PCM Diagnostics & Tuning HP Tuners | Holley | Diablo

Odometer can easly be changed

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 25, 2005 | 01:42 PM
  #1  
REVZ's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, TX
Lightbulb Odometer can easly be changed

Ok, I am looking at 2000 Camaro SS with 20K miles on it for $13K. Too good to be true? Probably. But wait, there's more.

I am being told by the GM dealership that the computer has been swapped out. I am waiting to talk to the tech for confirmation to see if it has just been reprogrammed. In any event I did some digging around and found how easy it is to reprogram the digital odometer in ODBII cars.

So my question is, is there ever a legitimate reason to replace the computer on a Camaro and if so wouldn't that car get the milage that the car the computer was taken from had?

TIA
Reply
Old Nov 25, 2005 | 02:32 PM
  #2  
oange ss's Avatar
TECH Junkie
20 Year Member
iTrader: (50)
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,241
Likes: 6
From: Texas
Default

if it was bad, no, they can reflash the new VCM with the old info
Reply
Old Nov 25, 2005 | 03:02 PM
  #3  
REVZ's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, TX
Lightbulb

Ok, have you ever heard of a computer going bad on a OBDII Camaro?

The title report isn't much help either, it shows 12 miles in 2000 and then 9139 in 2005, then second owner brought it to ~20K.

I figured I am going to have to go based on wear if its actual miles. One thing I thought to check for is if it still has the OEM tires and if they look like they have 20K miles wear on them. Any thing else?

Would you buy it?

TIA
Reply
Old Nov 25, 2005 | 03:05 PM
  #4  
oange ss's Avatar
TECH Junkie
20 Year Member
iTrader: (50)
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,241
Likes: 6
From: Texas
Default

yes, as long as everything else looks good and they're no signs of misuse or abuse, i wouldnt think twice about it
Reply
Old Nov 25, 2005 | 03:57 PM
  #5  
WS6snake-eater's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,839
Likes: 0
From: La Porte, TX
Default

Changing the computer will not change the miles...the mile calculation is stored in the gauge cluster itself...you would have to swap out the gauge cluster or send it in to be recalibrated...
Reply
Old Nov 25, 2005 | 04:19 PM
  #6  
WS6 Kid's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 554
Likes: 0
From: Riverside, CA
Default

Originally Posted by WS6snake-eater
Changing the computer will not change the miles...the mile calculation is stored in the gauge cluster itself...you would have to swap out the gauge cluster or send it in to be recalibrated...
^^^^Exactly. When i ran with the comp. out of an 01 SS for a while while mine was getting tuned it didnt change my mileage.
Reply
Old Nov 25, 2005 | 06:16 PM
  #7  
slow's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 6,150
Likes: 7
From: Orlando
Default

it is stored in the BCM and the Cluster, however, even with a tech 2, i was never able to figure out how to tell the milage in the bcm.

Both my cluster and BCM were replaced under warranty at different times, so I wanted to verify the milage, but have never figured out how to, any help is appreciated. I have access to a tech 2 and any cards needed.

Ryan
Reply
Old Nov 26, 2005 | 08:55 PM
  #8  
REVZ's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, TX
Lightbulb

Turns out when I talked to the Sales Manager the car was not for sale. He did not feel comfortable about selling it so he going to wholesale it at the dealers auction.

This experience has really opened my eyes to how easy it is to reprogram a digital odometer and how prevalent odometer fraud is. I found a few companies that sell professional equipment that talks through the standard ODBII port for several thousand grand, and then there's guys like these http://www.prospeedo.com that will do it for the unconscionable rip-off artist on a budget.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-3

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-7

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0

 Brett Foote
story-9

10 Reasons the LS7 Is GM's Most Extreme Naturally Aspirated V8 Engine Ever

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Nov 27, 2005 | 04:51 PM
  #9  
2002_Z28_Six_Speed's Avatar
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (19)
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,538
Likes: 1
From: Wash, DC
Default

If you OD is off because you were forced to replace it, can the dealer fix the milage? Where [specific place] would you have to send it, otherwise?

I am not trying to roll back 30,000 miles or something or something stupid.
Reply
Old Nov 27, 2005 | 06:35 PM
  #10  
slow's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 6,150
Likes: 7
From: Orlando
Default

My understanding is only a virgin 0000000 cluster can have the milage programmed by a normal GM dealer, it pulls the info from the BCM.

Ryan
Reply
Old Nov 27, 2005 | 06:41 PM
  #11  
wrencher's Avatar
wrencher
20 Year Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,762
Likes: 2
From: Chicagoland
Default

Have replaced BCM's no milage change. It was my understanding that the cluster was the one that kept track of VSS pulses/milage.
When we needed to replace a cluster (dealer) they are sent out to a rebuilder. There are many all over the country. They have the equiptment to reprogram/rebuild clusters. Not a dealer shop.
Reply
Old Nov 27, 2005 | 07:58 PM
  #12  
DaddySS's Avatar
TECH Addict
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,907
Likes: 1
From: Bergen County, NJ
Default

The mileage is tored in the cluster and you have to (to a reputable speedo anyway) give a good deal of documentation to get the cluster reprogrammed.
Reply
Old Nov 27, 2005 | 08:01 PM
  #13  
WS6snake-eater's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,839
Likes: 0
From: La Porte, TX
Default

Originally Posted by wrencher
Have replaced BCM's no milage change. It was my understanding that the cluster was the one that kept track of VSS pulses/milage.
When we needed to replace a cluster (dealer) they are sent out to a rebuilder. There are many all over the country. They have the equiptment to reprogram/rebuild clusters. Not a dealer shop.


this is 100% correct
Reply
Old Nov 27, 2005 | 08:17 PM
  #14  
2002_Z28_Six_Speed's Avatar
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (19)
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,538
Likes: 1
From: Wash, DC
Default

Would the rider certificate and the fact that it was not able to be driven since the ummmmmm.... be enough?

What constitutes as documentation?
Reply
Old Nov 27, 2005 | 08:43 PM
  #15  
wait4me's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,961
Likes: 2
From: warsaw, in
Default

Very few brands of cars hold the mileage into other moduals other than the cluster.

Camaros and most gm vehicles dont store the mileage in anything but the dash.

Hell, you can just pull the dash fuse and it stops the odometer..
Its up to you to really determine if mileage is correct on anything.

Those kits you speak up do require the dash to be taken apart, and, if you think it has been tampered with, the cluster will have the soldermarks on the back of the eprom board from where they had to connect wires to read and write the new information.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:01 AM.

story-0
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-3
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-4
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-5
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE
story-8
Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0

The world was a better place when it was still around.

By Brett Foote | 2026-01-23 09:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Reasons the LS7 Is GM's Most Extreme Naturally Aspirated V8 Engine Ever

Slideshow: The 7.0-liter LS7 was designed for absolute cutting-edge performance.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-07 18:36:00


VIEW MORE