Odometer question

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Dec 13, 2006 | 06:22 PM

jecp

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From: Central Jersey

Odometer question

Have a broken Speedo/Odo. Found an instrument cluster at a bone yard, but it has 56K on it. My Odo broke at 100K, and I figure I have around 102K on it now. Can the Odo be recalibrated to show my current mileage, do I need to report the change to DMV, or should I just troubleshoot the old one, and repair with parts from the bone yard?
Thanks for the input.
This is on the 97 Ranger

Dec 13, 2006 | 10:00 PM

LRanger97

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Whats broke with the old one? As far as I know there is eletronic shops that will set the right mileage, but I could be wrong. I have a problem with mine as well. I ordered a new cluster from a place in Michigan. They set the mileage for me. Still kinda stuck though, it still bounces up and down then just drops. Good luck, Joe

Dec 14, 2006 | 07:53 AM

jecp

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From: Central Jersey

I forgot to mention that the Odo is analog.

Dec 14, 2006 | 09:34 AM

john112deere

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From: Maine

The odo has little dials that move, but there's nothing but wires going into the back of the cluster on a '97.

Dec 14, 2006 | 11:04 PM

texan2004

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From: Friendswood, Texas

I'd note your current mileage and the milegae on the one from the boneyard and install the boneyard instrument cluster without recalibrating. Some very simple math will tell you what the actual mileage is. Since you've been driving with it busted for a couple thousand miles anyway, recalibrating to what the old one reads or what you think it should now read won't really be accurate anyway. If you note the miles (perhaps with a couple of photos for record keeping sake, nobody should question the legitamacy of what you are doing if you ever sold the vehicle. I certainly would not question it.

BTW- the odometer crapped out on my Explorer and I will be looking doing the same thing in the very near future. I was wondering why I hadn't been able to put 3000 miles on it since the last oil change in May. Last week I notive the odometer hadn't moved in then past 65 miles. No telling how long it's been bad.

Dec 14, 2006 | 11:35 PM

jimw411

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From: Ventura ,ca. (near L.A.)

I wonder if you can swap the odometer rolls out like on the old cars. The old ones were easy to set to any milege you want, which makes it easy now days if you get an onld car that hasn't ran in a few years and restore it, you can set it back to zero.

You might want to call you local state police/highway patrol office and ask them about the odometer reading. Here in CA, the CHP deals with re-installing VIN's when you you swap out the cab if you have an accident or replace it because of ruse or whatever else. If you were to go there and have them sign a statment of facts with your current odometer reading then go back after you swap out the cluster have them sign another one, that way if you sell the truck, and check the box on the title that says not actual milege you can explain why, and have proof.

Dec 15, 2006 | 08:17 PM

jecp

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From: Central Jersey

I talked today with a guy who remans them in California, about resetting the Odo. Said I could change the Odo setting. Doesn't sound right to me. Will call DMV on Monday. Found some clusters on e-bay. Question: Will a 99 or 2000 swap into my 97 Ranger and be accurate?
Again, thanks for the advice.