Technical Converting Speedometer to Metric from Imperial

[klaus23]

As you may or may not know Ireland is (finally) fully converting to metric speed limits and road signs - previously the speed limits were in Miles and the Road signes were in Kilometers with some in Miles...

The good thing is that some limits will go up e.g. 60 mph becomes 100 km/h which is 62.5 mph, 70 mph becomes 120 km/h which is 75 mp/h, but some will fall (blanket 60 mph will no longer apply to Third Class Roads - this will now be 50 mp/h or 80 km/h)

Anyway - that's the background.

I'm wondering if I should (or can) convert my Punto Sporting to metric. Obviously the speedo shows the metric speed in really small numbers, and I'm wondering if it's as simple as getting a metric background for the dash and applying this?

That would be the easy bit - but could the mileage on the odometer be converted as well?

I don't think many drivers would have done this but I'm hoping some of the mechanics on the forum may be able to enlighten me.

 

[dave]

i know people do it the other way around when importing from japan, you can get the speedo back for that off ebay even sticky ones that go over the top, but the counter stayes in kmh, if you want to change that then its a whole speedo change, so i gess it will be the same for you you will have to change the whole speedo for the counter to be diffrent,

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[Mr_mazza]

Firstly, what year car do you have? Does that have a revolving mileometer or a digital display?

In the case of a digital display quite a few cars have an option which could be changed electronically just a case of finding out how.

The main speedo can be changed with dial backs as already mentioned by both yourself and Dave. Some on the forum would even suggest its a pefect opportunity to get yourself white or otherwise styled ones too.

The important thing is and don't quote me on this, is it legal? Changing to kilometres instead of miles means a depressingly massive increase to what should be shown on the display. Changing what is displayed to K's without increasing it to the equivalent in K's is almost certainly illegal.

Any help?

 

[Mr_mazza]

Firstly, what year car do you have? Does that have a revolving mileometer or a digital display?

In the case of a digital display quite a few cars have an option which could be changed electronically just a case of finding out how.

The main speedo can be changed with dial backs as already mentioned by both yourself and Dave. Some on the forum would even suggest its a pefect opportunity to get yourself white or otherwise styled ones too.

The important thing is and don't quote me on this, is it legal? Changing to kilometres instead of miles means a depressingly massive increase to what should be shown on the display. Changing what is displayed to K's without increasing it to the equivalent in K's is almost certainly illegal.

Any help?

 

[dave]

its not illegale to change the distance shown, but it is illegale to then sell the car impling that is correct, you have to state that the milage/kelometers is not garenteed.

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Please do not Email or PM me asking for support. Post on the forums instead. Your reply may help someone else. Thank you

 

[klaus23]

hey Mr Mazza,

It's a 2000 Punto Sporting - digital milometer, analogue tacho.
I presume the dealer will be able to turn the digital display to km, and then use a km dial for the tacho.

As for the legality - I strongly presume it is, as I would be proactive about a law-change. I would also assume that new cars being imported into Ireland from next year will be fully metric to comply with the new road laws.

I see your point - that you could not change one or the other - but if I just got a dial and removed it before selling the car - then it's fine... I presume.

Thanks for your help

 

[craig 980]

i think the dealers can do it on the examiner equipment

 

[klaus23]

The dealer will probably want the price of a semi-detached house for doing it [!]