Odometer reads --- or - - -

[unicycle]

Hasn't this come up for discussion before? I thought I'd seen this thread but can't find it on the search....

Anyhoo, a few days ago I tried someone's suggestion and checked the battery connections, leads, etc. Everything was fine. Afterwards, the car started a bit sluggishly at first but fine every subsequent try.

But at some point that day, the odo went from 20,400 or so to nothing but three dashes. It looks like --- or - - - (I'm not with the car now, so I can't recall).

I should mention that while under the dash, I disconnected and immediately reconnected some tube thingee that came off the battery. I'm guessing this caused the sticky start-up, but I don't think it caused the odo problem.

I think this happened to my Cheewawa once before but then took care of itself and went back to normal. I'm curious if this has happened before and what, if anything, it means.

[Gortok]

The tube thingy is nothing more than a vent tube. Just keep connected so any gases from the battery are vented outside the car. It would not cause a slow start.

The ODO is something the dealer should look at. I haven't heard of this one, yet...

[unicycle]

Hmm. Weird that the car seemed to be affected by the detaching and reattaching of the vent tube. Might have been koinkidink, but I somehow doubt it. Still, I can't imagine wassup with that odo.

Luckily I'm back at the dealer this coming Monday....

[ASmartMan]

unicycle

Even though this is written for the 450, I believe the same holds true for the 451 Evilution - Smart Car Encyclopaedia

Hope it helps

ASM

[Kermit]

Quick question about your three dashes. Did you try moving the car into gear at all?

It happened to me a few months ago when I installed my cruise. After I installed the cruise I had to reteach the transmission for whatever reason.

Here's a thread on it.

Whoops, you said it goes where the ODO is. That sounds like a problem, most similar I've had is trying to reset the MX light where the ODO goes to how many miles past scheduled MX is.

[JusNameMe]

What does koinkidink mean?

[Kermit]

Originally Posted by JusNameMe

What does koinkidink mean?

Slang for coincidence.

[Woody14619]

I had this problem with my car twice. Both times it was when the battery was VERY low, and I tried to start the car in 0 secs. (ie Put the key in and turn it directly to start, without a pause.)

My guess is that the odo value is stored in the central computer, and if you try to start the car just as the console makes the request for the odo value, the engine start either draws enough current to either reset the computer, or garble the CAN signal enough that it doesn't get through. either way, the console doesn't get it's data, and stays at ---.

I found that when driving in that mode, the trip counter still ticked. And I can confirm that the odo is updated, since I keep a millage log for MPG computation, and reset the trip counter at each fill up. The numbers were in sync when I did the next fill-up, so it counted the 25+ miles I ran in that mode. The next time I started it (after a battery charge), it was fine.

[unicycle]

Originally Posted by Woody14619

My guess is that the odo value is stored in the central computer, and if you try to start the car just as the console makes the request for the odo value, the engine start either draws enough current to either reset the computer, or garble the CAN signal enough that it doesn't get through. either way, the console doesn't get it's data, and stays at ---.

I found that when driving in that mode, the trip counter still ticked.

I think you're right on all counts. My battery DID nearly die, but the odo was running when the car made it back to life (even when I had - - -).