Most people don’t know that the odometer reading in a vehicle can be altered or reset to read zero. Crook car dealers employ this evil genius tactic when selling one of their old vehicles and want the buyer to believe the car has fewer miles.
Generally, odometers work by computing wheel rotations. The system multiplies the number of rotations by the tire circumference, ultimately providing the distance traveled. Every pulse the computer senses automatically adds another wheel circumference to the total distance covered for a digital odometer and reflects on the digital display.
There are different guides (offline and online) on how to disable an odometer from reading mileage, but most are complicated and not detailed enough to serve people without basic knowledge of cars.
The easiest way to disable the odometer would be to cut the wire that supplies power to it, but some drivers might find this hard to do.
That’s why we’ve written this piece in simple terms and easy-to-follow steps to help you disable your odometer within a few minutes like a pro.
In this article, you will find answers to the following:
- Is there a way to disable the odometer from reading mileage without cutting or damaging wires?
- Is it illegal to disconnect your dash or odometer?
- Other FAQs about odometer, speedometer, odometer correction tool, and actual mileage.
Contrary to widespread belief, disabling your digital odometer, in the case of old cars, a mechanical odometer is relatively easy and takes only a few minutes. You will see for yourself!
Steps on how to Stop Your Odometer
Okay, slow down a bit. Before you jump into action, please note that this technique will completely erase the odometer mileage reading for your vehicle and set it to zero.
If you don’t mind and still want to go ahead to disable the odometer, follow these well-proven methods.
- Identify the odometer fuse
- Take out the fuse
- Final Procedure
Step 1. Identify The Odometer Fuse
The first step is to search for the right odometer fuse in your fuse compartment. Identifying the correct fuse for this procedure is tricky but essential because vehicles have different fuses, including one for alarm, ignition, and another for light. Choosing the wrong one can disrupt the process even before it starts.
Step 2. Take Out The Fuse
Now that you’ve identified the correct fuse, carefully undo it using a fuse removal tool. The odometer mileage reading in your car should immediately stop reading.
Step 3. Final Procedure
Viola! You’ve just altered/disabled your odometer from reading mileage. But, take caution; fuses are delicate.
Carefully inspect and be sure that you install every other fuse properly or else, it might cause you some problems with the indicator lights, fuel gauge, speedometer, and other components. It’s almost impossible to go through this process without undertaking some level of risk. So after disabling the odometer, it is advisable to take the vehicle for a short drive to ensure everything works.
If you detect anything strange, you might want to repeat the process, but if not, you’ve just faultlessly disabled your car’s odometer.
Check Out How to Reprogram your Odometer:
Will The Steps Work For Non-Digital Odometer?
No, the steps mentioned earlier are exclusive to digital odometers which are mostly found in news cars.
If you own an old modeled car and would love to stop the mechanical odometer follow the guidelines below.
- Disconnect the speedometer
- Dismount the odometer
- Use a wheel to wind back the digits
- Reassemble the components
You’ll require some technical knowledge to disembark and rearrange the speedometer and odometer.
How to Install an Odometer Blocker
An odometer blocker is an alternative to manually disabling your mileage from reading. The most interesting thing about it is you won’t have to cut or solder to get it done.
Follow these six steps to install an odometer blocker in your car:
1. First, unscrew the speedometer.
2. Take out the instrument plug from the cluster
3. Connect the odometer blocker with the plug.
4. Return the plug back to its position
5. Next, use the buttons on your steering wheel to activate the blocker instantly. Hold down the wheel mode+BC to launch the tool
6. Check the sensor to see if the left turn signal is flashing. left. If it doesn’t, wait a couple of minutes and try again.
If you followed the steps mentioned above correctly, you have successfully activated the odometer blocker in your car, and there won’t be any mileage displayed henceforth. Good thing is, this process can be reversed.
Simply hold MODE+BC. Once you notice the turn signal flash to the right, your odometer can now record mileage again.
Is It Illegal To Change The Mileage On A Car?
The law differs for every different state and country. However, the United States Federal law considers any alteration or modification to a vehicle’s odometer, speedometer, warning lights, or abs controller as a felony.
Technically, it can be argued that using a mileage blocker is not illegal, and the law only stipulates that selling a car after altering its mileage is the actual offense. When done with intent to defraud, the judgment is that adjusting a car’s mileage is illegal in most places.
FAQs
A car should be sold at what mileage?
The value of your car takes a small dip with every 10,000 miles you clock. But most modern cars will maintain optimum performance past the 100,000-mile mark. If your car is in excellent condition and doesn’t need major repairs, you’ll most likely get a great offer from most dealers.
Is it possible to modify the odometer reading?
Yes. Odometer reading can be altered (even digital ones) using odometer rollback tools. Some tools are more sophisticated and will disconnect your odometer without revealing any sign of alteration on the drivers’ dash.
In other cases, the brand or model of the car might influence how it works. So, if there are compatibility issues, this process might not necessarily work for your vehicle’s brand or model.
How do I reset the car’s odometer?
Two convenient methods can be used to reset a car’s odometer reading. The first one is by replacing the instrument cluster. Many Japanese carmakers have their vehicle mileage on the instrument cluster instead of appearing on the drivers’ dashboard.
You can replace the instrument cluster that came with the vehicle with a brand new one. Once you’ve completed the modification, the odometer will read zero.
Another way to reset the odometer is by manipulating the knob on the instrument cluster. Find the knob that shows temperature evaluations. Press and hold down the knob for a few seconds to reset the data for the distance covered on the odometer. Once the fuel gauge rises, your odometer reading automatically resets to zero.
In neutral gear, does the odometer still function?
It certainly does! Whether your car uses an electronic odometer or a mechanical odometer, your mileage reading will count when the vehicle is in neutral.
What drives the odometer is the transmission output shaft on the gearbox. So long as the wheels are turning, the output shaft is also in motion.
Is 30K miles too much for a secondhand vehicle?
It depends on the type of car and how it has been used. Generally, the average number of miles per year on a vehicle is estimated to be around 15,000 miles. With the right maintenance, Japanese, Korean, and even German cars. can go near or over 100,000 miles before requiring significant expenses.
When buying a used car, lookout for signs of heavy use, such as stone chips and worn pedals on the car’s bonnet and underneath the dash.
Other vehicle components that must be checked thoroughly include fuel gauge and speedometer.
You can also request the accident and service history to further evaluate the type of performance to expect from the car.
Final Considerations
When dealing with a computerized system, you can’t roll back its data since it is stored in an engine control unit (ECU). The easy thing is to disable the odometer manually by removing a specific fuse or using a mileage blocker.
However, if you’ve found yourself an old motor vehicle and would like to wipe out the data of the previous owner, erasing the odometer will give you exactly what you want.
This is where the well-detailed step-by-step technique we explained in this article comes in. It will help you efficiently and adequately stop the odometer from reading mileage.
