I've finally figured it out! For those of you following my previous thread, the checksum has to do with the number of bits in the odometer reading bytes.

But enough technical crap. You all want to know how you can do it too, yes?

I offer my programmer for hire. I will preprogram it with a fixed offset (eg add 148979 km; or subtract 265465 km from the current reading)

The service includes
* Express post to you in Australia
* Return prepaid express post package to get it back to me
* Easy to follow instructions
* 12V power supply so it can all be done on a bench away from the vehicle
* connector to plug in to right hand side cluster socket
* flying leads to solder to the test points on the cluster circuit board
* once connected, takes less than a minute to program
* $10 donation to Fordmods, because without this forum I would never have figured this out.

All this for $69, plus $100 refundable deposit on the programmer.

Further terms and conditions apply.

PM me for further details on this service.

Dang.

Last edited by dang on Thu Jul 07, 2005 11:06 am, edited 1 time in total.

reason for this number (sorry bout the post but couldnt help myself)

2 x $6.50 postage, plus $10 for fordmods, plus $46 to help recover the setup and development costs. Even at $30 an hour, this thing owes me a helluva lot!

Actually, I didn't even think about the other connotations of the number. I just thought $70 would be a reasonable fee, and did the usual retail psychological minus one dollar. $99 etc always sounds so much cheaper than the round number.

Dang.

doesn't this come very close or overstep legal issues. ie being illegal to tamper with the kays.. what other reason would you need to alter the kays is the be dishonest about the true reading..

but legal issues out of the way..

what valid use is there for this other than if you were replacing an old cluster with another and had to match the kays up..

i just bought a cluster of ebay because mine is cactus
i dont realy understand what your offering here so how much to send it to you have you play with it and send it back????
my car has 179862 and the cluster i bought has 330xxx on it i just want it to match my old dash can you help me??????

DC Todd,

Good points, well made.

Yes, changing the cluster is pretty much the only reason you would need to change the odo reading.

Besides the thrill of the chase, that is, proving to myself I could crack the code, the main reason I have done this was to avoid paying Ford some $200 to change my odometer reading after I bought and installed a Police cluster in my EL GLi. The new cluster has 967000km on it, some 820000km more than the car has done.

As a safeguard, the programmer will be pre-programmed with an offset, and also an original reading. If the odo to be redone is outside a 3000km 'window', the programmer will not work. Also, the programmer will disable itself after sucessfully reprogramming the cluster. The box will have tamper evident seals plastered all over it.

Anyone requesting this service will be asked to provide as much evidence as possible that they have changed clusters. (Unless they want to increase the reading, which is obviously not for fraudulent purposes!)
The will also be told to email me a disclaimer stating the following

*The reason the odometer is not what it should be
*That the service is being used to set the odometer to be as close as possible to the correct milage for the vehicle
*That the odometer is not being changed for fraudulent reasons
*That they are aware that odometer tampering for fraud is illegal
*That they consent to having their name and address published with the details of the odometer change.
*[anything else I can think of to cover my a**]

As far as I know, providing tools to change something for legitimate purposes is not illegal, especially if I can demonstrate due care to keep it all legit.

Dang.

Dang, glad to hear that the reprogrammer now works and trust all the info i supplied you helped with getting to this point

One thing you may like to highlight is that not all clusters require soldering flyleads to the cluster nvram test points. Some early clusters have black masking tape concealing a plug under the speedo, and i assume your box of tricks can utilize this plug

Cheers.

Yes, thanks ItchiOne.

I haven't highlighted the plug at this point, because
1. The cluster I have on the bench doesn't have this plug, and until I can 100% verify that using this plug works, I will not offer instructions on its use.
2. Without a connector to connect to this plug, I can't offer a simple technique to connect to it.

Currently the flyleads have a connector at one end that connects to my box.
Once these issues are resolved, I will definitely offer a patch lead between my box and the cluster fitted with this plug.

Dang.

Well done Dang. About tinme you got it up and running.

Hrmm... i'll set my odometer to 999 999 km thank you!!


Not Really

Haven't gotten around to building my own programer as yet, been a little slack on that front

As for a connector for that magic cluster plug, it will work as the pins are tied to the same test points and these test points go to the same IC's and pins on both boards types

Getting a connector may be an issue but an oldish PC may provide something that could be used - a cut down ISA or PCI connector could fit (pin spacing not quite right but may work) ?

If you need someone to test it, i could offer my services at a reasonable price

Cheers.

Hi mate are you still running this service?

We have put a high series cluster into our GLI wagon.

Our car has 550000 kms approx on the clock and the new cluster has approx 330000

Well done on the awesome investigative work!

I can be reach on here or by phone/email

0407010358
reecejbrennan@hotmail.com

Thanks again

Reece

Hi mate are you still running this service?

We have put a high series cluster into our GLI wagon.

Our car has 550000 kms approx on the clock and the new cluster has approx 330000

Well done on the awesome investigative work!

I can be reach on here or by phone/email

0407010358
reecejbrennan@hotmail.com

Thanks again

Reece

Are you still offering this service?

The guy hasn't been on fordmods for 9 years