Ways to Change Mileage on your Car: The Inside-Out of the Process
People have learned to perform car mileage correction many years ago. Today, most cars are sold after adjusting the odometer, and almost every vehicle owner can independently rewind the mileage to sell the vehicle as profitable as possible.
On old car models, the process of winding the speedometer did not provide for the presence of special equipment, which made it possible to carry out the procedure with your own hands. Over time, things changed. Modern cars, and especially by a foreign manufacturer, require a more qualified approach. Sensitive electronic systems react to any outside interference, and in particular to the twisting of the run.
Odometer types and functioning
Mileage is a substantial value when selling a car. After all, the higher the numbers of the vehicle, the lower its cost will be. It shows how far the automobile has traveled during the entire period of its operation. That is why many vehicle owners who want to sell a car at a higher price and faster resort to deception in the form of twisting the mileage to the lowest point.
Information about the car's miles operated is displayed on the dashboard by a particular device called an odometer. The odometer reading is designed to read speed information and calculate the approximate distance traveled by the vehicle. All odometers work in combination with the speedometer and have an entwinement with it.
Before decreasing the mileage on a car, you need to determine what type of odometer is installed in the dashboard. There are several types:
- Mechanical odometer A drum meter displays the mileage. A cable is installed in the gearbox encasement, connected to the dashboard's gear drive.
- According to the laid down algorithm, the mechanical counter sends impulses to the converter, converting them into kilometers or miles.
- The rotation of the wheels is recorded by ABS sensors, which send a signal to the engine ECU, where it is used to ensure the operation of many mechanisms. It is from the ECU that the mileage information comes to the LCD in the dashboard.
They all perform a particular function — they read the car's miles operated. The only difference regarding the change in mileage can be considered only the way it is twisted.
How can you change the numbers on the digital odometer?
Old mechanical counters are more minor and less common today. Most of them were installed on cars with carburetors, so they are practically not used on new vehicles today. It is pretty easy to twist old counters. In the era of mechanical odometers, various devices were used for this and did everything with their own hands.
With the transition to electronic mileage meters, the task has become more complicated: it has become problematic for many to wind up the miles operated at home. But on the market, new devices immediately appeared that can change numbers in just a few seconds.
To correct the digital odometer, it is necessary to remove the dashboard, disassemble the electronic circuit blocks and connect the computer. It is pretty rare to rewind this instrument’s readings without removing the tidy. In such cases, the unit is removed, and the programmer is connected directly to the diagnostic connector.
Many car models allow you to reduce mileage by clicking equipment to the OBD2 connector. In such cases, removal and subsequent disassembly of the device are not provided. It is also conceivable to wind up the run through the connection of an additional circuit. This method allows you to select any numbers using the daily mileage control button.
What tools are required to change mileage on modern cars
Many people believe that electronic meters are excellent protection against mileage twisting. It turns out that such speedometers and odometers are even easier to twist than they might seem at first glance. You need to get a very affordable device, and it is one of the easiest ways to change the readings. This device is simple and monofunctional as far as it only does one thing. The twisting process is quite simple:
- It is necessary to purchase a particular tool for twisting.
- In the instructions, read how to proceed in a specific vehicle, where to connect the device.
- Next, remove the cover under the car's steering wheel, where the car's main wiring is located.
- The next step is to find and release the wire connection, which is responsible for calculating the mileage.
- By connecting the wires to the device, you can set the necessary number of travel miles that you think is necessary.
- Then the device turns off. The cables are connected to their initial place. Everything is assembled in the reverse order.
Why do many want to wind the mileage
Before selling a car, many people want to prepare the proper pre-sale to bail out more money for the vehicle. This problem turns out to be quite complex and sometimes takes a lot of time and a specific budget. Modern methods of preparing a car more often consist of the visual design and an attempt to present the vehicle to good advantage but hiding the shortcomings. Ultimately, it will be much easier to give a potential buyer a generous discount by telling the truth about the car's main drawbacks. One of the most popular and not entirely honest ways to prepare a car for sale is to twist the mileage. The readings on the speedometer cannot always boast of pleasant numbers for the customer, so sellers are actively using this opportunity.
Summing-up
Twisting the mileage can be pretty simple. It is enough to determine which odometer readings you want to see. It does not matter whether it is a mechanical or electronic speedometer. The kernel will always be the same. But it is worth remembering that the twisting of the run is considered a violation for which compensation can be sought through the court, or the deal can be canceled without any problems. Then you will have to return money for the car and endure the most unpleasant moments after the sale.
Winding up the mileage meter on a car is a common practice for used vehicle sellers. Nevertheless, this process gives a lot of trouble to the future vehicle owner. Not only does the maintenance cycle go awry, but you also don't even know which parts need to be replaced. Consequently, when buying, it is always worth determining the genuine mileage of the car.