The instrument cluster in a car displays the total distance the vehicle has traveled, recorded by the main odometer. Modern vehicles also feature a secondary, resettable trip meter designed to track the distance of a specific journey or interval. This meter is typically split into two independent counters, labeled Trip A and Trip B, providing the driver with two separate distance measurements that can be used simultaneously.
What Trip A and Trip B Measure
Trip A and Trip B are essentially two distinct, digital counters that record the distance a vehicle travels from the moment they are last reset to zero. They measure distance in the same units as the main odometer, typically miles or kilometers. The distance is calculated based on input from a sensor that monitors the rotation of the wheels or the transmission output shaft.
The display for these trip meters is usually located within the instrument cluster, often sharing the same digital screen as the main odometer. A driver can cycle between viewing the main odometer, Trip A, and Trip B by briefly pressing a designated button or using controls on the steering wheel. Unlike the main odometer, which permanently records the vehicle’s total lifetime mileage, both Trip A and Trip B can be reset by the driver at any time. This independent reset function allows the driver to monitor two different distance intervals without affecting the vehicle’s total mileage record.
Common Uses and How to Reset
A common application is using Trip A to monitor the distance traveled between fill-ups at the gas station. This allows the driver to calculate the vehicle’s fuel economy for that tank of gas or to estimate the remaining driving range. Since this meter is reset frequently, it provides a short-term, immediate measurement of distance.
Trip B is often reserved for tracking longer-term intervals, such as the distance covered since the last oil change or tire rotation. If a vehicle requires an oil change every 5,000 miles, the driver can reset Trip B after the service and use it as a reminder for the next maintenance appointment. To reset the displayed meter to zero, the driver first cycles to the desired Trip A or Trip B display using a button or stalk control, and then presses and holds that same button for a few seconds until the number clears.