Odometer roll back
Back in the 50's and 60's it was assumed that if you bought a used car there was a good chance that someone at sometime had turned back the odometer. It was then up to the buyer to do the detective work and determine if the indicated mileage matched the condition of the vehicle. In 1984 I purchased a C4 with the new digital dash but with the old style mechanical odometer. The dealer indicated the Chevrolet felt that it would be too easy for computer hackers the roll back a digital odometer thus they stayed with the old school design. My question is, are digital odometer roll backs a problem? I have never read of anyone doing this however, my gut tells me it must be happening.
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Re: Odometer roll back
I don't think that you'll find many roll backs of any year, especially since now it is illegal and in the 50's and 60's it was still a fraudulent act. I'm not saying that it doesn't happen, three years ago I found an 98 Silverado that the odometer mysteriously changed between the first and second time that I looked at. Apparently the lot owner forgot about me. So I know that it happens but this is the only case in hundreds of cars that I have bought and sold, so it is a very low percentage. I have never looked inside a modern odometer, mechanical or digital. Some time in the 80's these were sealed to prevent tampering. I don't know how you would change a digital odometer or if it is really worth it considering how screwed up used car values are. -
Re: Odometer roll back
First of all, there's never been a "sealed" odometer in a GM vehicle. Second, odometers are "adjusted" all over the country, especially on high end lease cars. Each manufacturer strives to make the new digital odos tamper proof, but there are hackers who quickly figure out how to reprogram them. So, my advice is to do your own diligence before you buy that low mileage creampuff. I would bet less than 1% of the C-1's are showing true mileage.Comment
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Re: Odometer roll back
Very well "tamper proof"...same thing, Ken. If you can prove that odometer tampering is a common occurance, then do so. This is an Old Wives' Tale as far as modern cars are concerned and I believe that you are wrong.
However, as for C1's or any other older collector cars I believe that your right.Comment
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Re: Odometer roll back
It is not as common as it once was, but it still occurs. There is an underground community that provides those services. PCM and odometer both have to be reprogrammed.
Years ago you could remove the lens over the speedometer and take a special set of tools (looked like needles) and manipulate the numbers. The Feds then required a inker to supposedly mark the odometer if it had been tampered with, and that was easily bypassed by removing the speedometer and going in from the back side. Just bend the ink pad back and you could do the dastardly deed without evidence.
Level of sophistication, to perform a roll back is way above the average Joe Wrench Turner today.Dick WhittingtonComment
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Re: Odometer roll back
The opening scene to "Used Cars"....Years ago you could remove the lens over the speedometer and take a special set of tools (looked like needles) and manipulate the numbers. The Feds then required a inker to supposedly mark the odometer if it had been tampered with, and that was easily bypassed by removing the speedometer and going in from the back side. Just bend the ink pad back and you could do the dastardly deed without evidence.Comment
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Re: Odometer roll back
The old wives will not divulge their secrets for modern cars, but Dick is close. On some of the newer cars at least 5 computers must be reflashed. The difference in mileage on a leased vehicle can be hundreds of $$$ when you exceed the annual maximum. Nothing to prove or disprove, the facts speak for themselves.Comment
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Re: Odometer roll back
Does the C6 or C7 have a "black box"? If so, I would assume even changing the on board software would not delete the black box info and if it remembers your speed one would expect mileage would also be stored.Comment
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Re: Odometer roll back
No on the C-6, the C-7 is not for sale until next year.Comment
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Re: Odometer roll back
Believe it or not, a guy was advertising on Craigslist recently that he would make odometer "adjustments."Comment
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Re: Odometer roll back
Before I retired I was involved in many sales positions and many salesman I knew were given a car allowance to use their own car. Many leased a car which meant mileage penalties - I remember when digital speedometers started to hit the market it was always rumored this was being done because they could not be rolled back.. After that I do remember stories that perhaps they could not be rolled back - but certain people had a way of installing some type of switch that would allow you to turn the speedometer on or off. I heard from auto dealers that people had to take care to allow so many miles on the clock between oil changes. When you turned the car in these same people would just remove the switch. With the high cost of mileage penalties I can understand how people would come up with something to beat the systemComment
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Re: Odometer roll back
A couple of years ago the speedometer (actually the whole instrument cluster) in my 04 Chevy pickup went bad and had to be replaced.
The technician was very careful to document the mileage and set the replacement speedo to the EXACT mileage as when the car came in.
According to the technician they must do it correctly the first time as there is no second chance, if wrong another cluster has to be ordered.
So, the bottom line is that cheating is not allowed.Comment
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Re: Odometer roll back
while you could roll back the odometers in the old cars, many just broke and the owner never fixed them and drove them for years without oneComment
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