I’m thinking of buying a retired police interceptor (Crown Victoria) and I noticed that some of them have problems with the digital odometer displaying, etc.
What causes this and is it an easy fix?
Also, will the actual mileage show up once this problem is repaired?
Thank you.
Mark B Handler
I’m rather surprised since police vehicles has specially calibrated speedometers and odometers. I would visit a speedometer shop such as one we have here called “Mr. Speedometer” who service commercial and law enforcement vehicles. They will have a definite answer.
I’m no expert, but is it even legal to sell a car with a non-working odometer?
found this:
When transferring a vehicle title and changing ownership, owners must submit an accurate odometer reading. To do this, many state motor vehicle agencies provide a form called the Odometer Disclosure Statement. In some cases, you can simply fill in the odometer reading section on the certificate of title or registration application.
but you can’t do that without an odometer…
Is this straight from the police or being auctioned for the police, or was it a taxi between being retired and now?
It’s coming straight from the cops and is being auctioned off by them.
This seems to be a common problem with the CVPI’s. Somebody that used to work with me had a 2006 CVPI and it had the same problem with its instrument cluster. He thinks that some of the soldered connections come loose (due to vibration, etc) and the way the car is normally used.
Thank you.
Mark B Handler
In a message dated 6/10/2018 14:38:36 Central Standard Time, cartalk@discoursemail.com writes:
Not sure about all states, but in Washington
If the vehicle is more than 10 years old, you don’t have to report the Odometer miles.
I live in Iowa and I’m not sure how that works here.
But, I did find out from a guy that used to work with me (who had a 2006 CVPI) that had a non working instrument cluster (or odometer) that when you get the problem fixed, the mileage still accumulates and is stored in the computer.
In a message dated 6/10/2018 16:08:44 Central Standard Time, cartalk@discoursemail.com writes:
Of course, you can sell a vehicle with a non-working odometer. Here in Arizona, you would put “0 miles” and check box C (not actual miles). Similarly, if you had to replace the instrument cluster and/or body control computer, and the mileage changed as a result, you would put the displayed mileage and check box C.
The cold-solder connection for the odometer on the back of the instrument cluster is a common failure point on early-mid 2000’s Fords with an LED odometer. It’s not a difficult fix, but the cluster needs to come out (it would be a good idea to change out the cluster backlighting at the same time.) The good news is that the the vehicle’s mileage is still being recorded even though the display might not always work.