Looking at used trucks, and some of the mileage appears too good to be true.
Excuse my ignorance, but it's been a long time since I bought a used vehicle.
Are odometers easy to tamper with? And, are they digital now? If so, is there
a way to tell if someone has made a more appealing adjustment? Anybody know?
thanks

 

get a carfax on it. every year when the vehicle gets registered or inspected, the mileage gets reported. should be able to see a trend in mileage. it would be easy to spot unless they are the original owner and wound it back every year.

but i dont even think its possible these days since its all electronic

 

Sorry ......it is in my experience.

My truck was "wound back" at least 10K by some lying thieving cheating B*****d.
Carfax report was out by that much, when the truck was imported into the UK.
AL.

 

There are 2 ways to figure out mileage, I dont remember the other way, but there is one other than the odometer, so you can take it in and have it checked. At least thats what I heard, could very likely be wrong.

 

There's a way to check engine hours, but I forget how.

 

Mileage is tracked in the Speedo/Odo, and in either the PCM or BCM (forget which). If the speedo is replaced, a dealer has to match it to the other computer.

 

I didnt think it was possible these days with it being electronic. I do know the manufacture can do it because when you get a new instrument panel you have to send it to them to be VIN programmed with your mileage. I guess you could lie to them and tell them it is less than what it is though.

 

Not sure about the newer ones but in the late 90's you could swap out the instrument cluster and rack up the mileage on the new one. Then swap them back and the truck would show the original mileage. The computer would still rack up the mileage so the two wouldn't match but you couldn't tell just by looking at it. On the Chebys you could install a toggle switch inline to a wire for the speedometer and keep miles off it that way, but there again the odometer would not match up to the computer if it got checked.