Is there a way to check my speedometer to make sure it is accurate in my Volkswagen jetta station wagon?

Question

I received a ticket for speeding but my speedometer read significantly lower that what the officer told me I was going. There were no other cars around to estimate which speed is correct, but I have never had a problem before. I usually go with the flow of traffic which is usually right around the speed limit. Is there some way I can check either my speed or the officer's radar without getting into more trouble? I have never had a ticket before and I watch my speed very closely, so I am rather upset about the whole thing! I would really appreciate any advice on checking my speedometer (inexpensively) and the best way to go about presenting this information when I go to court for the ticket. Also, a link to any website where I could read about this problem or whether my tire size might affect the radar accuracy would also be appreciated. If there is anything else I have overlooked, please feel free to point it out.

Answer 1

If your Jetta is a new vehicle, and you are running the stock tire size and rim size, it will unlikely have a speedometer problem as the speedometer is a vital component to the workings of your car. It run's on a system called "CANBUS" which ensures that it is operational or your car won't start.

That being said, if you are not running the proper tire size or rim size it could also affect your speedometer, and it will not beable to compensate automatically. This wouldn't help you in court however.

Ways To Check:

1) Borrow a GPS unit from a friend, and check your speed as your driving. Will not likely hold up in court.

2) Drive beside someone with a cellphone or 2-way radio and check your speed with them. Will not likely hold up in court.

3) Take your car to the dealership and get them to check it. It will cost around $80 dollars for them to check it with a system called "Vag", but they will give you a written report saying that it is either broken, or not working. Probably your best bet if you want to use it in court, but unlikely that it will work for you unless you get a judge that feels sorry for you.

Good luck.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Is there a way to check my speedometer to make sure it is accurate in my Volkswagen jetta station wagon?
I received a ticket for speeding but my speedometer read significantly lower that what the officer told me I was going. There were no other cars around to estimate which speed is correct, but I have never had a problem before. I usually go with the flow of traffic which is usually right around...

Answer 3

Speedometer Check

Answer 4

There's a couple of ways to do it. Sometimes, if there is a road with mile markers, you can use them to time how long it takes to get from one to the next. At 60 mph, it should take exactly one minute from one to the next, assuming you maintain exactly 60. You can also do it at 30 miles oer hour, it should take two minutes. You get the idea. The other way is to have your speedometer checked by Auto Club or something similar. They have locations where you can have it done. Phone them up. By the way, there are two things that leap to mind here. First, do you know how many times cops hear what you are claiming? A buttload of times. Second, don't let a traffic ticket define the rest of your life. Fight the ticket. You have a chance if the cop doesn't show up, and even if he does. If you lose, go to traffic school, then slow down. Cops very rarely ticket people for speeding who were not speeding.

Answer 5

An inexpensive way to do this is just to find a friend and a stop watch.

There are mile markers by the side of most freeways. Typically they are green with a simple number such as 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 on them.

Travel at a constant speed and when you pass one of the mile markers have your friend start the watch. When you pass the next mile marker, stop the watch.

Now you have exactly 1 mile and the time you traveled in seconds (if you have minutes, convert to seconds by multiplying the minutes by 60 since there are 60 seconds in a minute)

Divide 1 mile/x seconds * 3600 secs/hr = calculated miles per hour.

Making the math easy for myself.

Say you drove 1 mile and it took you exactly 1 minute to travel that distance. 1 minute = 60 seconds.

1 mile/60 seconds * 3600secs/hr = 60 miles per hour (This should have been your spedometer reading), if not your spedometer is not accurate.

Answer 6

It's a very bad idea... If you still want to buy a Jetta then don't buy the 100 horse power diesel version. It is slow as hell. Ask for the 150 or the 180 horse power versions instead they are much more bearable. I personally would rather drive a car with a reliable V6 engine "My favorites are Dodge Charger, Pontiac Grand Prix GT 2006, or Ford Mustang 210HP V6" In general, the VW Jetta is a crappy car. I would never buy it. Lookup how many bad reviews it gets. Its almost as bad as a Ford Focus.

Answer 7

Actually the state troopers radar detectors are checked by a special tuning fork..and are suppose to be checked daily..but you never know.. and the correct tire size for your car is on the sticker, on the drivers door. But if you have increased the rim size then the revolutions have decreased, causing the speedomter to read slower than you are actually going..all this is factory programming in the PCM.. and changing tires and rims will certainly give transmission problems in the future..I hope this help you..ANd you can have speedometer checked at dealership, call and make appointment...this is providing you haven't changed tire size and rims...hope this helps

Answer 8

one way to do it is find a true and accurate mile (5280 feet) then go 30 mph that should take 2 mins then 60 should 1 minute then at 75 that should take 48 seconds. if you can not do that then go to your local cop shop or donut house and ask a piggy if he will clock you and not give you a ticket. and repair what needs to be fixed

Answer 9

Have you tried calling a VW dealer? Maybe they know of somewhere to have it checked. The radars that cops use aren't always correct. They can be 5+ miles off the mark, and more if they haven't been updated for a while.

Answer 10

Are you a member of AAA? Last time I checked, they did speedometer checks for no/low cost...for members.

Call Them.