Changing Odo Meter Reading...

VVTi · December 21, 2010

BTW... there is another cheaper way of messing up a car's mileage without you ever finding out...

That way, one can never own a used car with out ever wondering... 'what if... ?'

If you have the time, find a matching cluster with a lower mileage and swap it. You can do it at home and will not cost more than 3-4000...

Doesn't that really rattle the monkey cage a bit, eh?

VVTi · December 21, 2010

On 12/21/2010 at 9:08 AM, MrCat said:

Just did a quick search and found this on a forum: "What they do is replace the chip that stores the odo reading by another one with the reading desired. This is done by writing a blank chip hooked up to a chip burner and a laptop. " (http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/technical-stuff/44368-possible-tamper-digital-odometer.html)

Guess this is how they do it rather than directly hacking in with a laptop though an OBD port or something. Either way, its good to compile a list of how to identify this crap if we could. Damn, wish every car user had the opportunity to have a stamped record from agents.

Duka thamai machang...

Considering that some agent's staff will actually tell you how to do it too...

I know of an agent revered by some people here who resets the mileage on all their demo cars... Not by a lot... but by a few hundred sometimes...

So who do you trust?

Sifaan · December 21, 2010

On 12/21/2010 at 9:10 AM, VVTi said:

BTW... there is another cheaper way of messing up a car's mileage without you ever finding out...

That way, one can never own a used car with out ever wondering... 'what if... ?'

If you have the time, find a matching cluster with a lower mileage and swap it. You can do it at home and will not cost more than 3-4000...

well, that idea wouldn't work in my case cos the mileage is also stored in the ECU. If a cluster with a lower reading than the ECU is installed, it will download the ECU value (and vice versa as well).

given that it's a 8 year old car, the technology may be present in other (newer) cars as well...

(For the record: there's a motor broken in the cluster and I was toying with the idea of finding a used cluster and discovered this caveat)

jdnet · December 21, 2010

On 12/21/2010 at 9:30 AM, Sifaan said:

well, that idea wouldn't work in my case cos the mileage is also stored in the ECU. If a cluster with a lower reading than the ECU is installed, it will download the ECU value (and vice versa as well).

given that it's a 8 year old car, the technology may be present in other (newer) cars as well...

(For the record: there's a motor broken in the cluster and I was toying with the idea of finding a used cluster and discovered this caveat)

Actually it depends. One some the reading is stored in the cluster and on some it's in the bcm/pcm/ecu. It all depends on where the manufacturer prefers to store the information.

VVTi · December 21, 2010

Most of the 90s Japs cars, the cluster itself holds the data. Its the EU cars that shares inform between the cluster and the ECU.

MrCat · December 22, 2010

On 12/21/2010 at 9:13 AM, VVTi said:

So who do you trust?

Ok then, we can’t trust the agents in SL. If it`s as easy as hacking in with a computer with no physical trace, I guess there is no way detecting it either. Unless the ecu keeps logs or something, then again deleting all the logs would`t be too hard eh? Damn, car byers in SL are screwed up all over the place. Oh well, vigilant people will get what’s better and others will have to live with it I guess. <_<

VVTi · December 22, 2010

Rules that I follow when buying a car,

Go for a brand new import to SL. Regardless of age. Check the papers, ask for maintenance records.

Always check the owner. Don't trust fellows who are selling for 'friends', 'family' or 'I am keeping it for a friend in Badulla' types.

Avoid car sales and brokers at all costs.

Use your brain to figure out the Age of the Car Vs Mileage traveled Vs The Owner. (a Sales Manager/Executive will have a high mileage car as opposed to a CEO or Doctor or any other profession) Use your discretion.

Turning back clocks, though is common in SL is not done by everyone, especially the average Joes. You will get them only rom CAr Sales and Brokers and other 'undesirables.

Avoid popular models. Use something unique.

harshansenadhir · December 22, 2010

On 12/21/2010 at 9:30 AM, Sifaan said:

well, that idea wouldn't work in my case cos the mileage is also stored in the ECU. If a cluster with a lower reading than the ECU is installed, it will download the ECU value (and vice versa as well).

given that it's a 8 year old car, the technology may be present in other (newer) cars as well...

(For the record: there's a motor broken in the cluster and I was toying with the idea of finding a used cluster and discovered this caveat)

This logic is there in PSA stuff AFAIK, sometimes when you change the cluster or ECU, it gives horrible mileage figure which is not there in either the ECU or the cluster.