When buying a car, every motorist always specifies the year of production, mileage and, of course, the cost of the car. With an elementary calculation, it will be clear that, on average, a car travels about 30 thousand km per year. If we take into account a five-year period, then we can talk about a mileage of 100 or 150 thousand km.
However, there are often cars whose mileage is several times less than the specified value. The owners explain this miracle by the fact that the car was practically not used and was in the garage. Such eloquent assurances from the seller suggest one thought that he is lying. How is the mileage twisted? In fact, there are many ways.
1. When the odometer is of a mechanical type, remove the small cable located on the speedometer, and then turn it in the opposite direction, for example, using a drill or screwdriver. After a certain period of time, the car will lose several thousand kilometers.
2. Often skillful businessmen disassemble the control panel and twist the readings by hand. If the odometer is automatic, then you have to connect to a computer, then disassemble the panel. In rare cases, they resort to re-soldering the system.
So why is the run being twisted? Indeed, sometimes it is unwound not only to decrease, but also to increase the indicator. A car whose mileage has reached 100 thousand km must undergo MOT. You will have to pay a substantial amount for it. Therefore, they are twisted in order to confirm the passage of MOT in such an unpretentious way. This is a kind of demonstration of consumer benefits, because the future owner will not have to spend extra money.
How to identify a fraudulent use? The mechanical device of the odometer is made in the form of a dial, on which drums with numbers are visible. If these values are crooked, it means that certain manipulations were carried out. It is worth taking a close look at the cable. If there are traces of unscrewing the nut on the mount, most likely, doubts are justified. In order not to be mistaken, if possible, the verification is entrusted to an experienced person. When an electronic odometer is installed, the workshop specialists will give the most accurate answer. If doubts crept in about the seller's honesty, you need to visit the service and ask for a diagnosis.
In addition, there are many signs that clearly indicate the twisting of the run. Worn brake discs, frayed steering wheel, wear of pedals (linings) should make you alert. The interior of the car can tell a lot. Usually cars that have seen a lot have a sagging driver's seat. The age of the vehicle is given by the old interior upholstery, worn buttons and inscriptions.
Sometimes it helps to check the engine compartment, where you can see the stickers that are left by the workshop specialists after the repair. You should carefully inspect the windshield, the date of its production, which should coincide with the marking applied to the rest of the glass. When the car has passed more than 100 thousand km, scratches from the wipers remain on the windshield. If the glass reflects, most likely, it was polished to remove traces of time.
There is no point in checking the mileage by looking at the exterior of the body. If the car was used as a taxi, then it can show 200 thousand km, although the exterior will be new. Experts advise diagnosing the machine in any case. When something raises doubts about a car for sale, it is better not to buy it at all.
