no, this can't be fixed. there is going to be a slight difference in any vehicle.

 

hi everyone --



I have a 2015 Frontier SV 4x4 with the Truck Value Package.



My speedometer is 2-3 MPH "fast", and it's driving my OCD crazy!



For example, if my speedometer is showing 60, I'm really only doing 58. I know this because I've tested it with 2 different GPS units -- plus, every time I go by one of those "Your Speed" radar things, I look down and my GPS is correct and the speedometer isn't.



My question is -- is this something that can be "fixed" by the dealer?

Frontier's are calibrated to 265-75-16 tires thats why its off

 

Yea, I figured it had something to do with the different tires. Why the heck wouldn't a manufacturer recalibrate the speedo to match the tires that are going on the truck? Stuff like this is why I have to take prescription drugs

... or put a 2" lift WITH LT285/75 r16

This here is my favorite solution so far

Grimp

 

he should have 265-75 -16 with the sv 4x4


and what mike said. its never going to be 100% perfect.

 

Sv's come with 265-70-16's from factory unless it has the sport package with 18's only version that comes with 265-75-16 is pro-4x's/nismo's

 

I switched to the 75 series tires and it's been spot on ever since.

 

My 1st gen was the same way; taller tires "fixed" the problem.

The dealer can't talk to a 2nd gen computer? Tell it there are taller tires and here are the new shift points (if auto)?

Has anyone ever had a speedo/odo that read low? Or is the error always in favor of a shorter Nissan Warranty?

 

When you need tires, just put on lt265/75 r16 tires instead of the p265/70 r16 and it should be better or put a 2" lift WITH LT285/75 r16

 

Some LT 265-75-16 May rub on the wheel well so some minor trimming will be required. I have P265-75-16 toyo open country At 2 tires with the GPS the speedometer is spot on. I had the same issue with my speedometer being off by 2 mph with the stock tires.

Chris

 

NO, the dealer has no access to change the speedometer calibration. Just be glad the error is on the fast side.

 

Are 4x2 Frontiers in the same boat? I get it that 4x4s are built around the 265/75s...and yet the S & SV 4x4's are shod w/ 265/70s.

 

I believe they are, my 4 cyl S sure was. I went with lt265/70 r17 on it.

 

I think all mfg's fudge speedo/odometer error on the fast side. It helps keep you from getting a speeding ticket and more importantly, it makes it appear you are getting better mpg than actual.

 

I've never seen a car or truck from the factory that did not overestimate travel speed. Some, much more than others.

Speedometer Scandal! - Feature - Car and Driver

Vic

 

my 2008 LE 4x4 has 265/65/r17 OEM size; the speedo has been right on the money every time I tested it. It seems they must be able to adjust calibration just not willing to!

 

My '03 reads slower than actual speed. At 70mph (GPS verified) it reads about 68mph. However, I have 31's on my '03.

 

Nissan does this on purpose. Your odometer will NOT have additional miles on it. The Speedodometer will read fast, but the odometer will be spot on.

I tested this several times using a GPS in the 2012 SV CC 6 speed I used to have.

 

Please get back to us when you figure out a way to make the oil pressure gauge display something other than "Meh..." or "HFS!!!!"

 

I would like to see proof that the speedometer and odometer are driven by totally different sensors and calibrations.

The OP is not alone, just about everybody knows by now that the SV trucks read too fast on the highway.

 

They don't have to be driven by different sensors to read differently. Take your own GPS, and try it.

 

BMW is well known for doing this. But their ECU allows for addjustment, where as you gents say Nissan does not so. Meh. Be happy it is on the faster side.

 

Be happy it is on the faster side.

^^^^This^^^^
From the info in a link posted earlier in this thread it seems most vehicle speedos are off. Too many variables to worry about. New tires vs worn tires, larger than stock vs stock, etc. Just drive and don't sweat the small stuff. It doesn't make that much difference in the actual vs recorded miles traveled.

 

My S with 265/70R16s reads 2-3mph fast at all speeds as well.

My odometer is dead accurate every time I've measured it.

No reason they have to read the same even from the same sensors, could be a deliberate fudge factor, could be manufacturing tolerance (though I doubt it since it's so consistent) could just be they specced something a digit off to the right of the decimal programming the motor that drives the needle and it was close enough not to bother fixing.

Mfrs legally have to be within x%, you can't be perfect everywhere because it'll vary by tire pressure, tire make/model, load, etc. Better reading fast than low.

Dodge and Nissan have totally different hardware and software. no reason being able to do so on one means you should be able to do so on the other.

 

Every car I have owned since automotive GPS systems have been out have been 2 to 3 MPH off compared to the GPS. The only exception to that was my 2001 Corvette which was only 1 MPH off (have not bothered to check the 2014 Corvette). So on the seven other cars that I've had since I first got a GPS (car model years ranged from 1999 to 2013 including my Frontier) every single one - 100% has been off 2 to 3 MPH.

BTW I don't tell my wife this because she kind of has a lead foot. She usually drives 65 in 55 zones and if I told her her Subaru was really only going 62 when it reads 65, she would just go faster to compensate.

 

my SV is 100% on with GPS with the pro 4x size tires. i was worried since i typically drive a little fast so i downloaded a few apps to see how far off i would be at certain speeds. well with these tires im matching up.

my assumption is its easier to do one calibration then a bunch.

 

I am no help but I'll throw this in, I still have my stock p4x tires on and the speedometer needle is also dead on compared to a GPS. However, the speed reported by any OBDII scanner is about 2.5 mph slower. (i.e. Needle says 60mph while OBDII speed reported is 57.5mph) I've always been curious about this.

 

your scanner should have a setting for offset. eg. my BDwas off by a good bit out of the box, I had to insert a 5% offset to read accurate

Hmmm. Interesting and something I had not thought about. But the GPS has a readout for elevation too. It seems like it should be possible to write the software for the GPS in a way that takes into account elevation changes over the distance driven?

All GPS units record your position in 3d space. so as you gain altitude, it does see that and report it, even if it doesn't give it to you on your display. eg. my Garmin, if I download track data, shows position & altimeter, and will derive speed based on both.

 

not all tires of the same size will have the same rolling circumference. there are variations
between manufacturers and tire models. little here, little there...and it can all add up as
the "...wheels on the truck go round and round."

p.s. just for dialog purposes, even GPS isn't absolute because GPS is based on two-dimensional
distance between two points if you're only latched onto 2-3 satellites and perhaps even with
4+ lock up. in real, terrestrial measure, the distance may be greater as it traverses undulating
hilly terrain

okay, i finished dinner and remembered the proper terms. in hilly driving, we're traveling the
'hypotenuse' which is what the tire tracks and relays. whereas with the GPS, it measures
our 'base' travel when viewed overhead

 

Hmmm. Interesting and something I had not thought about. But the GPS has a readout for elevation too. It seems like it should be possible to write the software for the GPS in a way that takes into account elevation changes over the distance driven?

 

"Most GPS receivers also report elevation (Z-dimension), although Z-accuracy is much lower than X,Y-accuracy because the satellites are most frequently low on the horizon (about three quarters of the visible sky is below 45 degrees)."

You can read more on GPS accuracy here:

FREC 480: GPS Intro

Vic

 

My 2016 SV has the same issue. My Scan Gauge agrees with the GPS (actually a heads up display app cuz Google maps won't show speed). The dash speedo reads 2-3 mph fast. IMO the dash speedo kinda sucks anyhow.