Is it normal for a car to display odo?
2 Answers
It is normal for a car to display odo, which is the total mileage display function of the car. When this function is enabled, a yellow odo light will appear on the vehicle's dashboard. The car odo odometer is a common digital instrument. It works by engaging the transmission gear of the vehicle's counter drum wheel with the worm gear on the speedometer drive shaft, causing the vehicle's counter drum wheel to rotate. Its characteristic is that when the upper-level drum wheel completes a full rotation, the lower-level drum wheel rotates one-tenth of a turn. The function of the car odo is to force a downshift to increase engine speed and enhance acceleration capability, which is useful for short-term overtaking on highways. However, using it in urban areas will increase fuel consumption. After activating the odo function, the highest gear is limited to the 3rd gear.
The car's ODO meter shows the total mileage normally. My car has been used for 10 years, and the ODO always increases steadily without significant fluctuations. I usually note down the number during routine maintenance and check if it matches next time. If it gets stuck, resets to zero, or jumps abnormally, it might be a minor issue like a dirty wheel speed sensor or poor contact, but it doesn't affect driving safety. I remember once on the highway noticing the ODO wasn't moving, so I pulled over and checked the connector—tightening it fixed the issue. For more serious problems, it's best to have a technician run a computer diagnosis to check the wiring or instrument module. To save money and prevent issues, just wipe the sensor area during each car wash. In short, as long as it runs smoothly and normally in daily use, that's fine—being overly suspicious just adds unnecessary stress.
