Lookin at a '99. Dealer claims he got it at auction with only 84k on it. But I noticed a window marking that said 180k. Of course he claims it was a mistake. The odo sez 84, but I'm suspicious. Any good ways to check, anything I should look for. And at the same time, how do I verify the 4wd works without getten it all muddy?
Thanks to all the guru's.
Tut

 

Drb tool to see if mileage in bcm matches the cluster. Only downfall only dealer can check that out as far as i know. As for the 4wd working go in gravel or in dirt lot and shift into 4wd hi and low. You'll feel the difference between 2wd, hi and low when you press the gas, you can also go in a circle not a tight one and you'll feel the difference too.

 

The story and the mistaken mileage make the vehicle suspect. I guess he retired the little old lady driving to church routine.

 

You should be able to run the vin through carfax or one of the many services that will show things such as mileage at state inspections and whenever it was registered with new owners. Just run the vin through google. Sometimes something will come up like a previous for sale ad.

 

Mileage is stored on the ECU and only DISPLAYED on the dash. So if it says 84K on the ODO. Then the computer came from a XJ with 84K on the clock. Could try a CAR FAX report. That will at least give mileages at time of ownership change.

 

I work for a dealership and that number great tool carfax is a nice app on my phone so just get the full vin for me and I'll run it and pm te results to you

 

Actually not true. The cluster also stores mileage on the ic chip and ecu store the mileage and can throw a code for mileage not matching each other.

 

Carfax is not infallible.

It can only reflect some things that are reported to insurance companies and certain state agencies.

In my state, anything over a certain age or miles is considered Odometer Exempt. I think 10 years old or older and/or 100,000 miles.

 

it's true, the mileage is stored in the cluster itself. But there's a CEL for that??? I've never heard of that one

 

I've never heard of a DTC for mileage either.

The PCM does not monitor mileage in the '99 XJ (or any OBDII XJ that I know of).

Maybe other Chrysler vehicles with a Body Module (?).

I think there was a PCM expert NAXJA member that said he could change the mileage in the Instrument Cluster. I guess if he can do it, others can as well.

 

If it's electronic, someone will figure out a way to hack it.

 

Yea you can a 100 for the software and can reprogram the cluster and if you know someone at dodge or possible any other dealership they can change the mileage in the bcm.
The only reason i know is because i have been trying to find a low mileage cluster with full gauges but found out how to do with with any cluster. With it throwing a dtc is for vins not matching not mileage like i stated before.

 

There is, and he has a YouTube video on how to do it.

 

180k miles on a 13 year old vehicle certainly is not out of the norm. If you don't trust the dude, don't buy it.

 

That geek talks too much.

A teddy bear...give me a break!