DWNSHFT
DWNSHFT Reader
4/7/12 6:58 p.m.

So I'm shopping for a late-model car for the wife. I've heard speculation that any half-decent hacker would be able to hack the odometer and roll the miles to whatever. Anyone have any light to shed here? Is it easy but I use a Carfax to try to detect it? Any help is good. Thanks!

David

Run_Away
Run_Away GRM+ Memberand Reader
4/7/12 7:04 p.m.

I don't know about programming, but on some cars it's as simple as buying a used cluster and plugging it in.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker
Giant Purple Snorklewacker UltimaDork
4/7/12 7:05 p.m.

For GM I think it is technically easy because I had a junkyard dash set to my mileage by mailing both it and my original to a place in MN. Anyone unscrupulous with the same equipment could do it.

It can't cheat back past the highest inspection, accident or sale because that gets recorded with the state and a quick carfax search can find the discrepancy. (PA anyway)

Toyman01
Toyman01 GRM+ Memberand UberDork
4/7/12 7:20 p.m.

My business partner had to replace the ECU in his Grand Cherokee. The place he ordered it from asked his mileage so the could set it in the ECU. He wasn't sure what the exact mileage was so he gave them a number an that's what the mileage read when the new ECU was installed. My guess is you could tell them just about anything.

J308
J308 Reader
4/7/12 7:25 p.m.

Unfortunately you have to rely on the car check reports as much as you can.

Some cars have to be coded by a dealer, and some can't be coded, so it's probably best to research this on a by-model basis. Good luck!

Rusnak_322
Rusnak_322 HalfDork
4/7/12 7:44 p.m.

My brother had a problem with the dash on his car at 10k miles. The dealership put in a new dash and he left with 10 miles showing

93gsxturbo
93gsxturbo HalfDork
4/7/12 8:59 p.m.

New digital odometers can be changed with a bit of hex editing, but the tools and knowledge to do it are expensive and tough to come by. My friend does it with some $2000 tool he got from AliBaba. Some Chinese thingy. Works like a charm but you have to unsolder the chip from the board on GM.

J308
J308 Reader
4/7/12 9:05 p.m.

In reply to Rusnak_322:

At least here, dealers are required to note the original mileage and FOREVER add that to the current mileage for their ROs. Then one day there is and emissions inspection or a wreck and the insurance company reports the displayed mileage, and it is 10k less than it was at the last noted mileage, then guess what?

Odometer discrepancy- Possible rollback on the vehicle history report.

Might want to tell your brother to always verify that whoever working on it is using the correct mileage...

81cpcamaro
81cpcamaro Reader
4/7/12 9:41 p.m.
Toyman01 wrote: My business partner had to replace the ECU in his Grand Cherokee. The place he ordered it from asked his mileage so the could set it in the ECU. He wasn't sure what the exact mileage was so he gave them a number an that's what the mileage read when the new ECU was installed. My guess is you could tell them just about anything.

On Chrysler vehicles, including Jeeps, both the gauge cluster and ECU keep track of the mileage, but don't share it with one another. That is why they ask for the mileage so they will both show the same. Your partners Jeep will still have the original mileage on the odometer while the computer will have a different mileage.

irish44j
irish44j SuperDork
4/7/12 10:01 p.m.
81cpcamaro wrote:
Toyman01 wrote: My business partner had to replace the ECU in his Grand Cherokee. The place he ordered it from asked his mileage so the could set it in the ECU. He wasn't sure what the exact mileage was so he gave them a number an that's what the mileage read when the new ECU was installed. My guess is you could tell them just about anything.
On Chrysler vehicles, including Jeeps, both the gauge cluster and ECU keep track of the mileage, but don't share it with one another. That is why they ask for the mileage so they will both show the same. Your partners Jeep will still have the original mileage on the odometer while the computer will have a different mileage.

This is the case for Nissan as well, at least since the mid-90s. Odometer can be programmed by a dealer (if you need a new one, which I once did). They ask for the miles and if you tell them something different from what the ECU is holding, you may have issues down the line legally.

patgizz
patgizz GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
4/8/12 8:29 a.m.

people have also been known to swap in junkyard clusters to keep within terms of the lease on the original..... guy posted on one forum i'm on a few years back "i just leased a new trailblazer with a 12k/year limit, i intend to drive 24-30k a year, can i put a junkyard cluster in when i hit 35k and swap the original back in when i turn the truck in?"

too many shady people out there. i installed a new cluster in my impala and set the new odo to 200+k exactly like the original.

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