How to determine the actual mileage of the car when buying

When buying a used car, you need to make sure it is in good condition. This will help mileage readings. But the seller is not always ready to name the real mileage. You can check the odometer, but it is often twisted to hide real readings.

How then to find out how much the car drove and not become a victim of scammers? There are several ways in which it will be possible to determine both the real and the approximate mileage of the car. But before describing these methods, it is necessary to explain what an odometer is, and how its readings are twisted.

What is an odometer?

In simple terms, this is a device that counts the number of revolutions made by a wheel. Thanks to this counter, you can find out the path traveled by the car for the entire duration of operation.

The principle of the odometer is simple. For each kilometer the wheel makes a certain number of revolutions. The device calculates the distance traveled and translates the information into human-readable numbers. These data are displayed on the instrument panel in the form of a mechanical or electronic dial.

There are three types of odometer:

• mechanical;
• electronic mechanical;
• electronic.

The cars of the old model are equipped with a mechanical odometer. The counter is located on the dashboard. The design of the device is simple - it has a set of reels with interchangeable numbers. They are driven by a cable coming from the gearbox.

The electronic-mechanical odometer is similar to the first type of device, but is not equipped with a cable drive from the gearbox. Instead of a cable, the device has a motor, which is driven by electrical signals coming from the speed sensor via wires.

Modern cars are equipped with an electronic odometer. Unlike mechanical, this meter has an LCD display that displays mileage. Information about kilometers traveled is received from various sensors and stored in the on-board computer memory.

How scammers spin the odometer

The main task of any odometer is to display mileage information. These readings are important when buying a used car. Nobody will get a car with huge mileage. Therefore, sellers have adapted to twist (reduce) the actual mileage for a profitable car sale. In order not to become a victim of fraud on the part of crooks, you need to know how they do it.

The mechanical odometer readings are very easy to change. Such a counter is driven by a cable and spins in two directions: forward - kilometers are added, and backwards - are reduced. Vendors know this feature of a mechanical odometer. Therefore, they disconnect the cable from the gearbox and twist it in the opposite direction. As a result, they are able to easily set mileage attractive to the buyer.

In order to change the readings of the electronic-mechanical counter, the instrument panel is disassembled. Get to the motor with a dial and wind up a suitable mileage. After such an intervention, the drums, as a rule, rise unevenly.

The readings of the electronic odometer are more difficult to reduce, but they can also be corrected. To do this, use a computer and special software. By connecting to the dashboard diagnostic connector, scammers make changes to the memory where mileage data is stored.For a more thorough adjustment of mileage, the instrument panel is disassembled, the desired microcircuit is soldered and the firmware is reflashed using the programmer.

How to determine the real mileage

In the case of a mechanical odometer, the numbers on the drum should be placed strictly in one line. In the process of twisting in the opposite direction, they become crooked - this is a sure sign of interference. Also inspect the cable fasteners. If the fixing nut was loosened, you will notice it by scratches.

Determining whether the mileage on an electronic odometer is twisted is more difficult. To do this, you need a computer, a diagnostic scanner and handling skills with a special program. Information about the mileage is stored not only in the BC memory or in the instrument panel chip. It is also duplicated in various electronic sensors, for example: ABS, gearbox, handouts, keys, etc. If the readings have changed only on the dashboard, then you will be able to find out the actual mileage by diagnosing duplicate sensors.

Professional scammers have learned to make adjustments to mileage wherever information about him is stored. Most often, the complete processing of all sensors is done on expensive foreign cars. The field of such cleaning, an ordinary person will not be able to determine the real mileage. In this case, it is necessary to contact the official car service to undergo diagnostics. There they will prove or refute the interference with the meter.

There are other methods for determining mileage. They do not reflect the actual odometer reading, but help to approximately understand how long the car drove. If you notice a discrepancy between the small mileage figure on the meter and the poor condition of the car, this is a reason to doubt and refuse to purchase.

Body mileage detection

A large number of chips, stains on the paintwork, cracks, dents - evidence of a significant mileage. However, the exact mileage cannot be determined by the condition of the body. A car sometimes looks older than it really is. This is due to the characteristics of the operating environment. Therefore, when inspecting, consider the area in which the car drove.

Cars with low mileage, but with a lot of chips and a tarnished paintwork should alert you. It is also considered suspicious if a car with a high mileage has an excellent condition of the body. This may indicate that the vehicle has been painted. The body of such a car must be checked with a special device - a thickness gauge.

Pay attention to arches and rapids. The paint and varnish on these body elements are subject to significant environmental influences over time. The rotten through parts of the arches and sills indicate the great age of the machine.

Determination of mileage by interior status

Leather interior wears out faster than fabric. Therefore, cracks and frayed areas in the driver's seat, trimmed with leather, indicate a mileage of more than 100 thousand km. A chair covered with fabric, but having worn and dirty areas, indicates a mileage of more than 150 thousand km. Also pay attention to the side supporting pillows. If they diverge at the seams, this is also a pointer to the long operation of the car.

Lift the rubber mat in the driver's seat and see what condition the carpet is in. Due to frequent contact with shoes, it wears out. Slight scuffs are characteristic for a run of 50-100 thousand km. If the carpet has holes, then the mileage of the car approaches 200 thousand km.

In most cases, the interior can be judged on the age of the car. Mismatching with low mileage, high operational wear suggests that they want to mislead you.

Determination of mileage by the state of the controls

1. Steering wheel. If the steering wheel is frayed, this indicates a large age of the machine. However, defects may not always appear on the steering wheel even after prolonged use. For example, a bagel could be replaced with a new one or it was always in a case.
2. Pedals. The age of the car gives out the condition of the pedals. If the seller swears that the car has passed, for example, 60 thousand km, and the rubber bands on the pedals have been erased to metal, you are probably deceived.
3. Lever arm. Scuffed handles from a manual transmission indicate the duration of use of the vehicle. Pay attention also to the leather boot of the lever - it should not have obvious signs of wear.
4. Buttons. If the gear lever and pedal pads can be replaced in order to hide the real mileage, then the buttons are forgotten. Meanwhile, scuffs appear on them over time.

The methods described in this article will help to independently evaluate and find out the vehicle mileage, but not in all cases. Many sellers are aware of these methods and try to eliminate all the signs of a large mileage. To avoid becoming a victim of fraud, conduct a comprehensive inspection of the machine. Take into account not only the odometer numbers, but also the external and technical condition of the machine. If in doubt about the declared mileage, refrain from buying and look for another option.

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