Hi guys, just new to this place and to Skoda.

Quick question about the trip meter if I may,

I use my Superb III as a taxi and my fares are calculated by the 1/10th of a mile so the trip meter is essential. Only had the car a few days, so not totally familiar with all the workings and little tricks.

I've noticed that if any passenger removes their seat belt just prior to me stopping the car, the trip meter is overwritten by a seat belt warning sign, I'm then unable to calculate the fare. Only way, so far, I've found to get the trip meter back on display is to turn the engine off, which is far from ideal. Just wondered if anybody knows of a workaround for this minor niggle.

Thanks in advance.

 

Malki

Hi Malki and welcome. I'm sure someone will be along with a less radical solution soon enough, but it is possible to permanently disable the seat belt warning using VCDS or OBDeleven. These are both products you buy to enable / disable options on the car. There is a whole section of the site devoted to it here https://www.briskoda.net/forums/forum/23-diagnostics-amp-vcds/.

 

It might be a bit expensive if this is the only change you want to make though, so in that case you might want to contact a friendly local VCDS owner (map here)

who will be happy to do it for you in return for the odd beer voucher. Good luck.

Thank you, I've been reading about the VCDS stuff on here, might be interested in a few changes.. E.G tailgate closure from interior button and mode light off when in ECO Etc. Will need to find someone local to Lanarkshire that might be able to help rather than buying the kit for a few simple changes.

Is it not possible to access it via the "car" option on the display? (I've not got a superb yet but on a 14 plate golf I had it was available in there)

Thanks, I'll have a look, but I've spent a few hours in all the options and never come across that.

Does turning ACC off by pushing the stalk forward help? (this frees up space on the display to display mileage)

Only used the ACC once, and it doesn't affect the trip meter, thanks.

AIUI there's a specific way to attach an official taxi meter which I'd presume works regardless of seatbelt operation. Check out the Taxi section for additional info or don't you require one of those by virtue of being an Uber driver or similar?

 

Thanks, If I fit a taxi meter, then laws say my local council set my prices. I don't want or need that. NOT an Uber driver...perish the thought !!

Just working for myself  and charging by the 1/10th of a mile. I'll check out the taxi section, thanks, didn't know it existed.

23 hours ago, Malki said:

Thanks, If I fit a taxi meter, then laws say my local council set my prices. I don't want or need that. NOT an Uber driver...perish the thought !!

Just working for myself  and charging by the 1/10th of a mile. I'll check out the taxi section, thanks, didn't know it existed.

 

I am afraid you are breaking the law.

 

If your vehicle is licenced as a Hackney Carriage (wnat most people call a taxi) the law says that these vehicles have an illuminated taxi roof box sign, are fitted with a taximeter, and display a white licence plate. Hackney Carriages can undertake pre-booked work, can wait at ranks within the district, and be flagged down in the street. The tariffs used by Hackney Carriages when carrying out their work are set by the local Council, and the tariff chart must be displayed within the vehicle.

 

If your vehicle is licenced as a Private Hire Vehicle the law says that these vehicles are not fitted with a Taxi sign roof box, but can be fitted with a taximeter. The vehicles display a yellow plate on the rear of the vehicle, and will have the livery and telephone number / email address / mobile app details of the Private Hire Operator company on the side doors. Private Hire work is solely by way of pre-booked journeys made directly to a Private Hire Operator. However, an Operator may sub-contract a booking to another Operator to fulfil that journey. The driver of a Private Hire vehicle may not negotiate the fare. The fare must either be agreed between the customers and the Private Hire Operator, or the journey may be carried out using the taximeter, using the tariffs set by the Operator. The Operator tariff chart must be produced to the passenger upon request.

 

It is quite clear that using the vehicle trip meter in either a Taxi or private hire vehicle is not allowed. The police and local authority regularly make checks in our area and non compliance results in loss of licence etc.

 

I would advise you to make your car legal.

 

Maybe it's a Scottish thing?

 

Looking forward to @Malki's clarification. 

12 minutes ago, john999boy said:

Maybe it's a Scottish thing?

 

Looking forward to @Malki's clarification. 

 

Just looked and Scottish law is pretty much the same. Only difference I can see is that the licencing authority only set a "maximum" tariff which the operator uses. As in England meter is a legal requirement in a taxi, optional in a private hire vehicle but must be fitted if using a rate per mile to charge.

I did say taxi, but am a private hire car without a meter. Only way we can undercut those with meters that always run on the maximum allowed.

Still having to turn the engine off to see the trip meter..very frustrating. 

And my "Private Hire" is absolutely legal. A previous life in law enforcement makes me think of legality before money. lol 

6 minutes ago, Malki said:

I did say taxi, but am a private hire car without a meter. Only way we can undercut those with meters that always run on the maximum allowed.

Still having to turn the engine off to see the trip meter..very frustrating. 

 

So you drive a private hire vehicle for which English and Scottish law says must have an official meter if you are charging by the mile. Scottish law allows you to use a lower rate but you cannot use the cars odometer, it must be a calibrated meter.

Rubbish...with all due respect. As long as we do not exceed the maximum allowed per mile, we can charge whatever we like per mile. Very competative up here.  Cheapest taxis (private hire) in the UK. All approved by the local licensing authorities which is the Council.

Had a quick look at some council private hire conditions up here and there doesn’t seem to be any requirement for a taxi meter. If you do fit one they demand tariffs are displayed and make other conditions too. It also brings you into the licensing authority fare structure. If you don’t have one, you are meant to let the customer know how the fare will be calculated:
 

Glasgow:
“The holder of a private hire car licence shall, unless the cost of the journey is regulated by a Licensing Authority fare structure, take steps to ensure that any potential hirer of the private hire car is informed prior to the commencement of the hire which shall be deemed to be when the vehicle is put in motion or such other time as may be agreed to by the driver of the vehicle and the potential customer (a) that the fare is not so regulated and (b) the cost, or the method of calculating the cost, of the proposed journey.”
 

East Ren:
“The holder of an Operator’s Licence shall, if the cost of the journey is not regulated by a Council fare structure, take steps to ensure that any potential hirer of his/her private hire car is informed, prior to acceptance of the hire, (a) that the fare is not so regulated; and (b) the cost, or the method of calculating the cost, of the proposed journey.”
 

Can’t find North Lanarkshire conditions, but I’m guessing it will be similar. It looks like a taxi meter just removes the need to provide an upfront cost or method of calculation.
 

Anyway, there must be plenty of trip meter apps (GPS) for your mobile… right?

 

east-ren_ph.pdf

glasgow_ph.pdf

Thanks Alan,

I've actually had to revert to my Garmin sat nav that sticks on the window with its built in trip meter as a back up. My problem only occurs when a person removes the seat belt prior to the vehicle coming to a complete stop. 

 

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VCDS-Vag-Com-Service-Glasgow-Fault-Code-Coding-VW-Audi-Seat-Skoda/222465567635

 

 

Not 100% sure this will stop the maxidot from displaying the seatbelt light/logo (if released while engine running), but it appears to be the only seatbelt mod available.

 

 

Edited 7 April, 20188 yr by Alan_P

Thanks Alan.

Back to the original question - a momentary press of the trip reset button displays the reading but doesn't clear it.

Excellent thanks. Didn't want to try that in case it reset and left me guessing.

D402, that worked a treat. Thanks everybody for their help.