Odometer Reading

Question

Odometer Reading

D2 (Automotive)

(OP)

10 Sep 01 13:10

This is a little out of context but I just want to confirm something. A Friend of mine bought a new car at a GM dealership. When she returned for her first oil change, the dealer forgot the seal on the oil filter. Needless to say the engine lost all its oil and seized up. Now the dealer replaced the engine, but they also 'zero-ed' the odometer. They said since they replaced the engine it was just like new so they zero-ed it out. To the best of my memory it is illegal to change an odometer no matter what the situation. Anyone know for sure?

evelrod (Automotive) · Answer 1 · 2001-09-10 21:39:51

I don't know where you are, but in California and the United States it is a felony to alter or misrepresent an automobile's odometer reading "for the purpose of increasing the value of the vehicle".
When I sold my '83 Bird it had 225,000 or so miles on it and I found it in a used car lot sometime later, and the dealer claimed that it  had a new engine and only had a "bit over 100,000 miles" on it.  I showed him the logs on the car and he was very apologetic with me, but the next day the car was GONE! I sold used cars for my dad when I was in school(among a lot of other jobs) and I new  then that it was illegal(but all to common a practice).
I have worked for dealerships in my youth and I can find no good reason for your dealer to spend the extra time and money to alter the odo except to somehow reap some monetary gain from the factory?????or cover up the fact that the engine had been replaced.
On another note, we just traded our '95 LHS with 135,000 miles on it (it looked like it only had half that on it) and I would think it would have it's odo altered before it was resold,  probably in another state.  I am not being hard on the legitimate used vehicle industry,  but they, as well as I, know the facts of the "DARK SIDE OF THE FORCE!

In your case, it is probably legal given the circumstances, but I question the logic of it.  The responsibility for truthfullness upon reselling the car falls in your lap I guess.

The good side of this story is that the manufacturers are making it VERY difficult to alter the newer cars, short of totally replacing the instrument cluster. Keep in mind , however that computer hackers got into the Pentagon's and the CIA's files!!!   Forewarned is forarmed, buyer beware!

Rod

butelja (Mechanical) · Answer 2 · 2001-09-11 08:43:28

The car will be just like new to match the zeroed odometer AFTER a complete chassis rebuild a new transmission, and a good detailing are completed. Maybe a little mention of the state Attorney's General looking into the situation could help you get some more free upgrades.

n3rei (Civil/Environmental) · Answer 3 · 2001-09-25 14:50:31

If I disconnect my odometer when new, than reconnect it 100,000 miles later, does my car still only have 10 miles on it. Cool!!!

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Odometer Reading