Notices
996 Forum 1999-2005
Sponsored by:

how does the speedometer work?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-23-2018, 05:36 PM
  #1  
mayday1
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
 
mayday1's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: CA
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default how does the speedometer work?

The 996.1 gearbox does not have a speedometer cable, so how does the car know how fast it
is going? It has to know what gear you're using in addition to the engine rpm. How does it work?
Same question for the odometer.
Old 01-23-2018, 06:58 PM
  #2  
RngTrtl
Drifting
 
RngTrtl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: ATL, GA w/a 996TT
Posts: 2,120
Received 100 Likes on 64 Posts
Default

dont quote me on this, but I thought I recall it used the speed sensors in the rear wheels. Not sure though :/ Im curious now as well.
Old 01-23-2018, 07:49 PM
  #3  
5CHN3LL
Race Director
 
5CHN3LL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SOcialist republic of CALifornia
Posts: 10,423
Received 213 Likes on 157 Posts
Default

My understanding is that manual 996's use one of the ABS encoders (sensors) to calculate vehicle speed. Front left, I read somewhere - but I won't swear to it.
Old 01-23-2018, 09:44 PM
  #4  
texcwa
Racer
 
texcwa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by 5CHN3LL
My understanding is that manual 996's use one of the ABS encoders (sensors) to calculate vehicle speed. Front left, I read somewhere - but I won't swear to it.
This may enplane why my speed did not change (based on the roadside speed signal's) after putting on my new 19" wheels. The rear tires are approx 1" larger than OEM so figured my actual speed would now be same as speedometer speed but my front tires are approx same dia as OEM. C2 Coupe not a C4
Old 01-23-2018, 09:47 PM
  #5  
dan_189
Race Car
 
dan_189's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 3,771
Received 133 Likes on 117 Posts
Default

Old 01-23-2018, 10:22 PM
  #6  
texcwa
Racer
 
texcwa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Great, now can you explain in lamens term what term. 15, term.58 or term.86 S means? I know there has been other threads covering that the Porsche speedometer seems to read lower than actual speed and again when I installed larger diameter tires (rear only) I was expecting for my actual speed to be more consistent to the speedometer speed.
Old 01-23-2018, 10:25 PM
  #7  
dan_189
Race Car
 
dan_189's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 3,771
Received 133 Likes on 117 Posts
Default

Tested mine the other day and it was 4kms under

04' C2 manual with standard size wheels and tyres
Old 01-23-2018, 10:39 PM
  #8  
Dr_Strangelove
Drifting
 
Dr_Strangelove's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Henderson, NV
Posts: 2,150
Received 937 Likes on 566 Posts
Default

My GPS-using Uniden R3 clocks me at 2 MPH under the speed on my digital readout - on 18".

Thanks for the article, dan, I was going to say I had a rear speed sensor come loose and throw the abs code, but my speedometer was fine. Article explains that!
Old 01-26-2018, 01:10 AM
  #9  
longrowe
Instructor
 
longrowe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: E-Town, KY
Posts: 103
Received 5 Likes on 4 Posts
Default

For my 98 C2, the speedo sensor was in the rear (can't remember if it was left or right). The sensor block (that holds speed sensor and brake sensor) crumbled and I lost my speedo so I had to replace the wiring harness that runs from the wheel to the rear circuit panel. Ended up doing all four corner within a month.
Old 01-26-2018, 04:20 PM
  #10  
Woodman71
Rennlist Member
 
Woodman71's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 1,542
Received 264 Likes on 137 Posts
Default

For what it's worth, it isn't entirely accurate, either.

When mine says 70mph, I'm really going 65 - 66.

When it says I am going 30, really about 27.



Quick Reply: how does the speedometer work?



All times are GMT -3. The time now is 10:25 PM.