False mileage?

[Hellotalkie]

I bought my 2003 focus couple of months ago. I later on discovered some odd things about the instrument cluster, there was no cruise control light, but there was an over drive light...and I drive a manual. The gauges (rpm and mph) were off substantially. I decided to open it up today to recalibrate those two, and what I discovered was there was a screw missing that held the instrument cluster in place ( there was 3 but suppose to be 4). The previous owner(s) had to to be messing with something, but now im worried about the true mileage. I bought the car with 69000 on the odo, now with 74000. Is there a way i can get the true mileage assuming they did a cluster swap.
thanks

 

[Bignate603]

Did you get a carfax report on the vehicle?

 

[Hellotalkie]

no, but the trial report said 8 things happened, didn't bother paying for it though.
It doesn't have a salvage title or anything...although the car has all this underlying issues
especially with the interior

 

[Bignate603]

You probably should have paid for that report, especially if it listed 8 things on a 2003. That's more than it lists for my '97. It may show some discrepancy with mileage.

There are good reasons for swapping the gauge cluster but I've usually run into it when someone is swapping in a better cluster into a base model vehicle.

 

[rdp6]

I had mine replaced due to corrupted graphics/text on the LCD in certain conditions.

 

[thescreensavers]

CarFax is only $29.99 , still worth to look at imo even if there's one report on there.

 

[Zenmervolt]

With digital odometers, the mileage is often stored in the ECU as well. It's possible that this is the case with your Focus and you could have the dealer read the mileage from the ECU and compare it with the mileage in the instrument panel. I know that this is how the gauge cluster in my '98 Volvo is set up (digital display in the gauges, but also stored in the ECU).

ZV

 

[Hellotalkie]

Would autozone be able to read it? I know the dealer will charge me just to get it checked, ford dealers around need every penny they can get. I think its 95 just for a ecu diagnostics check at ford

 

[thescreensavers]

Good Read Op

What they list as a Free Odometer check

 

[thedarkwolf]

My 89 dodge caravan only has 6600 miles on it going by my odometer . Rolled it back to 0 after I rebuilt the engine since I had the cluster out at the same time to replace some of the other gauges. Kind of scary how easy it was to do.

 

[Farang]

Originally posted by: thescreensavers
Good Read Op

What they list as a Free Odometer check

Seems like a good way to sell their product. Odometer discrepancies are really common on a carfax report and 99% of the time mean someone roughly estimated the mileage at some point. I think my truck has about 4 or so, all of which are obviously non-intentional (unless people usually rollback their vehicles 10k, hold onto them for 5 more years, and sell them with 110k miles).

 

[nerp]

You can also screw up the odometer by using non standard sized tires or some hokey aftermarket parts. There are dimwits who put 22 inch wheels on their corolla then wonder why their milage reading is all screwed up.

 

[RKS]

We had a Passat that, among it's many electrical issues, had a dead instrument panel. When they replaced it, the dealer put a tag on the door jamb indicating the miles on the odometer were not a true reflection of actual miles.

 

[EightySix Four]

My ex-girlfriend's dad used to swap out two different instrument clusters on his white Pontiac Bonneville (I think it was a bonneville, had a nice V8). Alwayss hated him for it too. Some people just want to screw you.

 

[InflatableBuddha]

Originally posted by: RKS
We had a Passat that, among it's many electrical issues, had a dead instrument panel. When they replaced it, the dealer put a tag on the door jamb indicating the miles on the odometer were not a true reflection of actual miles.

The gauge cluster on my Mom's 03 Civic malfunctioned after 25,000 km and had to be replaced. The dealership put a sticker in the door jamb which notes the original 25,000 km.

 

[LaBella]

Originally posted by: crazySOB297
My ex-girlfriend's dad used to swap out two different instrument clusters on his white Pontiac Bonneville (I think it was a bonneville, had a nice V8). Alwayss hated him for it too. Some people just want to screw you.

SSEi maybe? It was a limited edition one a ways back...

The main ECU will have the true mileage for sure

 

[BlackTigers]

I roller my cluster back a few miles (literally like 10) when I had it out.

It was very easy to do.

 

[Hellotalkie]

So yeah no mileage discrepancy, which makes me a little more happy i guess, they could easily swap it without notifying anyone.
I still wonder about the 8 records, but not enough where i would have to fork over 30, so if anyone has a unlimited carfax in hand ; ). Not to come off as needy or anything but thanks for all the help!

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: RKS
We had a Passat that, among it's many electrical issues, had a dead instrument panel. When they replaced it, the dealer put a tag on the door jamb indicating the miles on the odometer were not a true reflection of actual miles.

Older VDO instrument panels (the kind with analog odometers) had a problem with the main drive gear in the gauge. Apparently the plastic used would degrade with age and softened to the point that all of its teeth would strip. Replacing the gear is a common repair, but it's amazingly easy and one of those things that makes a person really appreciate just how simple it used to be for a dishonest dealer to roll back an odometer.

I had to do the VDO repair on my 951 a few years ago when the odometer stopped recording mileage in the middle of a trip. I tracked my fuel use through the rest of the trip and actually rolled the odometer forward to account for the miles traveled between when the gear failed and when I replaced it. I may be off by 50 miles or so, but on a car with 160,000 miles on it, I don't think the variance is material.

ZV

 

[BZeto]

I have a 98 Cavalier 5 speed and I swapped the cluster out with one from an automatic because it has the tachometer on it. It has been awhile but I recall turning on the ignition and my odometer rolling to what it the true mileage of the car was.