Odometer question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 325
Likes: 1
From: Prescott AZ
Odometer question
I am looking at purchasing a ZR1 with low mileage but 4 previous owners. The last owner has service records since he owned it but none for the previous owners. How easy is it to turn back the mileage on a C4. The car is in very good condition but future value may be affected if I can not document the mileage. Or, is it best to stay away from cars without all documentation? Car fax may be of some help but may not tell all. What do y'all think?
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,691
Likes: 71
From: Phoenix Arizona
Generally speaking, you have to document that the mileage is NOT correct, barring evidence or appearance to the contrary. The mileage is resident in the BCM (body control module, also called the central control module) and can be changed by replacing the module. If documentation matters to you, you probably should stay away from cars without it. On earlier cars that were easily cloned, documentation is far more important.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,971
Likes: 9
From: The reason time exists is so everything doesn't happen at once
Turning back the odometer on a C4 is not like the old days where you attached an electric drill to the odometer cable and spun it backwards. It's a lot more complicated. A Carfax will show if there was a steady increase in mileage, and, if the car has been registered in the same state since new, the DMV would also pick up on a tampered odometer. As far as service records it's not unusual for early ones to be missing (although I'm surprised that any ZR1 owner would be so careless). I would not consider missing records a deal breaker. Ask the current owner if he has the name of the person he bought from. You may be able to trace the car back to its original owner.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 805
Likes: 3
From: Okeechobee FL
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,694
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From: Beaverton Oregon
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 325
Likes: 1
From: Prescott AZ
Thanks for the replies.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,240
Likes: 0
From: Cleveland OHIO
If the title and carfax are clean that is about the best you can hope for. Rolling the odometer back on a C4 would be a challenge however there are other tricks with these cars. Look at the harness comming off the v.s.s. look for splices or cuts in the wires, look for holes comming through the center console where wires could have been run through.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 470
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix Arizona
Good advise, just keep in mind Carfax did not start until the mid nineties therefore accidents or damages are not on record.
Example, 1991 my car was stolen from a dealer in Pasadena California, theif took the car to San Francisco and did 13k in damages, driver side front frame bent inward, it does not show on Carfax.
Hope this helps
Example, 1991 my car was stolen from a dealer in Pasadena California, theif took the car to San Francisco and did 13k in damages, driver side front frame bent inward, it does not show on Carfax.
Hope this helps
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,753
Likes: 9
From: Louisiana
The mileage is easy to change especially on the 90-96 C4's. You just have to replace the CCM (in the dash behind the radio next to the firewall). If the interior/exterior looks to be about the same as the mileage, I would say it would be safe.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,240
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From: Cleveland OHIO
I am not CERTAIN but I THINK you need a TECH ONE to do this.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
The CCM (behind the radio) holds the mileage and it can't really be changed. The CCM also has the VIN recorded in it and data for certain options lile the C68 Climate Control and the FX3 Selective Ride Control which is standard on ZR-1's. The CCM will store any error codes for these two systems.
When a new CCM is installed, you do have the 100 mile limitation before the CCM will not accept any odometer milage input. It effectively locks out any changes after that mileage is reached.
When a new CCM is installed, you do have the 100 mile limitation before the CCM will not accept any odometer milage input. It effectively locks out any changes after that mileage is reached.