Broken Odometer - Records Miles Fast! What to Do?

whoatherechunk · #1 12-13-2009, 05:02 PM

Hey guys,

Need your advice on what to do. I have a 85 Chevy G30. Maybe you might have read about it here (link below)

Van Guys - 85' Chevy G30 Van - V8 - Need your opinions!

Well I bought and everything is fie on it besides a loose AC belt, but after driving it for a little I see that the miles are being recorded super fast. Do I need to take this to a place that deals specifically in electric work or what? If the odometer is busted should I replace it or just disconnect it so it doesn't record miles. I mean...I've only driven it for maybe 100 miles since it's been faulty and it went up like 6 thousand hahaha. Like every second is a mile. So yeah...anyone that's car savvy what would you do? People tell me to just disconnect it and it record the miles manually but I honestly don't know. I don't want to cheat anyone if I resell it and I sure as heck don't wanna cheat myself out of it. Thanks!

hover · #2 12-13-2009, 05:12 PM

wow. I've never heard of that...could have sworn odometers read off axle revolutions... you didn't by chance change the stock tire size with wheels off a skateboard, did you?

I mean some guys like to ride low, but...

Is the odometer electronic?

HollowBassman · #3 12-13-2009, 05:20 PM

Is the speedo reading fast as well?

whoatherechunk · #4 12-13-2009, 05:24 PM

The speedometer works just fine :/

whoatherechunk · #5 12-13-2009, 05:27 PM

O and the odometer is not electronic (digital if that's what you mean). Its old school and well it rolls. Sorry my terminology sucks.

hover · #6 12-13-2009, 05:35 PM

then the mechanism reading off the axle is messed up. Time to bring it in... bummer bro.

Mike N. should have some excellent advise. Paging Mr. N.....

HollowBassman · #7 12-13-2009, 05:36 PM

That seems very odd to me. I'm fairly sure the speedometer and the odometer share the same cable; so if one is wrong, I would expect the other to be as well. Has the odometer always spun fast? If so, maybe whomever you bought it from may have tried to repair the odometer with the wrong parts. (Disclaimer: I am not a professional mechanic)

hover · #8 12-13-2009, 05:42 PM

Yeah, they share the same cable and gear ratio...

whoatherechunk · #9 12-13-2009, 05:54 PM

Hmmm. This stuff sucks! The speedometer also doesn't jump or flicker... it's pretty steady.

hover · #10 12-13-2009, 05:57 PM

well there is a wormgear or two that connect the two tickers...one of them is prolly worn and just flailing freely, causing the spin... They can be rebuilt or replaced.

Mike N · #11 12-13-2009, 06:08 PM

Replace the speedometer/odometer assembly. You should be able to score one from a junkyard for next to nothing. A handful of screws and a cable connection later and it's fixed.

Or do what I'd do and don't worry about it.

()smoke() · #12 12-13-2009, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hover

well there is a wormgear or two that connect the two tickers...one of them is prolly worn and just flailing freely, causing the spin... They can be rebuilt or replaced.

+1

take it to a speedo shop, they can fix it and authenticate that it's functioning correctly--not sure what, if anything, they can legally do to roll back the mileage that's erroneously been put on it now though...they might be able to correct it, but there are regulations governing exactly what and how much they can do, which are in place to protect potential buyers from people rolling back the odometer before a sale

whoatherechunk · #13 12-13-2009, 06:26 PM

What is the proper term for a 'speedo' shop so I can take it to one. Thanks!

()smoke() · #14 12-13-2009, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whoatherechunk

What is the proper term for a 'speedo' shop so I can take it to one. Thanks!

search for automobile electrical and speedometer repair--google turns up a list in my area, not sure where you are

lunarpollen · #15 12-13-2009, 09:33 PM

maybe it's set for kilometers instead of miles?

hbarcat · #16 12-14-2009, 05:02 PM

Just don't worry about it. It's almost 25 years old. How much value do you think you're going to lose if you ever sell it with the odo broken and higher than actual mileage reading? Not much.

vbasscustom · #17 12-14-2009, 05:17 PM

yeah, thats actually a possiblity, it could be a canadian van. and im from canada, so y7ou better not say anything bad about it

Mike N · #18 12-14-2009, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hbarcat

Just don't worry about it. It's almost 25 years old. How much value do you think you're going to lose if you ever sell it with the odo broken and higher than actual mileage reading? Not much.

My thoughts exactly.