odometer trip meter

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Speedometer Vs Odometer Vs Trip Meter: What Are The Differences

The instrument cluster of a car contains several important instruments that give drivers important information. Three such instruments are the speedometer, odometer, and trip meter. Many car owners don’t know the difference between these components, and if you are one of such drivers, you’ve come to the right place.

Speedometers track how fast a car is moving, odometer tracks the total distance traveled by car, while trip meters measure distance traveled between trips. The information provided by these three instruments is of great value to car owners.

Odometers, speedometers, and trip meters are usually located on the dashboard or instrument cluster where a driver can take a quick glance at them without losing concentration. Anyone who has ever driven a car is bound to be familiar with the speedometer and odometer. The trip meter is likely the one most people are less familiar with.

However, we’ll be discussing all three instruments and the differences between them for educational purposes. So, continue reading to learn more about these important instruments.

Understanding The Odometer, The Mileage Tracker

An odometer tracks mileage which is the total distance traveled by car. Designed to be non-resettable, an odometer will track mileage through the vehicle’s lifetime.

There are several important reasons for tracking the mileage of a car, and one of such reasons is to know the level of work the engine has been subjected to. And this is usually considered when buying a used car. A 5-year-old vehicle with 5,000 mileage will be considered better than a 2-year-old car with 10,000 mileage.

It’s a crime to tamper with the odometer of a car, something that happens as people reduce the readings on the odometer to increase the value of the car. It’s more difficult to tamper with digital odometers than mechanical odometers which are typically found in older cars.

A car’s mileage can also be used to track fuel economy, which is the rate at which the vehicle consumes fuel. Also, mileage can be used for maintenance practices such as oil changes or servicing the engine.

Your car insurance may also require you to track mileage, especially if you are using a mileage-based car insurance plan. Doing this allows you to know when to get a top-up or when to drive less to avoid exceeding the current limit of your plan.

Odometers can be digital or mechanical. Mechanical odometers are something of a dying breed as modern cars now favor digital odometers, which use an optical or magical sensor connected to the transmission of a car to calculate mileage. For mechanical odometers, mileage is calculated by an output shaft attached to the transmission.

Understanding The Speedometer – The Instrument That Measures Speed

The speedometer is designed for only one purpose, and that is to measure the speed a car is traveling at. The speedometer starts reading the moment the car is in motion and goes back to zero when the car comes to a complete stop. So, unless the car is moving, the speedometer reading will always be at zero.

Without speedometers, drivers would have no idea of how fast they are moving. So, a speedometer allows drivers to know their current speed to allow them to drive safely to avoid accidents. Also, speedometers allow drivers to travel within speed limits. If you go above the speed limit, you may be flagged down by an officer of the law and receive a warning if you are really lucky. If Lady Luck isn’t smiling at you, you may be charged and fined.

Understanding The Trip Meter

The trip meter, also called the trip odometer, is an instrument some drivers may not be familiar with, especially those that drive older cars. Modern cars generally have trip meters because of how easy it is to incorporate them since they are usually digitized.

The function of a trip meter is to record distance making it similar to an odometer. However, the trip meter is resettable. You can always reset the trip meter back to zero whenever you want.

Some cars tend to come with two independent trip meters, which are usually designated Trip A and Trip B. Having two independent and resettable trip meters is advantageous to drivers as they can use the two meters for different purposes.

For example, Trip A can be used to monitor the total distance traveled in a day or in a week. At the end of the day or week, the trip meter can then be reset after taking note of the distance traveled. Trip B, on the other hand, can be used for other purposes, such as tracking the total distance traveled between fuel refills. This can give drivers insight into how far they can travel on a full tank, half tank, or a particular amount of fuel. Drivers will know whenever there’s a change in the rate at which the engine is consuming fuel or if the fuel obtained from a different source is of lower or higher quality.

Differences Between Speedometer, Odometer, and Trip Meter

As discussed above, the difference between these three instruments is their function. Below is a table to simplify the differences.

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RALLY EXPLAINER - Choosing a Tripmeter

What is a Tripmeter?

The ability to measure traveled distance accurately, and correlate it with distances in a roadbook is at the heart of Rally Navigation.

A tripmeter at its most basic is simply an adjustable, highly accurate odometer. More advanced features can include measuring speed, providing compass headings for HP/OP sections, providing a clock, stage timer, hour meter for maintenance scheduling, and displaying waypoint information.

How do they work?

There are two main types of tripmeters:

• Wheel Sensor Driven

Wheel sensor tripmeters rely on a micro switch sensor usually placed near a front wheel hub that is triggered by a magnet usually located on a brake rotor. As the magnet passes over the sensor with each revolution of the wheel, a pulse is registered by the tripmeter. This pulse is multiplied by the conversion factor programmed into the tripmeter, and a distance is displayed to the racer. Wheel sensor tripmeters require very little electricity to operate, and can operate for periods without external power. Wheel sensor tripmeters are usually less expensive.

GPS driven tripmeters rely on a GPS antenna to provide course data to the tripmeter. In additional to displaying speed and odometer, GPS driven tripmeters can provide additional functionality like compass (CAP) headings. GPS driven tripmeters do not require the install and routing of a wheel sensor, but will not function without external power. NOTE: Some events such as Dakar or Rebelle restrict the use of GPS devices.

An in-depth discussion of the effective accuracy difference between GPS and Wheel Sensor is here , but for nearly all Rally purposes, we can consider the accuracy between the two to be equal. Nearly all of the (very rare) Tripmeter failures we see are related to cable damage. Both GPS and Wheel Sensor units can be equally reliable with careful install and cable protection.

ICO or RNS?

Since its release in 2017, the ICO MAX series has become the world standard. It’s rare to see a Dakar bike without at least one ICO MAX-2 (Wheel Sensor). The MAX series has a composite case and 25x65mm “Seven Segment” LCD screen (Similar to a digital clock) with bright orange backlight. The MAX-G has an external cabled GPS Antenna. The ICOs are designed and built in the USA.

The ICO MAX-2 (Wheel Sensor) is $350USD

The ICO MAX-G (GPS) is $450USD

The RNS GFX series was released in 2020 and is the next generation of Rally Tripmeters. The GFX series has an anodized billet aluminum case, and 35x60mm Transflective HD Graphics 172ppi LCD screen (Similar resolution to a tablet or laptop screen) with a bright blue backlight. This screen allows for the display of multiple data at once, and full text menus.  The Pro model has an internal GPS for durability and simplicity. It also has the capability to connect to an external GPS device to display hidden waypoint arrows similar to an ERTF or RallyComp, which is great for realistic training. The RNS GFX Series is designed and manufactured in Germany.

The RNS GFX Standard (Wheel Sensor) is $500USD

The RNS GFX Pro (Internal GPS and Wheel Sensor) is $640USD 

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How To Use Trip Meter In Car? Most Helpful Scenarios

CarAraC auto mechanics and car experts

To use a trip meter, you have to navigate to the Trip menu using the button(s) on the steering wheel or trip computer panel. You can also use the appropriate reset button to reset trip values before or after any trip. There are slight changes across different models, but it's all the same basic principle.

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How To Change The Display On A Trip Computer

Generally, regardless of what car you drive, you can switch between displays by pressing the button controls on your steering wheel. However, some brands, like Toyota, may have a button on the lower part of the odometer screen, which you can use to swap between displays. 

Trip Meter Vs. Odometer

Most times, trip meters get confused with odometers. While these two pretty much do the same thing, they're not exactly the same. 

An odometer measures the total distance covered by a car ever since it started being used. A trip meter, on the other hand, only measures the distance covered per trip or the total distance covered since the last reset date. Most cars have trip meters built into the odometer screen. 

While you can reset trip meters before or after trips, you can't do the same to an odometer. In fact, it's actually illegal to reset Odometers in some countries, as it shows the total mileage of the car. 

Benefits Of Using A Trip Meter

• Easy Mileage Calculation

The most significant benefit of trip meters is that they save the driver the trouble of calculating the mileage for any particular trip. You see, before now, cars only employed odometers. So, if you wanted to get your mileage from a trip, you'd have to subtract the mileage at the end of the trip from the initial mileage reading. 

This method of calculating mileage, of course, wasn't very efficient or convenient. Drivers often forgot their initial mileage readings, making the entire attempt futile. 

With trip meters, however, you don't need to cram values in your head for every trip. All you have to do is reset the meter before you start the journey-the reading you get at the end of the trip is the mileage for that particular trip. 

• Fuel Consumption Monitoring

One of the greatest benefits of the trip meter is that it helps you keep an eye on your car's fuel consumption rate. Let's say your car consumes a gallon of fuel every ten miles. In a scenario where you've consumed a gallon of gasoline, and yet, your trip meter tells you that your car has driven only 7 miles, you can be sure something is wrong. 

In modern vehicles, the odometer screen can equally give you a direct value of the fuel consumption rate, so you don't have to compare values yourself. 

• Easy Reminders For Maintenance Jobs

Several car routine maintenance practices depend on the total miles driven. Car batteries typically last for 30,000 to 50,000 miles on average, and engine oils need replacement for every 3,000 miles. 

You can always use your trip meter to keep a watchful eye on your mileage and then carry out the maintenance once the target value is approaching. Trip meters are also very important for gauging the lifespan of certain car components, like tires. 

For instance, let's say you install a new set of tires, and it's only expected to last for 5000 miles. You can reset your trip meter from the date the tire was installed. As you keep using your car, you can easily tell by your trip meter when you're close to the 5000 miles mark. 

How To Use/Reset A Trip Meter-Typical Scenarios For Different Vehicles 

Depending on the brand and model of your vehicle, there may be slight variations in how your odometer or trip meter works. Let's take a look at some popular vehicle brands and how it's done in these vehicles. At least, you can take a clue from here. 

How To Use Trip Meter In Toyota Vehicles

In Toyota Vehicles, you won't easily find menu buttons on the steering wheel that control the trip meter. Rather, there will be a button on the lower right side of the instrument panel for this function. 

For most Toyota cars, pressing this button once will display "Trip A," and pressing it a second time will display "Trip B." To reset any of these trips, simply make sure it is the one showing presently on the display, and then press and hold the button. The values should return to zero after a few seconds. 

For models like Toyota Corolla, you can change or switch displays by pressing the stem at the lower left corner of the instrument cluster. Resetting your trip meter simply entails pressing and holding this stem until the values change to zero. 

How To Use Trip Meter In Ford Vehicles

To Use the trip computer in Ford vehicles, you must use the 5-way controls on the steering wheel. You'll find buttons like down, up, left, right, and OK: use these to navigate to the trip menu. 

Note that Ford vehicles (just like Toyota) usually have multiple options, so be careful which you select. Here are the menu options you'll find in most Ford vehicles:

• Average Fuel: Shows average fuel consumption rate per trip.
• Trip timer: Records how long a particular trip takes. The timer starts automatically when you turn on your vehicle and stops when you turn it off.
• Outside Temperature: shows the temperature outside of your car.
• Trip Odometer: Records distance traveled per trip
• Digital Odometer: Records total distance traveled by car.
• Distance to Empty: Shows the estimated distance your car can travel before the gasoline runs out.
• All values: Displays all the above-mentioned variables on one screen.

Suppose you wish to reset the trip odometer, press and hold the OK button until a status bar loads up. Once the bar fills up completely, the trip meter will be reset. 

In Ford vehicles, you also have the option to reset the entire trip computer. To do this, go to the "All Values" screen and press and hold OK until the values reset to zero. 

How To Use Trip Meter In Chevrolet Vehicles

For older models, you'll have to repeatedly press the menu button until you see a "trip/fuel" menu shown on the screen. Now, press the down arrow button to toggle between "Trip 1" and "Trip 2."

If you wish to reset any of the trip meters, simply press and hold the "set/clr" button for a few seconds until you see the mileage change to zero. Note that in some models like Chevy Cruze, there'll be a thumbwheel to use in selecting options (scrolling up or down)

For newer Chevy models, you'll usually find "left" and "right" arrow buttons on the steering wheel that allow you to scroll between menu items. Use this button to scroll through the menu list until you see "Trip 1" or "Trip 2" displayed. If you wish to reset any of these, use the checkmark "?" button on the steering wheel.

How To Use Trip Computer In Mercedes

For Mercedes cars (modern ones, of course), they employ a tiny touchpad instead of regular steering buttons. This touchpad is usually located on the left or right wing of the steering wheel, close to other buttons. 

To control the trip computer or toggle between displays, you simply swipe the touchpad left or right with your finger. To reset the trip meter, first, ensure you are on the trip display menu. Next, click the touchpad button. 

A message will pop up on your screen asking if you want to reset the meter. Click the "yes" option, and you're done. It's important to note that most Mercedes cars have automatic reset timers, and you also have the option of resetting your trip meter from a particular date or time. 

Typical additional features in a Mercedes instrument cluster include current speed, current consumption rate, Eco display, etc. 

Making the most use of your trip meter will save you the trouble of unexpected breakdowns and also keep you up-to-date with preventive maintenance. Some cars give you more liberty to manipulate trip meters than others. However, as you can see from this article, the basic principle of using/resetting a trip meter doesn't really change. 

Note that the instructions for the brands above are generic, and slight differences may be noticed across different car models. It's always best to consult your user manual for specific instructions.

About the authors

The CarAraC research team is composed of seasoned auto mechanics and automotive industry professionals, including individuals with advanced degrees and certifications in their field. Our team members boast prestigious credentials, reflecting their extensive knowledge and skills. These qualifications include: IMI: Institute of the Motor Industry, ASE-Certified Master Automobile Technicians; Coventry University, Graduate of MA in Automotive Journalism; Politecnico di Torino, Italy, MS Automotive Engineering; Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Mechanical University in Skopje; TOC Automotive College; DHA Suffa University, Department of Mechanical Engineering

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What is Odometer in a Car and How does it Work?

• Updated: January 7, 2023

Your car’s dashboard contains many gauges and measurements, but the odometer reading might be the most important. This random set of numbers means more than you might be aware of.

In this guide, I show you how to read the odometer. I also explain what it means to roll back the odometer, and how you can avoid becoming a victim of this practice. 

How Does the Odometer Work?

The odometer is a measurement device that shows the total distance traveled by the car. It’s found on the car’s dashboard. Two Greek words come together to form the word “odometer,” leaving us with the meaning of path and measure.

There is also a trip odometer on most cars. Unlike the standard odometer, the trip odometer is easy to reset to show how many miles were traveled during a specific time. It’s a helpful tool if you want to figure out the approximate gas mileage of your vehicle. 

How to Check the Odometer Reading

Whether you have a mechanical or electronic odometer, you can read the numbers that are shown on your car’s dashboard. These numbers show how many total miles the vehicle has been driven. However, there are some ways these numbers can be messed with, giving you a false impression. 

Here is more detailed information on how to check your car’s odometer, depending on whether you have a mechanical or electronic odometer:

1. Mechanical Odometer

Mechanical odometers are constructed with a few cogs. Each one represents a numerical digit. The functionality of this kind of odometer begins at the car’s transmission. There is a small gear used to change the odometer which is found attached to the transmission. 

The drive cable for the speedometer is connected to this gear, with the other end reaching the instrument cluster. As the car moves, the transmission gear also turns in conjunction. The drive cable connected to it changes the digits on the odometer. 

As can be seen by the illustration above, the counting begins on the right. This particular odometer shows 160,648 km. All of these numbers will reach a peak value before resetting to zero and starting again. However, the mechanical odometer numbers can often be slightly off-center, making them more difficult to read. 

2. Electronic Odometer

The electronic odometer design is newer than the mechanical type. It’s a digital odometer that is run by the electrical system. While there is still a special gear measuring the mileage, there isn’t a drive cable. Instead, a magnetic sensor is used to count how often the gear turns with the transmission. The mileage is then shown by the numbers reflected on the dashboard electronically.

Electronic odometers are more accurate than mechanical ones, and they aren’t as easy to alter. If you look at the illustration above, it shows the mileage of the vehicle at 100000 km, revealed electronically.

RELATED: 7 Types of Gauges on a Car Dashboard

Why is the Odometer Reading Important?

The numbers you read on the odometer show you how many miles the vehicle has traveled. When you look at the odometer, you know how many miles are on that vehicle’s engine, transmission and other vital parts.

This measurement is important to know before you purchase a vehicle, since the mileage determines a large part of the car’s value. Vehicles are often priced according to the model year, condition and mileage. The lower the mileage, the higher the resale value typically is.

How to Calculate Fuel Economy with the Odometer

You can use the odometer to figure out the approximate fuel economy of your vehicle. Knowing what the car should be getting, you can determine if the engine is working as it should.

• When you fill-up the gas tank, reset the trip odometer.
• Drive normally until the next time you fill-up.
• At that filling session, write down the number of gallons you added and take note of the trip mileage since the last fill-up. This shows how many miles you drove for that many gallons of gas.
• You can divide the number of miles driven by the number of gallons you put in the tank. For example, if you drove 200 miles on 10 gallons of fuel, the average fuel economy was 20 mpg. 

To get the most accurate reading, try to record the mileage for an entire tank of fuel. You can also perform the test several times to see a better average. 

RELATED: 90 Car Dashboard Symbols & Indicators – Meanings

Can the Odometer Be Wrong?

It’s possible for the odometer to show the wrong measurement. If you have a mechanical odometer, you want to watch it periodically to ensure it is recording the mileage correctly. If you measure the distance you’ve driven, the odometer should accurately report it. 

If the odometer isn’t working correctly – even a little – the mismeasurement can quickly add up. Let’s assume that the odometer changes too soon – again, even by a little. It won’t take long before the car is showing far more miles than what has actually been driven, leading it to lose resale value unnecessarily. 

It’s possible to have the fault repaired and get back on track. If you plan to sell your car in the future, this is something you want to take care of right away.

What Does it Mean to Roll Back an Odometer?

Dishonest people aren’t afraid to roll back the odometer to make a car look like it has fewer miles than it actually has. It is much easier to roll back a mechanical odometer. While there are some hoops to jump through to get around the security system, criminals know how to make it happen with minimal effort.

It’s not impossible to roll back a digital odometer, and those who have sought out how to do it have succeeded. It is a lot harder, because the security features are more advanced, but it’s not impossible. With either type of odometer, you must be on guard against tampering and fraud.

Otherwise, you could pay more for a vehicle, assuming it’s worth a higher value than it actually is. Odometer tampering is illegal. If you realize that the odometer of a vehicle has been rolled back, you want to take legal action against the car dealer. 

How to Tell if Odometer Has Been Rolled Back

Before you purchase a vehicle, you want to be sure that the odometer is accurate. The best way to do this is to run a CARFAX report on the vehicle . With this vehicle history report, you can see how many owners the car had and see the service records. With all of the reported mileage and dates, you will know very quickly if the odometer has been turned back at some point.

For example, if the CARFAX shows that in 2019 the car had 156,000 miles on it, you would know something is wrong if you are looking at it in 2022 with only 125,000 miles on the odometer. This simple step indicates that the odometer has been messed with, and you should avoid the car at all costs. 

You can also physically look at the mechanical odometer to see if anything appears shady. If you see scratches around the numbers or other imperfections, this should serve as a red flag to you. 

Finally, listen to your gut. If the car dealer gives you a bad feeling or doesn’t seem to care about regulations, it’s best to choose somewhere else to do business. If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

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odometer/trip meter

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I'm pretty new to jeeps, this is on a recently purchased high mileage 1998 Cherokee Sport. I've had trouble from the start with the trip meter, it has been resetting itself to zero at random intervals, then it progresses to shifting between trip meter and odometer mileage modes by itself, not it has reached a point of not going into trip meter mode at all. I've pulled the cluster out and cleaned the contacts (they were pristine and looked like new but I cleaned them with electronic cleaner anyway) and tested the grounds at the plug and they all tested good. everything on the plugs fit tightly into the cluster sockets. Any suggestions on what it may be other than a faulty odometer that needs to be replaced with the whole cluster (the other gauges work fine)? Don't know what to check that would give a definitive answer without spending a fair amount of money to get a new one and trying it out, so if there is anything else I can test I would appreciate anything that can be suggested. BTW, is there any diagram or anything showing where the various grounding points to the body are physically located? The wires just seem to go into a the harness in one place and where they come out to attach to the body is a total mystery to me.  

Any self-service U-Pull-It junkyards nearby ? A used cluster should be about $20. A genuine Jeep Service and Diagnostics Manual has all the wire color to circuit diagrams and the ground location diagrams. www.pacificcoastmanuals.com has them.  

With the odometer switching to and from trip on it's own, I would suspect the odometer switch to be bad. If the only issue were the trip meter resetting I'd suspect loss of power from the IOD fuse, but that wouldn't cause the odo to swap to trip.  

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Honda CR-V: Driver Information Interface / Odometer and Trip Meter

Shows the total number of miles (U.S.) or kilometers (Canada) that your vehicle has accumulated.

Shows the total number of miles (U.S.) or kilometers (Canada) driven since the last reset. Meters A and B can be used to measure two separate trips.

Resetting a trip meter

To reset a trip meter, display it, then press and hold the knob. The trip meter is reset to 0.0.

Switching the Display

Average fuel economy, range, elapsed time, average speed and engine oil life, other information:, honda cr-v 2017-2024 owner's manual: compass*, honda cr-v 2017-2024 owner's manual: maintenance minder messages on the driver information interface.

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Driver Attention Monitor

The Driver Attention Monitor analyzes steering inputs to determine if the vehicle is being driven in a manner consistent with drowsy or inattentive driving. If it determines that the vehicle is being driven in such a manner, it will display the degree of the driver's attention in the Driver Information Interface.

Toyota Camry  XV50 (2012–2017) Owners Manual When driving » Instrument cluster » Gauges and meters Changing the odometer/trip meter display

Pressing the button changes the display as follows.

● Odometer

Displays the total distance the vehicle has been driven.

● Trip meters A and B

Displays the distance the vehicle has been driven since the meter was last reset. Trip meters A and B can be used to record and display different distances independently.

Press and hold the button to reset.

● Outside temperature

Displays the outside air temperature.

The temperature range that can be displayed is from -40°F (-40°C) to 122°F (50°C).

● Average fuel consumption

Displays the average fuel consumption since the function was last reset.

• To reset the function, press and hold the button while average fuel consumption is being displayed.

The average fuel consumption meter will also be reset, returning the needle to the 0 position.

• Use the displayed average fuel consumption as a reference.

● Current fuel consumption

Displays the current rate of fuel consumption

Changing the odometer/trip meter display

Toyota camry xv50 (2012–2017) owners manual.

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What Does Trip A Mean On A Car? All Answered

Your car’s odometer includes various information and parameters. One of them is trip A. Sometimes you wonder about its function and benefits for your car.

What does trip A mean on a car ? Let’s follow us for more details.

What Does Trip Mean On A Car?

The car’s odometer has 2 trip meters, including trip A and trip B . Thanks to the car trip computer , it shows you how many miles you have traveled since resetting your odometer.

In addition to calculating the distance traveled, the odometer also gives you information about your average speed and fuel level. Warning information is also provided to determine your car’s problems.

The car trip is one of the tools to help measure the vehicle’s performance after a period of use. The mileage that trips A and B provide will give you an overview of the problems you are facing while driving.

Most cars with an odometer contain basic information such as mileage, average fuel of the vehicle, stopwatch, and tire pressure.

What Does Trip A Mean On A Car?

As mentioned above, trip A on the car is a part of your odometer. Basically, it will provide trip information about the mileage you have driven in a certain time .

Trip A Function

It can be reset every time you refuel, and you can clean your driving record. It helps you to know the mileage for each full tank of gas.

When you run out of gas, you will calculate the distance to the next gas station to avoid running out of gas on the road.

The mileage display is also a way to know the quality of your vehicle’s oil for on-time maintenance and oil changes.

If the recorded mileage is too high, a “Due Soon” message may appear in some cars to remind you that the oil in your vehicle is deteriorating . You need a new oil change or vehicle maintenance.

Should you let the mileage exceed the programmed distance, “Due Now” and “Past Due” will be displayed and warn you.

Relevant Parameters

Instantaneous fuel gauge.

An instantaneous fuel gauge is one of the standard equipment that tells you the average fuel consumption of your vehicle at the time being.

This value is constantly updated and gives you the exact number of miles you have traveled at that moment.

The gauge also informs you of the fuel flow rate and performance of the vehicle’s engine. It helps you know how to save fuel while using the car.

Average mileage is divided into two categories: on city roads and on public highways. You can expect average fuel economy when traveling on the highway.

Your driving habits can be changed over time so that your vehicle can achieve maximum power while maintaining its performance.

Fuel Tank Range

The fuel available in the tank will indicate how far you can go. It helps you calculate fuel consumption, estimate fuel economy, and when to refuel the vehicle.

When you receive a warning, you need to refuel early to avoid running out of gas in the middle of the road.

In addition, if your driving habits change to an economic driving style, the average fuel level will also change over time. Problems related to refueling will also be reported through the flashing check engine dash light .

Battery Range

Battery power also controls current mileage. The remaining distance will depend on the energy in the battery.

The Electrical distance to empty (DTE) symbol and the TPMS sensor will tell you the condition of your vehicle’s battery.

Using equipment inside the car, such as air conditioning and climate control settings, also causes the battery power consumption to be different than expected. The way you drive can also affect this battery power consumption.

What Are The Differences Between Trip A and Trip B?

Main Differences

Trip A has the main function of measuring the driving distance after each refueling. What does trip B mean on a car ? Trip B has the function of measuring the number of miles traveled after each oil change.

However, not all classes of vehicle show both trips. Cheap vehicles and commercial motor vehicles will have certain differences.

Car owners can choose to display one of two trips depending on their preferences, needs, and purposes.

The fact that 2 people drive the same car and show 2 different trips also brings significant benefits.

They will know the average fuel level and the oil condition of the vehicle. The right vehicle warranty will ensure the accuracy of the trip.

A trip button allows you to switch between two values ​​to know the fuel level in the car and its oil level.

Turn Off/ Reset Trip A & B

How to reset your road trip meter? Sometimes the current trip crashes, and you need to turn it off and reset it. The reset will vary between cars. The best way is to read the user manual carefully before resetting it.

You can go to car forums to consult the opinions of people who have experienced it. They will also help you solve other problems that arise during the reset process.

Normally, resetting trip A and trip B bears no difference. The general formula is to press and hold the trip button on car located on the switch on the left. In addition, it will reset your driving time, average driving speed, and mileage.

The longer you hold the button, the more data is reset. You should note that if the vehicle is idle for 4 hours or more, the odometer data will be reset automatically.

After each trip, resetting the trip meter helps you get accurate mileage, fuel level, and oil status. From there, it assists you to consider the exact time to refuel, maintain the car, and change the oil.

Is Trip Meter And Odometer The Same?

Many people assume that an odometer and a trip meter are the same. However, it is not the case.

The odometer’s main function is to provide information about the total distance traveled by your vehicle during its lifetime.

Meanwhile, a trip odometer tells you the approximate distance during each trip or after each time you refill your tank. It has no tracking function for the total number of trips over the vehicle’s lifetime.

Basically, an odometer will yield more information. Total road information in the car allows drivers to determine when the vehicle needs scheduled maintenance.

At the same time, they may also have to correct the readings and where to record them to compare with the next maintenance period.

Besides, an odometer will determine the average level of your car. It will also help you detect whether the odometer is faulty.

If starting the car turns the sensor data to zero after you fill it up, the odometer is faulty. You need to take it to the auto repair shop to have it repaired.

What Is Trip 1 And 2 In A Car?

What is trip A and trip B in the car ? We think you’ve got the answer. But some categories of motor vehicles, including trip 1 and trip 2, are still confusing.

Are you wondering what function these 2 trips have? They are included in the driver information center (DIC). It provides information about the number of miles you have traveled since the last reset of the meter.

Not all vehicles are available for trip 1 and trip 2. If you want to know more information about them, you can open the Menu by pressing the menu button.

Fuel and mileage information will appear. You just need to scroll down to see trip 1 and trip 2.

What does trip A mean on a car ? Overall, it allows you to track the miles you have traveled after each refueling.

It will help you to know the total distance equivalent to your full gas tank. You will get a reasonable estimate when you are about to run out of gas to fill up.

Hopefully, through this article, you have gained useful information about trip A meaning in a car . Thank you for taking the time to read our article. See you in the next post!

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• Video Tutorials

Toyota Corolla Cross: Odometer and trip meter display

■ Changing the display

Press the display change button until the desired item is displayed.

■ Display items

Displays the total distance the vehicle has been driven.

• Trip meter A/Trip meter B

Displays the distance the vehicle has been driven since the meter was last reset. Trip meters A and B can be used to record and display different distances independently.

To reset, display the desired trip meter and press and hold the display change button.

Changing the instrument panel light brightness

The brightness of the instrument panel lights can be adjusted.

■Instrument panel light brightness adjustment

The brightness of the instrument panel lights can be adjusted separately for when the tail lights are on and off.

Adjusting the clock

■ The clocks can be adjusted on the audio system screen.

Refer to "MULTIMEDIA OWNER'S MANUAL".

  Multi-information display (4.2-inch display)

  display and menu icons,   changing the meter display,   road test,   problem symptoms table.

Tesla Odometer and Trip Meter: Track More than Your Miles

All Tesla vehicles have an odometer used to measure the total distance the vehicle has travelled over its lifetime. Teslas also have a trip odometer which displays distance, duration as well as total and average energy used since the last charge. Access your odometer through the touchscreen or phone app. 

Tesla Odometer and Trip Meter

Like all vehicles, Teslas have a standard odometer, used to measure the distance a vehicle has travelled. The distance is cumulative, starting from “0” miles (or kilometres) on a brand new car.

Tesla vehicles also come with a trip odometer (trip meter) which tells drivers the distance and duration or their trips, as well as the total and average energy used since the previous charge.

How to Find the Odometer on a Tesla

Unlike most gas-powered vehicles that show odometer readings on the dashboard either digitally or mechanically, Tesla’s odometer must be accessed through the touchscreen or phone app. 

Here’s how to check the mileage on your Tesla:

Using the touchscreen: .

• Select Controls>Software
• The odometer reading is located directly above the reset for the trip
• Select Controls>Trip 
• Scroll down to see the odometer reading (located directly above the reset for the trip)

Using the Tesla phone app:

• Open the app and scroll all the way to the bottom  
• Your odometer reading is displayed just above your VIN number

Why an Odometer is Important

In conventional gas-powered vehicles, odometers are used as a measure of wear and tear on the car’s tires and engine to help assess its market value. 

In electric vehicles, odometers are used primarily to determine the loss of battery capacity and driving range, making your odometer number a good gauge for when to replace your battery. 

Odometers and Battery Life

Elon Musk has indicated that Tesla batteries will last between 300,000 and 500,000 miles . The batteries used in Tesla vehicles outperform many EVs and drivers can expect batteries to perform like new for 100,000-150,000 miles. 

Even after 160,000 miles, battery degradation is estimated at only 10%, making Tesla vehicles one of the longest lasting cars available.

Trip Odometer (Trip Meter)

In addition to a standard odometer, all Tesla vehicles come with a trip odometer. 

Also known as a trip meter, this instrument measures the distance of your trips plus the total and average energy used since the last charge.

Information on the Trip Odometer

The trip odometer displays:

• Distance travelled since the last charge 
• Total energy used since the last charge (kWh)
• Average energy used since the last charge (Wh/mi)
• Distance, total energy used (kWh) and average energy (Wh/mi) for up to two trips (Trip A and B)
• Current Odometer reading

How Do I Use the Trip Meter on My Tesla? 

Use your trip odometer feature to:

View information about your current trip:

• Using the touchscreen, select Controls>Trips

Set up your next trip: 

• Rename the trip (if you’d like) and select “reset” at the start of your trip

How to Rename Trips

Instead of the standard “Trip A” or “Trip B”, you can rename your trips. Note that the trip meter only allows data to be displayed for two trips (in addition to your current trip).

Here’s how to rename your trips:

From the Trips screen ( Controls>Trips ):

• Tap on “Trip A” or “Trip B” (displayed in blue)
• A pop-up will appear to allow for a name change
• Enter a new name for the trip
• Press  Save

Pro Tips : When we prepare our Tesla vehicles for winter , our pros rename one of the trips “Winter Season”. This now enables us to track the precise distance (and wear) on our winter tires.

Loaning out your vehicle? One of our pros frequently loans out his Tesla. Before handing it over, he resets one of the trips so he can tell how far the vehicle has been driven in his absence. 

How to Reset a Trip 

Whether you’re tracking mileage for work or taking a long road trip, here’s how to reset the trip odometer:

To reset a trip:

• From the Trips screen ( Controls>Trips )
• Scroll to the bottom
• Select the trip you wish to reset (current, Trip A or Trip B)
• Select its associated  Reset  button

Kilowatts and Wh/Mi Displays on the Trip Odometer

Tesla displays the total energy in kilowatts (kWh) and the watts per mile (Wh/Mi) data on the trip odometer. 

Tesla includes this data to show drivers the total energy consumption (kWh) versus the efficiency of the energy (Wh/Mi) required for their Tesla. This helps drivers to anticipate the range of their vehicle and helps them prepare for the next trip.  

What Does Wh/Mi Mean?

Wh/Mi stands for watts per mile, a measure of the amount of electrical energy used per mile travelled. Wh/Mi measures EV efficiency similarly to miles per gallon (MPG) in a gas-powered vehicle. However, unlike MPG, Wh/Mi is affected whenever energy is consumed in the vehicle.  

So, even when the car isn’t moving, energy is still consumed, which will affect your Tesla’s efficiency or Wh/Mi. You’ll notice your Wh/Mi will change when idling, parked, during cold weather, and when cabin features are used, such as heated seats and steering wheel. 

Improve your efficiency (Wh/Mi) by preconditioning your vehicle and shifting your driving habits – particularly during winter .

Tesla boasts the lowest energy consumption and highest efficiency of 277 electric v ehicles tested .

Do Teslas have odometers?

Like all vehicles, Teslas have a standard odometer, used to measure the total distance a vehicle has travelled. The distance is cumulative, starting from “0” miles (or kilometres) on a brand new car.

Is the Tesla odometer accurate? 

Other than very rare reports of the odometer getting “stuck” due to software glitches, Tesla odometers are accurate. Some drivers suggest that entering the wrong tire size could have a negligible effect on the accuracy of odometer readings.

Can you roll back the odometer on a Tesla? 

Firstly, it’s illegal to inspect, service or tamper with the odometer on any vehicle, without legitimate documentation. Secondly, although some governments are now demanding that EV owners pay an electric vehicle road tax ( seriously, hello New Zealand !), it’s still not cool to “clock” or “bust miles” on your EV.

How long will a Tesla battery last?

Elon Musk has indicated that Tesla batteries will last between 300,000 and 500,000 miles , before needing to be replaced. Tesla also suggests that owners should expect batteries to perform like new for 100,000-150,000 miles.

Can I access the Odometer on the Tesla phone app?

The Odometer is located on the Tesla phone app at the very bottom of the main page, just above your Tesla VIN number.

Can I access the trip meter on Tesla phone app?

The trip meter (trip odometer) is not available on Tesla’s phone app. Information related to trips can only be accessed through the vehicle’s touchscreen by selecting Controls>Trips.

EVehiclePro.com – 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐥𝐚 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬. 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞.

Darren Globe

Darren is a Tesla EV owner, Professional Firefighter and former Paramedic. His experience and passion for EVs inspired him to create EVehiclePro.com, where he works as CEO and Chief Editor. Darren is a recognized Tesla expert featured in gobankrates.com and referenced by MSN, Yahoo and in numerous forums, websites and social media.

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