Ford Scorpio Forum - Print Page


    
      
        Ford Scorpio Forum
        (https://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl)
      

        General >> Off Topic Subjects >> Clocking the mileage
        
(Message started by: Jeff on Oct 30^th, 2013, 11:29am)

Title: Clocking the mileage
Post by Jeff on Oct 30^th, 2013, 11:29am

There's an item in the news today about a motor trade dealer having been caught clocking the mileage on numerous cars he sold over a long period. Now, apart from the disturbing news that a motor trade dealer could be dishonest, I thought such a practice was very difficult to do.
Am I right in thinking the mileage showing on a Scorpio's speedo cannot be knobbled??

Title: Re: Clocking the mileage
Post by Matt on Oct 30^th, 2013, 1:16pm

The milage is stored in a memory chip else where in the car, so in a sence yes its not possible

Title: Re: Clocking the mileage
Post by Scorpio_Mike on Oct 30^th, 2013, 2:40pm

I think it can be done with a laptop plugged into the OBD port and the right piece of software... :-[

Much easier with the old cable driven ones ;D

Title: Re: Clocking the mileage
Post by Scorpio on Oct 30^th, 2013, 3:26pm

Software was easily available from eBay. One seller in the USA will email you the download. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181250134344

Mileage is now linked to an online database from previous MOT's.

See here:
http://motinfo.direct.gov.uk/internet/jsp/ECHID-Internet-History-Request.jsp

Not much use for cars less than three years old though.
Although, main dealers log mileage on service schedules.

Title: Re: Clocking the mileage
Post by Matt on Oct 30^th, 2013, 3:42pm

I doubt that works, looks more like a km to miles converter, fords own fds or wds wont do it and i doubt the ids will either

Title: Re: Clocking the mileage
Post by Scorpio on Oct 30^th, 2013, 3:56pm

Probably right Matt. I have seen it done before with Tachosoft. A rewrite over the EPROM. Although, not a Scorpio. My understanding of mileage correction. Not illegal to perform but illegal to sell on without disclosure. The one I saw actually increased the clock mileage on the new clock, to match the correct vehicle mileage.

Title: Re: Clocking the mileage
Post by Jonnycab on Nov 5^th, 2013, 12:21am

I thought all you had to do was swap the dash for one out of a lower miler :-/

Title: Re: Clocking the mileage
Post by gozz on Nov 5^th, 2013, 9:28am

Sright JC,I did that with one of my limos,but the other way round,job to convince the bloke who subsequently bought it from me.Funeral vehicles are usually low milers,the speedo came from an old breaker saloon I had here.
Is the SAAB still earning you a trouble free living ? time for an update ?
All the best
GOZZ.

Title: Re: Clocking the mileage
Post by Jonnycab on Nov 7^th, 2013, 4:02am

Hi Gozz :)

The Saab is running fine & not been in the garage or towed home yet ;).....All I've had to replace so far is two front drop links & rear brake pads. It also uses so little oil that I've not even had to top it up after 8000 miles of taxiing (since I bought it)

It's still got a long way to go to prove it's worthyness as a replacement for the Scorpio though ;)

But in all fairness, the Scorpio had had alot of money spent on it over the years. When I originally bought it, it needed a few bits doing.....& after 7 years of being a taxi, there really wasn't much left on it that had come out of the factory ::).....I still miss it though :'(

The Saab is due for a (self) service soon, so that should be interesting....I've never serviced a diesel before ;)

Title: Re: Clocking the mileage
Post by gozz on Nov 7^th, 2013, 9:55am

JC.
Ah good,all's well by the sound of it,presumably the clients are happy ? I suppose a few of your regulars wondered what was happening when you first got it :o.
The main difference in servicing a diesel as against petrol,is the stinking black oil,best wear impervious gloves and take steps to keep it off the ground,it never seems to fade away like petrol engine oil ::)
I see in my oil catalogue that like many other makes,Saab use the same oil for diesel and petrol,they all quote an expensive or a normal range,personally I have always used the normal variety and changed it and the filter regularly.There are people who never have their vehicles serviced,presumably the super oils are designed for these people.
One of my cousins always had a new Mercedes every three years,when I asked her where she took them for servicing,she said"we don't bother with that".No doubt the main dealer concocted a 'full service history' :(

Title: Re: Clocking the mileage
Post by amigafan2003 on Nov 18^th, 2013, 11:33pm

on 10/30/13 at 13:16:45, Matt wrote:

The milage is stored in a memory chip else where in the car, so in a sence yes its not possible

That's not true - when I changed clocks in a bid to fix and over reading rev counter on my old S reg the mileage stayed with whatever the clocks showed - I went from 127k miles, to 74k back to 92k just from swapping the clocks ;-)