Eskimo

12 valve engine, but the '98, with the digital odometer.

Looking at a truck with mileage discrepancies... Wondering what the cause could be.

jj3500

carefull at what you buy. if your instinct tells you that the mileage is not correct...go with that.

from experience, i know that digital odometers can be altered.

if you are in doubt just go somewhere else, right?

Eskimo

I know for a fact that the milage isn't right. It's been disclosed. What I'm trying to find out is what may have caused it to not read correctly.

Finding a '98 12v quad cab 3500 4x4 that's loaded is pretty tough... and not having correct milage doesn't bother me, I'm gonna have this one for a while...

infidel

I know the odo reading is stored in the PCM with a battery backup. How to access it I can't tell you. More than likely you need a dealer only scan tool.

zulusafari

Infidel is correct.the mileage is stored on a chip in the computer system. If the computer ever completely failed and had to be replaced, then the mileage woulld start over from the installation date, unless the service dept. was able to program in the correct mileage to the new unit.

I have read reports that some computer savvy sellers have been able to reprogram the chip for obious reasons, but that it really isn't all that hard to do.

Don't believe blindly in a CARFAX vehicle history report, either! If the VIN wasn't recorded and submitted to a data warehouse, nothing will ever show up. My 2001 Sport 2500 4x4 had the entire box repainted sometime, and aftermarket reproduction taillights installed, but the history report was squeaky clean! They have some fine print disclaimer on the guarantee, so use the CARFAX wisely, with a grain of salt. The fact the mileage has been disclosed as not actual could possibly be a good thing, as the seller may be trying to be absolutely honest!?

Just my $0.02.

Eskimo

Here's what I have:

Event Date Event Location Odometer Reading Data Source Event Detail
02/26/01 MCALLEN, TX MOTOR VEHICLE DEPT. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
03/06/01 RIVIERA, TX 112,325 MOTOR VEHICLE DEPT. TITLE (Title #: 13730036946152104)
05/01/01 MCALLEN, TX 78,500 MOTOR VEHICLE DEPT. TITLE (Lien Reported) (Title #: 23710037002131745)
02/01/02 MCALLEN, TX MOTOR VEHICLE DEPT. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
02/01/03 MCALLEN, TX MOTOR VEHICLE DEPT. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
02/01/04 MCALLEN, TX MOTOR VEHICLE DEPT. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
06/23/04 TX 50,598 AUTO AUCTION REPORTED AT AUTO AUCTION AS DEALER VEHICLE

So sometime between 3/6/01 and 5/1/01, the PCM was replaced, probably with one from a recycler, and not by the dealer.

But... the odd thing I can't figure out.. The PCM was replaced AGAIN sometime between 5/1/01 and 6/23/04?

One of the DTR members in the area has graciously volunteered to take a look at the truck for me, and give me the full skinny.

I just want peace of mind that if I go to buy this thing, I have an idea of the real miles on it, and have some idea of its history.

I am glad that the seller told me about the milage not being right, but I would learn soon enough when I get the title, and it shows "not actual"

infidel

My understanding is the mileage stored in the pcm is separate from the odo reading, a backup in case a discrepancy arises and is only accessible with Chysler software. Most likely the reading in the report you have is from the odo which seems like someone has fooled with.
If you really want to find out what's going you would have to access the pcm mileage.

J BODY

"SRI memory check" using the DRB scan tool at the dealer will pull this info. Be forewarned it can also be changed with the DRB also (or at least the last time I looked you still could).