I bought some new gauge faces for my CL, and everything matches up okay except for the speedometer. (They are technically made for a 94-96 Accord but I don't think that should make a difference. I previously had another set of glow gauges for a 94-96 Accord that matched up perfectly.)

Anyway, the numbers on the speedometer don't match up quite right to the stock gauges. For example, 35 mph on the old gauges reads closer to 40 mph on the new gauges. Around 70 mph, the difference seems to be about 3 mph. My concern is that the new gauges would cause me to think I'm going slower than I really am going (i.e. I'm actually driving 40 mph but the gauges read 35 mph).

So I decided to test it out with my TomTom GPS unit, and the speed on the GPS unit matches up exactly with the new gauges at all speeds.

So are the stock gauges not that accurate? I know a GPS isn't perfect for measuring speed, but I compared its readings vs. mine for about a half hour and it was right on.

Has anyone tested this out? I'm interested to hear what others think.

 

My 97's stock speedo was off by 5 relative to 2 different GPS units.

 

Too fast or slow?

 

it seems like if your originals say 35 and the new ones say closer to 40 then you would be going slower than you would think if the new ones were off not faster, because if it says you are going close to 40 you are actually going 35 according to the old gauges

 

i think my 99 is off by like 3 mph. i had my speedo exactly at 75 (keeping up with traffic on major highway of course) and my clarion in-dash gps said 72

 

You're right. I described it the wrong way. Where the stock gauges read 35, the overlays read 30 for example.

I'm just surprised the original gauges are that inaccurate, assuming the GPS is right.

 

Yeah my speedo would read 40 and GPS would say 35-36.

 

mine is pretty close, my speedo will read 116-117 and i'll be going 114 according to tomtom7 GPS

 

don't forget about wheel diameter.

i'm running 235/45R17's and my speedo is off, but i'm goiing slower than indicated so it's awesome.

 

I always thought it was in my head, but my speedometer seemed 2-5 MPH off as well. I can't remember if I checked it with my GPS or not though.

 

I was once told by a mechanic at Roush Honda in Ohio that all Hondas are 2-3 MPH fast on the speedometer. I don't know how true that is but I know in AZ we have speed limit signs that show you your speed and what the posted speed limit is and if my speedo says 45 the sign will light up 42-43 so that seems to verify what he told me especially since you guys are finding the same thing.

 

wheel diameter will effect the speedometer, when i had 15's the car was going faster than indicated, when 16's it was pretty close but 3-5 mph slower, and 17's was slower than indicated.

 

I went past one of those police radars that shows your speed today and the new overlays were accurate, so the stock gauges must be off.

I wonder if Honda/Acura drivers get fewer speeding tickets if all speedometers are a little fast.

 

stock tires and wheels here and I always thought it was just my car. Mine is just about exactly 3mph off.

 

Rofl I thought MPH when I first read this... I was like son...

 

Done it. CL's get scary at around that speed though...

 

Oh reallyyyy...?

 

You a crazy man... My front end started getting light at around 115... So I let out pretty quick.

 

meh

 

I did 120 real easy on a Sunday morning last year.

Got pulled over radar shot at 99mph got a a ticket marked down to 24 over so I didn't get reckless. I also smelled like vodka and beer from the night before (wedding reception, went out with a girl I met and didn't sleep at all that night and decided to drive home) I was extremely sober hadn't drank anything in about 4 hours but I smelled like it officer had me blow blew like a .01 (my toothpaste could have registered that lol) he didn't believe it since I probably smelled like I was trashed from spills on my clothes and called in backup to test me again .01 again they let me go on my way overall ended up being a pretty cool trooper.

He did ask me "if you have a turbo in that thing" and was like nah man it's a slow ass 4cyl.

She felt smooth as ice as 120 though then again I had new springs/shocks/sways/front stabilizer and new rubber all over the place. It's wild how these 4cyls will pull 140 stock fairly easily must be the gearing.


/end blog

 

I think i was doing a good 165 in that pic, car just kept accelerating. Felt stable, all I had was shocks and springs on mine :dunnno:

 

This is post H23 swap right?

I thought the stock CLs starting losing to wind resistance around 140-145

 

Yup post H23a swap. I couldn't have done that w/my single cam.