the heaLth & safety issues of such a procedure ). May take a couple of goes to get it right, but it worked for me

[Bertie..]

Sounds like it could be one spline on the spindle off then... thanks for the help, something else to look at tomorrow!

[dandywarhol]

Doesn't have a spline Bertie - just a tight push fit

[francophile1947]

Can be very tight - I gave up, even using a spoon on each side of the needle

[David Edwards]

If you are running 215's all round it could be because of that like me, lol, I have left mine as it is, it is a good help against speed cameras etc and means when you are shown as on the limit you are actually a few mph below it, I prefer mine this way.

[Trouble at t'Mill]

It's normal, Bertie.

(Well, provided my Bongo is normal...)

[madmile]

It is quite normal, and personally about 5% is a good margin to leave.
If you do decide to remove the needle and reposition, then watch out for the needle cap comming off as kirsty mentioned.
From the front of the needle you will see a black cap over the centre. The plastic centre of the needle is about 1mm in from the side where the black platic centre clips over. Place a teaspoon each side if you can, with the tip of the spoon touching the spindle and the deepest part of the spoon (ie the base) resting on one of the screw heads either side needle. You then lever the needle off - if you lever too close to the edge, the black cap comes off and the weights fall out and its a right pain to reposition them.
If you position the needle loosely then its easy to reposition. When happy, push it fully home and replace the covers.

[scanner]

If it's just a tight fit why not just get some curved thin nosed pliers and hold the shaft while turning the needle a little?

[mikeonb4c]

Yup - quite normal on 15" wheels. I put 17" wheels on and then my speedo became spot-on accurate

[madmile]

If it's just a tight fit why not just get some curved thin nosed pliers and hold the shaft while turning the needle a little?

Even if you could get pliers around the spindle you still need to lever the needle off, but from underneath the centre.

[scanner]

If it's just a tight fit why not just get some curved thin nosed pliers and hold the shaft while turning the needle a little?

Even if you could get pliers around the spindle you still need to lever the needle off, but from underneath the centre.

Why?
If it's just a tight fit (no splines) as people say, surely it should just slide around a little in the right direction?

[dandywarhol]

If you are running 215's all round it could be because of that like me, lol, I have left mine as it is, it is a good help against speed cameras etc and means when you are shown as on the limit you are actually a few mph below it, I prefer mine this way.

Won't make any difference whether you use 215 all roundor 215 rear and 195 front..........

[madmile]

If it's just a tight fit why not just get some curved thin nosed pliers and hold the shaft while turning the needle a little?

Even if you could get pliers around the spindle you still need to lever the needle off, but from underneath the centre.

Why?
If it's just a tight fit (no splines) as people say, surely it should just slide around a little in the right direction?

I am not sure there is enough room to get pliers in, but if you did, you may not be certain that you have stopped the spindle from turning, and if you are turning it accidentally, you may do damage.
This is not a fool proof method and there are countless other ways to do it, but breaking the needle is a right pain so its best to use tried and trusted. I am grateful to other bongo people to pass this on - allans and bongobits in pymouth to name 2 who have passed useful information on. I stick to this method having tried my own and ended up glueing the needle and weights back in a few years ago.