Exactly how does an electronic odomoter work? Is it like a hard drive of a computer? Does it need power eventually to retain the reading?

 

Great question. I have wondered this, too. Maybe a lithium battery backup.

 

Lookin' to reset it?

I know on the Vette's that first had the digital odo's on them there was a way to install a toggle switch to turn the odometer off so it wouldn't add miles.

 

if you pull the fuse or disconnect it, their is no more mileage being added. There isn't a back up or anything. Atleast from my experience

 

suprisingly, you can do this w/ many cars

 

I think i heard that the ecu keeps mileage also. So if it doesnt match up to the odo.. then

 

Come on! Can it really be that simple?

 

It can't be, at least I don't think so. There has to be something else that also keeps adding miles hidden somewhere.

 

 

I think one of the reasons many manufacturers are adding digital odometers is to prevent people from disconnecting/tampering with their odometers.

 

I read the ECU or computer or whatever only records the last 5 minutes of activity i.e. speed, braking, rpm's... We may never know the truth.

 

i heard this a few years back about BMW's, no clue if its true though

 

There is a company local to me that sells used clusters for TL's from what they say the milage is not stored anywhere in the TL's computer ..

 

I know with my trans am, i can actually go in with a programmer and tune the odo out of the computer and reset or change the miles. This way if i wanted to i can reset or roll back the numbers, and it would match that of the ecu.

 

This is comforting news!