Odometer turnback

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Mar 25, 1999 | 12:31 PM

Dude

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Odometer turnback

Not that I want to do it, I'm just wondering if it's possible. A friend of a friend says they know someone who does it for $300.I have read previous posts about dealers installing new instrument clusters and programming in the mileage, so I'm sure it can be done. Is there a black market for reprogramming digital odometers? Can it be done with software such as the VWTOOL?Any anonymous people care to comment?

Mar 25, 1999 | 12:38 PM

Alan Adamson

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Sometimes, I just shake my head in disbelief!

The instrument cluster is programmable... ONE TIME. It uses a one time programmble storage part.Sorry,Alan

Mar 25, 1999 | 12:45 PM

Dude

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Well then...

what about the case where a new cluster isn't programmed correctly, like when it is set for a 2.8 instead of a 1.8T. Does this mean that you just have to trash it and re-install a new one?There's got to be a way to reset it or "re-flash" it.

Mar 25, 1999 | 12:59 PM

donp

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exactly

The dealer programmed the wrong mileage in my car TWICE. Apparently, their miles to kilometers math "aint too good." Each time they had to order a new cluster.

Mar 25, 1999 | 02:30 PM

GeraldF

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Don't ask, don't tell ...

but on the BMW board they were discussing this a few weeks ago. Apparently with a laptop it isn't too terribly hard. So much for technology making our lives better.

Mar 25, 1999 | 02:58 PM

Ross

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Jail for few $$ is dumb.Make money, don't save it by screwing others. Another computer (more)

In the BMW there is at least one other computer computer involved in checking mileage to protect buyers from a'holes.Audi no doubt has similar checks in place. Try constructive thinking. Note is from BMW board in response to question as to why little red light came on in trip odom. on my 7401L *** the red dot is called a mainipulation dot. itcomes on if the mileage stored in instrument cluster does not agree with mileage stored in the light control module. yes, the light control module stores mileage for the purpose of redundancy and tampering protection.if there have been no repairs to instrument cluster or lkm, the manipulation dot on your car is a glitch i have not ever seen in e38. if it persists,have dealer look into replacing the ike(processor for instrument cluster) 98.5 A4 QT sport hibiscus

Mar 25, 1999 | 03:21 PM

Alex Popper

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me too

The dealer programmed 80,000 instead of 8,000 miles into my replacement cluster. It can only be programmed once. AoA made the dealer buy the 2nd replacement unit since it was his stupid mistake. Looks like he learned an expensive lesson.

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Mar 25, 1999 | 10:01 PM

JohnS

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Not possible to 'turn back'...

The Instrument cluster in Audi automobiles allows a tech to reprogram one time, and only to a number GREATER than is currently registered on the odometer. So, if you had 12,000 miles on the odometer, there is no way possible to make the odo read 10,000 miles without replacing the whole cluster. If you had a new cluster installed, the tech could set the new mileage, and then that would be it. No more changes after that. The mileage is set with the VAG tool, and could probably be done with VW Tool if you knew the steps. Of course, honesty is always the best policy, and there are those out there that will try to cheat the system, but overall, the Audi system is pretty hard to cheat. Notice that I said 'pretty hard', since no system is completely foolproof. JohnS