GRAND_LS 4

iTrader: (2)

What I meant was, how can we as LS specifically, and Lexus generally owners protect ourselves from criminals who can swap instrumental cluster’s to reflect a false mileage reading?

Example…

Someone goes out and buys and LS with lets say 50K on it. He then replaces the original cluster with one out of junk yard with xx K miles on it and uses it so the accumulated miles will add up on the junk yard cluster then swaps them back when he goes to the dealer for service. Then when he wants to sell the car, he can swap back the original, uses it for about 5K so it doesn’t look suspicious, and before you know it, your buying a Lexus you THINK has 55K when it really has 80K or even more with nothing to prove it.

My question is, what type of technological precautions are our LS’s equipped with to prevent this type of scenario from happening? Is the mileage recorded elsewhere other then the instrumental cluster?

As some already know, I just bought an LS, and I just started to think about it while looking at different LS’s with different mileage reading… just something to think about.

Falcon LS

Just out of curiosity, would the PCM/ECU register mileage?

Kansas

An easy way to verify mileage is to buy a car that has a verifiable maintenance history. I provided the new owner of my first LS with a copy of every receipt since the car was new, a log of maintenance and repairs, and also recommended that he speak with the owner of the shop that did the more serious maintenance. Don't let a seller tell you that you should not be asking for this type of information. The used LS I bought last year had an easily verifiable history since it came off a three year lease that required maintenance to be performed by the dealer.

If the car you are looking at is being sold through a dealer, ask to speak with the previous owner or lessee.

A dishonest person is always going to be able to alter the mileage of a car - no matter what a manuafacturer does to make it difficult. Independent research to verify mileage and maintenance is your only practical alternative.

caliness

Carfax maybe??

cschow

I'm pretty confident that any car using an electronic odometer stores mileage information in locations other than just the cluster and further, if the different locations don't agree, it should cause some sort of mileage fault indicator to show.

persian451

you have a valid point. I'm sure a very skilled programmer could reprogram the odometer. But i'm sure theres a lot of work involved

caliness

You can buy a device that hooks your odometer (or cluster) up to your computer on eBay.

GRAND_LS 4

iTrader: (2)

It would be a little too late if you already bought the car.

GRAND_LS 4

iTrader: (2)

I’m almost sure there isn’t on most cars, that’s why I’m asking if our LS's are equipped with such technology. But more then likely it isn’t

Celsior Master

i thought cars had some kind of black box or whatever that is hidden somewhere. supposed to record stuff that happens. maybe it only for use in accidents. i don't know

nthach

some cars will display 999999 or S when the odo is tampered with.