Capt.RobC5

I looked at a Z today and the guy was actually stupid enough to show me a toggle switch the shuts off the odometer. Apparently the speedo and everything still works but it doesn't register mileage. Is there some way to pull up the true mileage with a computer? Pretty scary It makes me wonder if my low mileage 2000 really has only 25,000. Has anyone seen this before. How do you look for this when buying a used car?
He was braggimg how his 01 only had 4200 miles on it!!!!!

robertpel9

Where is this toggle switch. I have not heard of such a thing. I'd like to know more just out of curiousity.

Capt.RobC5

It was up under his knee panel beneath the steering wheel. Looked like an alarm valet switch. I hat F&)*%&)n criminals. I don't know. As long as my car looks and runs as good as it does.

csexton

tbakowsky

being a mechanic I have seen this many times. It is a very wise thing too look under the dash for any wire splicing that may have been done. Ferrari's are notorious for this. It is so easy to do on these cars it's not even funny.
Not to sure about the C5 but I beleive many newer cars have the milage recored by the ECM. In the event that the milage is in question on the car, a tech can plug into the ECM and read what the milage as it is recorded in the ECM.

Putting a milage switch is cars is very common with leased cars. Penalties for going over the allowed milage in the cars can add up to lots of money. It is much cheaper to install a switch then to pay the penalty to the leasing company. This can also effect the resale value of the car..as you know.

robertpel9

I do not see a switch there. Did it look like it was put in there by the "criminal" or was a factory piece. I find it hard to believe they came from GM like that. I;d really like some more detail on this. Where exactly did you see the switch.

DanielW

why the hell would he show it to a potential buyer.
maybe you can call your DMV and try to do something about it.

Vetteman Jack

I'd be reporting him to the DMV or Highway Patrol. If he is really doing this, he should pay the price for his crime. At least you found out about it before you bought the car.

jrose7004

The guy that showed you that switch is an idiot!

2K14C7

>>>I do not see a switch there. Did it look like it was put in there by the "criminal" or was a factory piece. I find it hard to believe they came from GM like that. I;d really like some more detail on this. Where exactly did you see the switch.<<<

Uhhh...not to sound like a jerk but do you think even for a second that GM or any other car company would actually put a switch to alter the mileage on a vehicle?

It was installed by an arrogant a hole who would be the first person to go ballistic if he bought a car that had the mileage altered like he was doing with his Z. He showed his stupidity even more by actually bragging about the switch. What goes around comes around.

johnlovescar

100%. This is wrong. I am sure no car companies put the switch for you to turn it off. He either puts it in himself or pay to have it done.

WWK888

It is a federal violation to alter the mileage on a vehicle...do you really think GM would install such a feature? Come on people wake up and smell the coffee

Yello95

I disagree...a better descriptive word for him would be..."moron"...

The Duke

[QUOTE=tbakowsky]being a mechanic I have seen this many times. It is a very wise thing too look under the dash for any wire splicing that may have been done. ] I agree...I met a guy a couple of years ago at college that had a late model Tahoe with a toggle switch which cut off the odometer. His family was in the truckin business and he said the mechanic they had knew how to do it and that it was easy...I would be very skeptical of any GM product for sale with abnormally low mileage but I don't know how to find out for sure what the true odometer reading is.

Evil-Twin

In Pennsylvania, the seller has to sign a notarised statement as to the correct milage..even the dealer if the car is new ( even of it has 8 miles on it)......If you as the original owner of the car trades it in and the milage is bogus.., the dealer gets the car and you forfit the money you received for the sale.. anyone who falsifies this staement forfits the car... in other words if you buy a car with bogus milage on it... you get it for free.... This law has been enforced since day one.. buyers and sellers have to verify the milage when sold and also when received.. This is also locked into the state inspection records... If you turn off the milage ecm, and you trade the car... and the dealer catches you... you loose your car.. to the dealer.. and the state will take you to jail for feloney fruad or you will loose your car...

Abnsteel06vette

The guys is really not that bright...need to be reported...

Slash

I agree, turn in the guy.

But first go back and see which wire it was.

TorqueWinsRaces

Do you know anyone with Autotap? It will show the actual mileage. My friend bought a 2001 Bonneville SSEi and while I was troubleshooting a problem I noticed that his odo showed 3000 less miles than the computer indicated. He was PI$$ED!

C5naples

This does not surprise me. People will do anything to make a few extra thousand. The difference in what you can get for a 4000 mile car and a 40000 mile car makes it worthwhile to some. How do they sleep at night?

REO3

Send this criminal to jail.