There have been a couple of instances on TV where they have shown unscrupulous people who wind back km reading on cars, including a couple of dealers.
I always thought this could only be done with the old style mechanical mileage meters.
If this is possible with the new electronic meters, what hope have we knowing what is the true km reading of any vehicle we buy either privately or from a dealer if it is within a reasonable or maybe lesser range?
villatranquilla said
11:24 PM Oct 19, 2011
we too saw that on TV Vic.
Had first hand experience of this when our hire care in Hobart had a clutch problem - it had 25,000 K's on the clock - it was in the days when warranty was for 20,000 k's
On arrival back at the hire yard they immediately removed the dash and replaced the speedo with one that read 17,000 k's I am guessing so that it could be fixed under warranty. All blantantly done in front of us.
Lesson - never buy a hire car
Vic said
03:57 AM Oct 20, 2011
Sheeesh Jenny & Barry, that is just deception plus.......I wonder if they can be wound back electronically somehow, it's a bit frightening especially if you buy something that looks good bodywise but has done mega kms etc.
jonathan said
07:30 AM Oct 20, 2011
Vic wrote:
it's a bit frightening especially if you buy something that looks good bodywise but ....
Nearly got caught myself Vic .. but I've given her the slip at last ..
Jon
(oops .. sorry 'bout hijacking the thread !)
-- Edited by jonathan on Thursday 20th of October 2011 07:32:03 AM
jimricho said
07:43 AM Oct 20, 2011
jonathan wrote:
Vic wrote:
it's a bit frightening especially if you buy something that looks good bodywise but ....
Nearly got caught myself Vic .. but I've given her the slip at last ..
Jon
(oops .. sorry 'bout hijacking the thread !)
-- Edited by jonathan on Thursday 20th of October 2011 07:32:03 AM
A wise old man once told me that if it's got tyres or t1ts it'll give you trouble!
also that the two most expensive things in the world are fast women and slow horses!
DeBe said
09:49 AM Oct 20, 2011
The electronic dash in a Ford can only be electronicly altered if its a new instrument to replace a faulty one. You get one go, to program in the old dash Kms then it wont accept any more. The only other way as shown is get a low Ks instrument from the wreckers & fit it.
Vic said
11:47 AM Oct 20, 2011
Thanks for the feedback (and warped sense of humour of some, lol !) .
I suppose a good mechanic would be able to have a rough idea of how many kms have been done by the condition of the engine, but even then if everything is in good mechanical order I think it may be difficult. What are the thoughts of those with a bit of mechanical knowledge/repairs etc ?????
03_troopy said
06:48 PM Oct 20, 2011
DeBe wrote:
The electronic dash in a Ford can only be electronicly altered if its a new instrument to replace a faulty one. You get one go, to program in the old dash Kms then it wont accept any more. The only other way as shown is get a low Ks instrument from the wreckers & fit it.
I had a mate who borrowed a programmable function generator from me to to this exact same thing.. on a Ford. I don't know how he was doing it and where he connected the function generator, but that's why he borrowed it. He did manage to stuff up my function generator in the effort too.. Wavetek programmable was worth a bit, but not now... grrrrr..
Happywanderer said
08:44 PM Oct 20, 2011
I wonder where I can find one of these guys who know how to play around with the odometers. I want one who can tweak with mine and get it going again. Poor old Myrtle has an old style mechanical mileage meter. Anyone interested in popping their head under the bonnet and unsticking the contraption I would love to hear from.
Vic said
12:02 AM Oct 21, 2011
Marg,
At one time I had a mechanical one, it could be got to by winding off the ferrel keeper at the rear of the speedo and the "spline" was revealed.
From memory, I gave it a squirt inside the outer cable with something like WD40/CRC and replaced it, worked ok after that, just needed lubrication. Not saying yours is the same but worth a try.
There is also a shaped end on the spline (can't remember whether at one end or both) which can get worn, and if that is the case then you need a new one (or a second hand one in good condition). This was about 50 years ago so you can see why my memory is not too great...
If you can get someone to unscrew the ferrel on the back of the speedo it will become clearer what I am talking about. I think the spline comes out but you have to make sure it is seated back into the (gearbox ?) via the outer tube properly when reseating/screwing up again. It may be just gunked up.
-- Edited by Vic on Friday 21st of October 2011 12:03:41 AM
_wombat_ said
01:02 PM Oct 21, 2011
Happywanderer wrote:
I wonder where I can find one of these guys who know how to play around with the odometers. I want one who can tweak with mine and get it going again. Poor old Myrtle has an old style mechanical mileage meter. Anyone interested in popping their head under the bonnet and unsticking the contraption I would love to hear from.
Hi HW, you could try a local secondhand car dealer, but when you ask make sure you stand back away from the guy you ask, or you could try that first machanic that did the early work on Myrtle, he sounds like the kind of guy that would know how to do the underhand stuff.
goinsoon said
02:29 PM Oct 21, 2011
There is a guy in Loganholme near Brisbane who repair speedos, I had one done there a couple of years ago
Vic said
05:41 PM Oct 21, 2011
Marg, google Old Speedo Repairs Victoria and see if there's anyone suitable, this is one that is shown;
Not sure of prices though, you'd have to ring and ask......
Happywanderer said
05:58 PM Oct 21, 2011
Thanks Vic. Was given those details by a local mechanic but haven't had a chance to get over there yet. Someone suggested I may have to take it out myself and get it over there somehow to be fixed then get it back again. Or otherwise when I drive Myrtle over there, nearly 100ks I would have no way to get home, as they wouldn't be able to do it while I wait.
Vic said
01:10 AM Oct 22, 2011
In Victoria it is a roadworthy requirement to have a working speedo. Could void your insurance if you have an accident etc, see this link;
Hope you can get someone to look at it or see what can be done with it soon.
-- Edited by Vic on Saturday 22nd of October 2011 01:12:51 AM
Happywanderer said
10:18 AM Oct 22, 2011
Its the odometer Vic, not the speedo. Its the bit that tells me how far I've been not the bit that tells me how fast I'm going. I wouln't drive Myrtle if I had no idea what speed I was going. I have been told by so many people not to worry about it. Its not that necessary, but I will get it fixed down the road in the future when I find the right person and have the right money.
I THINK I'm getting the power on inhouse some time this afternoon. Yahoo!!!!
Vic said
12:13 PM Oct 22, 2011
I hope you can find an easy fix for the odometer Marg.
DeBe said
02:02 PM Oct 22, 2011
Pity you dont live closer Marg. I would happily look at it for you. Heres some pics of an electronic speedo with a mechanical Odometer, its out of an XD falcon of a freinds. The odometer on this doesnt work either, in the picture there is a cog missing(broken) betwean the white cogs on the left & the wormdrive on the stepper motor. This part, the price of $45 from a speedorepair place in Adelaide, this is the part price not what they would charge as i was going to fix it. Freind decided he would live with the odometer not working.
Happywanderer said
04:19 PM Oct 22, 2011
Thanks DeBe. So thats what it looks like in the background. I keep thinking if it was easy to get up in there maybe I could tweak it and get it moving again. As I drive I can hear it clicking like its stuck and wants to get going again. Mine is an oblong contraption and the odometer is to the left of the speedo. I've tried lying on my back and sliding in there with the hope of getting my hand up in there and maybe unsticking what ever it is but my back won't allow me to be a contortionist.
DeBe said
05:24 PM Oct 22, 2011
Can you post a picture of your speedo so i know what it looks like, as i spend a bit of time around a wreckers.
Happywanderer said
06:13 PM Oct 22, 2011
Will do as soon as I finished eating tea, DeBe.
Happywanderer said
06:43 PM Oct 22, 2011
How stupid am I? Of course the odometer is inside the speedo. Don't know what I was thinking. Excuse the dust. Didn't notice it till I uploaded to the computer.
Can you see all the 9's. They go click, click the whole time I'm driving but won't turn over.
DeBe said
07:20 PM Oct 22, 2011
Thanks forthe pics Marge. Heres a pic of a typical odometer mechanism, the row of little cogs are turned one at a time when the previous number has done 1 revolution, will advance the next number by one digit. It would apear one of these cogs is either faulty or just jamed. Unfortunately to atempt to fix it the speedo has to be removed & then dismantled. The nex question is do you know any one close by who is retired & capable of fixing it cheeply?
_wombat_ said
08:00 PM Oct 22, 2011
HW, don't worry about the dust just say it's on the lens
OK HW, just fixed you odometer
-- Edited by _wombat_ on Saturday 22nd of October 2011 08:20:04 PM
Thanks for that DeBe, thats a good explanation. Think it is jammed as only happens when all the 9's come around. Other times it finally gets going again but this time it just won't move on. I will find someone sometime who can have a fiddle with it and see if they can get it going again.
Happywanderer said
10:54 PM Oct 22, 2011
Thanks wombat, love it. If only it was that easy.
_wombat_ said
09:39 AM Oct 23, 2011
HW, just print that pic and stand it in front of your speedo
Eric J said
03:15 PM Nov 20, 2011
Modern electronic speedo's can be wound back but only a small amount like delivery miles. This is done with a diagnostic computer usually specific to the make of vehicle. This scanner can also look at the ECU and compare the bonafide milage recorded with the Odometer. Any significant difference and the speedo has been changed or interferred with.
Vic said
06:18 PM Nov 28, 2011
Thanks for the feedback Eric and welcome to the forum
Something new learned everyday on this forum, that's why I like it so much
There have been a couple of instances on TV where they have shown unscrupulous people who wind back km reading on cars, including a couple of dealers.
I always thought this could only be done with the old style mechanical mileage meters.
If this is possible with the new electronic meters, what hope have we knowing what is the true km reading of any vehicle we buy either privately or from a dealer if it is within a reasonable or maybe lesser range?
we too saw that on TV Vic.
Had first hand experience of this when our hire care in Hobart had a clutch problem - it had 25,000 K's on the clock - it was in the days when warranty was for 20,000 k's
On arrival back at the hire yard they immediately removed the dash and replaced the speedo with one that read 17,000 k's I am guessing so that it could be fixed under warranty. All blantantly done in front of us.
Lesson - never buy a hire car
Nearly got caught myself Vic .. but I've given her the slip at last ..
Jon
(oops .. sorry 'bout hijacking the thread !)
-- Edited by jonathan on Thursday 20th of October 2011 07:32:03 AM
A wise old man once told me that if it's got tyres or t1ts it'll give you trouble!
also that the two most expensive things in the world are fast women and slow horses!
The electronic dash in a Ford can only be electronicly altered if its a new instrument to replace a faulty one. You get one go, to program in the old dash Kms then it wont accept any more. The only other way as shown is get a low Ks instrument from the wreckers & fit it.
I suppose a good mechanic would be able to have a rough idea of how many kms have been done by the condition of the engine, but even then if everything is in good mechanical order I think it may be difficult. What are the thoughts of those with a bit of mechanical knowledge/repairs etc ?????
I had a mate who borrowed a programmable function generator from me to to this exact same thing.. on a Ford. I don't know how he was doing it and where he connected the function generator, but that's why he borrowed it. He did manage to stuff up my function generator in the effort too.. Wavetek programmable was worth a bit, but not now... grrrrr..
Poor old Myrtle has an old style mechanical mileage meter. Anyone interested in popping their head under the bonnet and unsticking the contraption I would love to hear from.
Marg,
At one time I had a mechanical one, it could be got to by winding off the ferrel keeper at the rear of the speedo and the "spline" was revealed.
From memory, I gave it a squirt inside the outer cable with something like WD40/CRC and replaced it, worked ok after that, just needed lubrication. Not saying yours is the same but worth a try.
There is also a shaped end on the spline (can't remember whether at one end or both) which can get worn, and if that is the case then you need a new one (or a second hand one in good condition). This was about 50 years ago so you can see why my memory is not too great...
If you can get someone to unscrew the ferrel on the back of the speedo it will become clearer what I am talking about. I think the spline comes out but you have to make sure it is seated back into the (gearbox ?) via the outer tube properly when reseating/screwing up again. It may be just gunked up.
-- Edited by Vic on Friday 21st of October 2011 12:03:41 AM
Hi HW, you could try a local secondhand car dealer, but when you ask make sure you stand back away from the guy you ask, or you could try that first machanic that did the early work on Myrtle, he sounds like the kind of guy that would know how to do the underhand stuff.
There is a guy in Loganholme near Brisbane who repair speedos, I had one done there a couple of years ago
Marg, google Old Speedo Repairs Victoria and see if there's anyone suitable, this is one that is shown;
http://www.sheppartonspeedo.websyte.com.au/
Not sure of prices though, you'd have to ring and ask......
In Victoria it is a roadworthy requirement to have a working speedo. Could void your insurance if you have an accident etc, see this link;
http://www.vacc.com.au/ConsumerInfo/FivePointSafetyCheck/Speedometers/tabid/1767/Default.aspx
Hope you can get someone to look at it or see what can be done with it soon.
-- Edited by Vic on Saturday 22nd of October 2011 01:12:51 AM
I wouln't drive Myrtle if I had no idea what speed I was going.
I have been told by so many people not to worry about it. Its not that necessary, but I will get it fixed down the road in the future when I find the right person and have the right money.
I THINK I'm getting the power on inhouse some time this afternoon. Yahoo!!!!
Mine is an oblong contraption and the odometer is to the left of the speedo. I've tried lying on my back and sliding in there with the hope of getting my hand up in there and maybe unsticking what ever it is but my back won't allow me to be a contortionist.
Can you post a picture of your speedo so i know what it looks like, as i spend a bit of time around a wreckers.
How stupid am I? Of course the odometer is inside the speedo. Don't know what I was thinking.
Excuse the dust. Didn't notice it till I uploaded to the computer.
HW, don't worry about the dust just say it's on the lens
OK HW, just fixed you odometer
-- Edited by _wombat_ on Saturday 22nd of October 2011 08:20:04 PM
I will find someone sometime who can have a fiddle with it and see if they can get it going again.
HW, just print that pic and stand it in front of your speedo
Modern electronic speedo's can be wound back but only a small amount like delivery miles. This is done with a diagnostic computer usually specific to the make of vehicle. This scanner can also look at the ECU and compare the bonafide milage recorded with the Odometer. Any significant difference and the speedo has been changed or interferred with.
Thanks for the feedback Eric and welcome to the forum
Something new learned everyday on this forum, that's why I like it so much