DIY Odometer Reprogramming

This video was originally posted on the speedkar99 channel but has been moved to speedkar100 channel.

Here's a tutorial on how to reprogram your odometer by yourself at home using $10 in electronic components. This was demonstrated on a Honda Accord.

Reprogramming an odometer is done to correct the mileage on the instrument cluster after repairing or swapping clusters.

Full write-up available for download here:

Tutorial:

Odometer Calculator Spreadsheet:

Disclaimer:
1. The information provided should only be used to correct mileage information. While it is not illegal to change your odometer reading, it is illegal to falsify or misrepresent the actual mileage of the vehicle.
2. The odometer display can be easily falsified by swapping clusters to one of a lower mileage.
3. This procedure requires disassembly of the cluster, and de-soldering of SMD components. Use care and caution when dealing with delicate components, and practice first on a spare cluster

The mileage on most (Japanese) cars is stored on the instrument cluster itself, and not in the ECU. Therefore the mileage of the original vehicle that the cluster was from will be displayed on the dash.

Odometer information is stored on a small EEPROM chip on the circuit board. The chip can be read and written to using a serial programmer. The information is coded in hexi-decimal characters.

Odometer correction can be performed using expensive hands on tools, including Honda HDS software. This tutorial demonstrates how you can program the chip directly using nothing but a few resistors, zener diodes and your trusty old computer's serial port.

Tools and Parts Required:
• Screwdrivers
• Soldering iron, solder and a de-soldering pump
• Computer with Windows XP and serial port
o Wire strippers
• Serial programmer
- Breadboard
- Hookup wire
- Female serial port header
- 5V from computer power supply
- 4.7K ohm resistors
- 5V Zener diodes

• Serial programming software (PonyProg freeware)
• A spare instrument cluster in case you screw up

In this case the original cluster read 314K km, and the new cluster read 211K km. The new cluster was then programmed to match the 314K that is on the vehicle.

The cluster must be disassembled to access the L56 EEPROM chip. It must then be desoldered from the board to enable writing to the chip. Care must be taken when desoldering SMD components, as mine broke and I had to find a replacement 93C56 chip.

Once the chip is connected to the simple serial programmer circuit, it can then be read and written to using PonyProg software.

The odometer information is stored in HEX characters, to which an attempt was made to decode. The odometer information is stored in the bottom rows, which were then edited with the new corresponding HEX characters and its checksum, and then written to the chip.

Once the chip is soldered to the board it can then be powered on to test the new instrument cluster. The major part of the mileage (thousandths) was decoded, so it matches close enough but not perfectly.

An easier option would be to desolder the chip from the old cluster and solder it to the new cluster. Or you can read the info from the old and write it to the new.

Just for fun you can program 999,999 and go show some dealerships as a potential trade in. I'm sure they'll be shocked.

Reference material:

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[brianobrian]

"If you too worked for N.A.S.A. YOU TOO can d.i.y. reprogram your odometer!" Yea Bro; I'll stick to wrenching & driving them. Educational & informative. I appreciate you, your knowledge + experience!

[twistednixter]

I almost can't believe how much I'm enjoying these videos.
This one isn't something I'd ever do, but the tear-downs are excellent, and the diagnostics are really helpful.
Keep em coming.
And thanx!

[rileyandikeysplaytime]

After altering my 2012 Honda odometer by changing the EEprom ic values to read 018000 miles, I took my car to CARMAX and sold it for $16, 000! I told them I had a few other Hondas with low miles I'd like to sold a total of 9 cars to CARMAX now and have enough money to buy a new Hellcat.
Thanks for the tutorial and avoid buying Hondas from CARMAX.

[saeedkizzy]

PCBs used in car ECUs usually have plastic protective layer on top of PCB to protect against moisture that's why soldering is so hard .Thanks for video speedkar100
it is instructive and funny of course :))

[MrYAMAHA]

Sure do miss the good old days when you had something to hold in your hand and rotate to desired mileage.

[fun_ghoul]

You swore (uncensored), and you said "sodder"! This is the best video ever...and only 11 other people will know! :-)

[BluPrcln]

Dude this is awesome, I just got a new gauge cluster for my 03 civic and I cannot believe I found this video. Right on!

[bassb]

"You can do this hack in your basement with no special tools". Yea ok.

[eclipse]

Ohhhh that was just so freakin simple!!!! THANK GOD IT WASN’T JUST ROLLING SOME NUMBERS OVER. Here, lemme give it a shot. 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[nomomomo]

Oh yeah DIY, , , I did mine over a cup a coffee this morning which I keep warm by my soldering iron.

[danmax]

I GUESS YOU HAVE TO BE A ROCKET SCIENTIST ! Or a nuclear physicist ! To tackle that task 😮

[herbertsjeffrey]

Woow. . . . so much to learn from you man! This makes Automotive electronics a little friendly and easy. I'm tryna enhance my tech skills in automotive electronics and i'm sure i've picked the best place to start.

[fun_ghoul]

In the junkyard, you can find 3 Zener diodes in a 2006-2011 Hyundai Accent dash clock, all nicely mounted through-hole.

[TRUECRIMEARMY]

I have the skills to recreate this, it was all very basic in terms of the mechanics. I however don’t have the knowledge, one thing they doesn’t go exactly as I’m seeing, and we got problems.

I’m a commercial roofing contractor ( flat roof and very technical if you want it done properly and no leaks). I do TPO/PVC membrane with every patch/seam welded, so it’s not just slapping some tar on a hole, like the olden days. People get offended that we charge what we charge, when I can patch a hole in 10 minutes and charge a grand. You’re not paying me for my time, you’re paying me for my expertise/skill/knowledge. The heat of the welder, speed at which you’re moving, and pressure of the roller has to be near perfect, otherwise the patch will rip right off. You’re pretty much in the same boat. You have the knowledge to troubleshoot your way through anything that comes up, I’d end up having to trash the cluster.

Question: I’ve got an 07 s2000, can I do the same on my car? And what about an e92 m3? The s2k is Grand Prix white with red/black leather, the m3 is alpine white with red Fox ( these are both unicorns to a degree in their respective markets but I’ll keep them forever). The m3 has 110k ish miles and it pains me to see it get further and further from 100k.

[CountChokcula]

The chip he hacks in the video runs the on serial protocol SPI. You can use an adafruit ft232h chip to download and change the data if you dont have a parallel port on your computer. Its a lot easier that way since all you have to do is solder and plug it in with a micro usb

[davidross]

Original miles 314, 622
Odometer swap, 314, 543

"Close enough"
Right.

[jakp]

You’re pretty good at electronics. Not many mechanics are. Are you using telephone cross connect wire as hookup wire?

[davidross]

You say you dont need special tools but you really do

[LouieLasVegas]

I think it's much easier to say... Who gives a shit about the mileage than to tackle this DIY.

[bigchevs]

Great video and mad skills! Question - just bought a 2004 civic with 240k miles on the odo. Long story, but some of the warning lights are not working so I bought a used one on ebay. I would like to match the miles to the old one, can I just move the odo chip from the original board to the replacement board?