I thought this was kinda funny.
The other day I was in our long-term 2009 Infiniti FX50 and had a few minutes to kill while the wife ran into a store. To kill time I started pushing buttons. Soon I stumbled upon a second fuel range readout over on the FX's nav screen, but notice it says there's 90 miles worth of fuel in the tank, while the range readout on the instrument panel says 91.
Obviously this isn't a big deal, but...
Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief
carguy622 says:
12:10 PM, 06/23/09
Am I missing something? Are you trying to imply that this is a big deal and Infiniti should make sure they match?
Because it's not a big deal. I can be A - #1 - Anal Man but this wouldn't bother me. 5 gallon difference? Ask me again, I might change my opinion.
billt9 says:
12:20 PM, 06/23/09
I can't believe Infiniti let the car have 2 separate programs to calculate remaining range.
Redundancy is a terrible thing.
Once I know a company had 2 CEOs, and one was fired! Oh the horror!
firstwagon says:
12:22 PM, 06/23/09
I don't think he's trying to imply it's a big deal considering he ended his post with....
"Obviously this isn't a big deal, but..."
It is curious though. The number will come from inputs from sensors and calculated by electronics in one of the cars computers. The only way the numbers could be different is if they were coming from two different sources.
I can't think of a reason why Nissan would include 2 separate ways of calculating mileage and why they would each have their own display.
dougtheeng says:
12:27 PM, 06/23/09
rounding error? the displays might each only be formatted to deal with a certain number of decimals (or something along those lines)...
bimmerjay says:
12:35 PM, 06/23/09
"rounding error? the displays might each only be formatted to deal with a certain number of decimals (or something along those lines)..."
That's what I was thinking - one module might calculate out the figure to more decimal places than the other.
bloodyr says:
12:43 PM, 06/23/09
As a software developer, I would say it's pretty likely that different developers worked on each system without any knowledge of what the other was working on.
louiswei says:
12:56 PM, 06/23/09
One designed by the engineers and another one designed by the management...
Wait, nevermind, the one designed by the management will read something like 180 miles...
adantium says:
01:29 PM, 06/23/09
I have an EX35 and there are two separate calculations done. You have different trip computers. One alongside the navigation system and one with the engine management system.
Each is calculated separately depending on when you last reset the fuel economy numbers from that moment forward. Therefore if you reset the fuel economy at different intervals you will have differing results.
adantium says:
01:30 PM, 06/23/09
I guess they figured this way you could monitor your long term fuel usage with one and one for short trip use. I find this quite handy actually.
kissel1 says:
06:33 PM, 06/23/09
Scott, I thought this was funny too!
I think your posts are getting better and better, especially when they're side-splittingly hilarious like this!
Infiniti, you've got some explaining to do! LOL
drewsrx says:
07:13 PM, 06/23/09
Great looking interior.
At least the FX isn't falling apart like your long term BMW's.
asetech2 says:
10:19 AM, 06/24/09
Guys,
You are missing the big picture! It is a CALCULATION, It is meant as an estimate. Would you drive the car for 90 miles, and expect when it clicked off that last tenth of a mile, the engine would quit and you would roll to the side of the road? Common sense is not so common apparently....
firstwagon says:
03:20 PM, 06/24/09
asetech2
My point is not which calculation is correct but why are there 2 separate calculations?
No wonder cars cost and weigh so much these days.