Well, in some vehicles, such as certain Saturn models, if you replace the instrument cluster with a used one from a junkyard, the odometer will display “———“ (all dashes) and it won’t show miles. The trip meter won’t work either. I assume the BCM checks the VIN programmed into the cluster and if it doesn’t match then this error occurs.
In some vehicles, such as the 1996-2000 Dodge Caravan, the mileage comes from the BCM, and no programming is required to install a used cluster. The VIN is not stored in the cluster, and neither is the odometer mileage.
Not counting my 50yo fun car, I have a 33yo, 2 17yo’s, a 22yo and all can be daily driven if or when needed, heck, the 33 and the 17’s can be/are driven a lot of weekends 60 miles away, sometimes twice the same weekend, well the one 17 (Cobalt is questionable at times), and I have a couple of newer ones in the fleet as well…
lol, Those was the very 1st things I had to replace when I brought the Cobalt out of storage, I replaced the Main Fuel Line and the Vapor Fuel Line (Cannister to Engine) from Inline Tube (one piece pre-bent), both had rotted out right above the heatshield that collected dirt and whatnot and held moister, stupid design…
Just like ours and everyone else’s. I just tried to search for a recall or investigation. It never became a recall but the investigation search feature at NHTSA.gov is horrible now. I just wanted to see if the investigation was still open and the database search is essentially unusable.
Well, the car did make it to about 180,000 before they leaked, and they didn’t start leaking till it just sat for 5 years untouched (but that could have been a blessing)…
I know they are prone to leak, but not as bad down here, this car shows signs of coming out of the rust belt, the aluminum brackets and alt are (was) corroded and under hood rust and whatnot, but the important things are all rust free…
… unless someone is a skilled machinist. One of my coworkers was able to continue to drive her ancient Buick Electra because her husband had the skills to be able to make parts that were no longer available.
Technology moves fast and manufacturers only invest in the current demand
So what happens if you’ve got a 2000+ era model with halogen headlamps and projector lens when they’re no longer available, LEDs don’t fit and halogens and are no longer available?
Can, drive a car without headlights so what do you do?
If I owned a Ferrari, the cost of custom made bulbs are no object but for the rest of us a simple thing like headlight bulbs may mean scrap value.
I have an extra pair of (used) headlamps for my 1996 Dodge Status. New headlamps are so inexpensive that I would be better off buying new lamps. Odd that there are so many headlamps available for an obsolete car.
. . .
