Odometer Stays On When Car Is Off? What You Can Do

So you may have noticed that your odometer stays on when car is off.

This can be a nuisance since you know well enough that when a certain function remains on in your car, this can have a drawback to your battery.

But the thing is, you may be puzzled about what is causing this. And most importantly, what can you do to get it fixed?

Here, we explore the reasons why your odometer remains on even when your car is off and what you can do about it.

Why Your Odometer Stays On When The Car Is Off

Some people experience having their odometer staying on even when there is no key in their ignition. In fact, it does not turn off at all, which is concerning since the light causes the battery to drain. 

For those who leave their vehicle sitting for even a couple of days, this can surely take a toll on their battery. Hence, it is important to find out what may be causing this and what can be done about it.

First of all, it is important to have a look at the potential culprit of this issue. One thing to check is the sensor or wiring. There may be a problem in these components, while for others, it can be a logic board issue. But then again, it could also be both, which is why it is best to have a closer look at the trigger.

It would be ideal to have a copy of your vehicle’s electrical diagram. This will allow you to see where your odometer obtains the on signal or whatever is causing it to switch on. 

Once you are able to locate the source, and for example, the signal wires that go into your logic board is on, then you may be having some kind of a wiring issue. Hence, you need to keep looking for the part that has faulty components. Better yet, a replacement for the board should be able to fix the problem. 

But in other instances, this can be caused by the circuitry going wrong, which then causes your odometer to remain on. The interior lights in your vehicle may be off once you have the doors closed, yet the odometer light is on. If so, then your circuitry linked to this component is failing.

Some owners had success in resetting their ECM. However, it would be better to take your car to the dealer and get them to check the cause of the problem. There are vehicles with a more complex computer system that controls certain components, which is why these need to be inspected thoroughly by a specialist.

Further Solutions to Consider

It is indeed frustrating to deal with an odometer that stays on when it is not supposed to.

However, there are  some ways to disable your odometer when need be. This can be helpful as a quick solution when you have your odometer on all the time even when you don’t have your engine running.

There are numerous techniques on how to disable your odometer, so it can stop reading mileage. Yet, there are steps that can be very much complex and not quite detailed, which leaves people feeling confused and even lost when it comes to performing this process.

However, the simplest means of disabling your odometer is by just cutting the wire, which gives power to this component. But then again, it is not all too simple for other drivers.

Thus, you may want to check out these tips to get you started and to make sure that you do it the right way.

1. Identify your fuse

Before you do anything complex, you first need to check which fuse is linked to your odometer. Do keep in mind that there are several fuses depending on the purpose such as for ignition, light, alarm, and so on. If you accidentally cut off the wrong one, then this can negatively impact the entire function of your vehicle.

2. Take the fuse out

Assuming you have figured out which fuse needed to be removed, then you just need to take it out with a removal tool. Once you have done that, this should stop the reading process.

Now, keep in mind that fuses are delicate things. So, you need to be carefully when removing and discarding it to prevent any safety risks.

Alternative Tips To Think About

There are also ways to disable your odometer without taking the fuse out. You won’t even need to solder or remove anything – it can be done manually to stop the odometer from making any reading.

This is what an odometer blocker is for – and you only have to unscrew your speedometer, remove the instrument plug from your cluster, install the odometer blocker, and put the plug back in to the right position. 

Using the steering wheel buttons, activate your blocker. Check your sensor to make sure that the left turn signal lights up. 

Even if you have the blocker installed, you can still reverse it when you no longer need it.

Read More: Practical Guide On How To Keep Subwoofer From Draining Battery

Bottom Line

When your odometer is on in your car even with the engine off, so many things can be causing it from happening. Thankfully, there are ways to disable the odometer whether manually or more invasively. 

It also helps to have a mechanic inspect your vehicle to make sure everything is working right and to prevent further problems.