I found this thread and several other mentions of mileage not being registered when towed. I just set my Clubman up as a toad and took a 150 mi. trip as a shakedown cruise. Guess what? I got 66mpg because the odo showed an extra 150 miles. Key was not on.
How do I solve this?
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ml#post4235122

 

 

Please, someone must have an idea here?

 

I know I'm no help, but that is weird. You could tow it across the country and end up needing an oil change. I wonder if it has something to do with the TPMS, since they are sending signals even if they're off your car stacked in your garage.

 

Can't be TPMS, no power to dash-period. No electric hookup to the motorhome either as I'm using wireless magnetic tow lights.

 

That's very odd... Back in 2013 I put my Clubman on a car dolly (front wheels on the dolly, rear wheels running on the pavement) behind a rental truck and took it to Texas when I left a temporary job site in Kentucky; in truth, the car was being towed from Pennsylvania to Kentucky to Texas -- a journey of around 1,000 miles. I didn't expressly check the odometer, but didn't note any 'phantom' mileage being racked up. I guess I can't explain what you're experiencing...

 

Where is the speedo/odo sensor and how would it transmit without the ignition on? These systems are not old school like with a speedo cable from the transmission.

 

I was wondering that myself.

True enough. But with everything being software-driven on modern vehicles, it's not hard to imagine something like this being an unintended 'feature' of the software load...

 

According to the post I referenced, those other members towed Minis didn't register mileage.
I really need a fix

 

Yeah, I browsed through the other post. Have you tried a second 'shakedown' towing trip just to see if you can duplicate the results?

 

Tues. I'll take a short week trip of about 350 miles. Should know Tues evening. I'll be looking for posts.

 

How about disconnect the battery?

 

Won't I lose all my presets/info?
Wait, I can't do that because at some point I'll need power from the fuse box for my EvenBrake setup.

 

Disconnecting the battery only resets the clock and trip odometer.

How does EvenBrake work? Does the car stay completely off (no key in ignition) and it just pulls power from constant 12V? If any electronics/electrical are active, then I can imagine the possibility of the odometer staying operational. You could try to find fuses to pull that deactivate the odometer function.

 

Car is completely off. Needs power and brake light connection to operate
Is there a fuse for the odo?
I haven't hooked this up yet though, one thing at a time

 

Confused about this. At this point is there anything electrically connected to the car while towing?

 

No, key off, no power to dash, nada

 

The EvenBrake (when activated) only needs a 12v power source & a connection to the motorhome's brakelight. It is then a compressor activated proportional brake pedal pusher.
Only a few of the states I'll travel through require brakes on a toad but at some point I'll have to hook it up. It would probably be advantageous to have it on some of the west's mountain passes also.
This is neither here nor there at this point as it has nothing to do with the odometer running without power.

 

Ok, new test... I went out to an appointment today. My driveway is 1/4 mi long and all downhill. Key out in my hand, odometer/tripmeter at an even 27 mi. & coasted down to the road. The Temp & time displays stayed lit and the trip measured 3 tenths at the bottom. Why would the dash display be lit with no key and why does the odometer continue to function?
Strange......

 

You don't happen to have comfort access, do you? If you do, it's possible the fob is in close enough proximity to keep the electronics active when the vehicle is being towed.

 

I don't believe I do. Normally the key has to be inserted into the dash fully before anything will light up. I don't use the key to unlock because it's parked inside the shop. I did start the car to get it out of the shop but as soon as I was in coasting position, I removed the key, neutral on the 6 spd and let her go.

 

Well, I'm stumped at this point other than to say it sounds like something is wrong with your vehicle if the removal of the key fob from the dash receptacle doesn't shut down electrical power. But that answers why the odometer continues to register mileage: if there's power on the vehicle, the odometer will keep counting up the miles.

 

When I remove the key, the dash does go dead, all functions off and no battery drain for weeks. Somehow, coasting lit up the dash and activated the odometer.

 

Hmm. We'll, this is pure speculation mind you, but I wonder if the drive wheels are where the odometer sensor is located? Perhaps if the sensor detects rotation of the front wheels it activates the odometer? When I pulled mine on a tow dolly, only the rear wheels were turning.

 

In that early post I mentioned a thread that had a number of owners towing that said theirs didn't register. Obviously mine has something wrong....but what?