Question about mileage
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Oak Island, NC
Question about mileage
I am looking to purchase a 2000 convertible. The odometer shows 179,000 miles, but CarFax shows the car being driven about 3,000 miles per year until 2017. Then there was a massive jump in miles to 168,000 in 2 years. This flagged a mileage discrpency with DMV and branded the title.
My guess is that the previous owner swapped the instrument cluster. If they did, would it show the higher miles of that cluster, rather then the miles recorded on the EEPROM? If so, is there a way to determine the actual miles recorded on the EEPROM? Can the panel but updated to show/sync with the EEPROM?
My suspicion is the car has far fewer miles than indicated, just not sure how I can know for sure.
Todd
My guess is that the previous owner swapped the instrument cluster. If they did, would it show the higher miles of that cluster, rather then the miles recorded on the EEPROM? If so, is there a way to determine the actual miles recorded on the EEPROM? Can the panel but updated to show/sync with the EEPROM?
My suspicion is the car has far fewer miles than indicated, just not sure how I can know for sure.
Todd
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 4,308
Likes: 3,455
From: Somewhere, Florida
St. Jude Donor '20-'21-'22-'23-'24
A mileage discrepancy does not equal a branded title usually. It's should just be a notation on the carfax.
I know the clusters can be reprogrammed, and mileage is stored in them individually. Not sure if mileage is stored on the car somewhere else, unfortunately.
I know the clusters can be reprogrammed, and mileage is stored in them individually. Not sure if mileage is stored on the car somewhere else, unfortunately.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,864
Likes: 4,668
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 10,247
Likes: 888
From: Hickory NC
2025 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '17 thru '26
I am looking to purchase a 2000 convertible. The odometer shows 179,000 miles, but CarFax shows the car being driven about 3,000 miles per year until 2017. Then there was a massive jump in miles to 168,000 in 2 years. This flagged a mileage discrpency with DMV and branded the title.
My guess is that the previous owner swapped the instrument cluster. If they did, would it show the higher miles of that cluster, rather then the miles recorded on the EEPROM? If so, is there a way to determine the actual miles recorded on the EEPROM? Can the panel but updated to show/sync with the EEPROM?
When the IPC is swapped in to another C5 the mileage recorded will “move” with the cluster. If you swap out a 5,000 mile cluster and put in a 50,000 mile cluster your car will now show 50,000 miles. One of the most common reasons for swapping out a cluster is to add a HUD display to the current car. Some owners may be more concerned about having HUD than the correct mileage - until it is time to sell their C5. (If I remember correctly, all 1999 and later C5s are set up for the HUD option so an IPC change is not required but some owners may still believe the changeover is necessary).
If this example happened it is still possible to determine the correct mileage and have the IPC corrected - although then you may have to jump through hoops to convince DMV that you are not just rolling back the mileage. I would suggest checking with your Chevy dealer to see if they can either correct the mileage reading or get the IPC and mileage info to a Service Center and have them make the correction. Be sure and get good paperwork from Chevy to show they made the Correction (do not say the mileage was changed - it was Corrected).
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...enter-dic.html has great info about moving the DIC board from one panel to another but even with the old IPC it appears there are potentially 11,000 miles added since the mysterious jump in mileage.
Great info here on Chevy working with you on the correction: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...JIWkgBVbrKjH8_
Best bet is to still try and get Chevy involved in checking and Correcting the mileage. Of course, you may find that the mileage shown is correct - although I share your thoughts that the mileage is incorrect.
My suspicion is the car has far fewer miles than indicated, just not sure how I can know for sure.
Todd
My guess is that the previous owner swapped the instrument cluster. If they did, would it show the higher miles of that cluster, rather then the miles recorded on the EEPROM? If so, is there a way to determine the actual miles recorded on the EEPROM? Can the panel but updated to show/sync with the EEPROM?
When the IPC is swapped in to another C5 the mileage recorded will “move” with the cluster. If you swap out a 5,000 mile cluster and put in a 50,000 mile cluster your car will now show 50,000 miles. One of the most common reasons for swapping out a cluster is to add a HUD display to the current car. Some owners may be more concerned about having HUD than the correct mileage - until it is time to sell their C5. (If I remember correctly, all 1999 and later C5s are set up for the HUD option so an IPC change is not required but some owners may still believe the changeover is necessary).
If this example happened it is still possible to determine the correct mileage and have the IPC corrected - although then you may have to jump through hoops to convince DMV that you are not just rolling back the mileage. I would suggest checking with your Chevy dealer to see if they can either correct the mileage reading or get the IPC and mileage info to a Service Center and have them make the correction. Be sure and get good paperwork from Chevy to show they made the Correction (do not say the mileage was changed - it was Corrected).
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...enter-dic.html has great info about moving the DIC board from one panel to another but even with the old IPC it appears there are potentially 11,000 miles added since the mysterious jump in mileage.
Great info here on Chevy working with you on the correction: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...JIWkgBVbrKjH8_
Best bet is to still try and get Chevy involved in checking and Correcting the mileage. Of course, you may find that the mileage shown is correct - although I share your thoughts that the mileage is incorrect.
My suspicion is the car has far fewer miles than indicated, just not sure how I can know for sure.
Todd
Let us know how this goes if you decide to pursue the mileage question.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 6,513
Likes: 4,360
From: Florida
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner- Unmodified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I would look for one with no discrepancies. Not uncommon to read threads where someone finds a car with issues. I’ve been in that spot too. Lol…
Its easy being in the outside looking in. I wish you the best with your search. 👍
Its easy being in the outside looking in. I wish you the best with your search. 👍
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 1,339
From: Havre de Grace Maryland
Agree on establishing the buy using 168K . Go on line and put the Vette Specs at the various online for sale sites including Carvanna with the 168K millage and see what they say. Depending on the condition of the Vette and documented repairs, I would take the average of all the online estimates to determine my asking my low to high offer price. JMHO.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Zen Vet Master Level VII
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 5,218
Likes: 1,174
From: Southlake, TX