Odometer running backwards!

[sanford66]

I was driving my 68 c-10 down the highway the other day and noticed my odometer was going backwards, in other words, instead of gaining mileage its actually dropping mileage on the odometer! Has anyone else ever had this happen? What would make it do this? Joseph

[mustardjimmy71]

not by accident i havent...

[Jeffs70]

never had it happen by accident lol. just fix it before or if you plan on selling it LOL

[bobs409]

I saw it in the movie "Christine!"

[ricks71pu]

look in the rear veiw, are you getting younger?

[sanford66]

Originally Posted by ricks71pu

look in the rear veiw, are you getting younger?

HAHA!!!...I wish i was! So...doe's anyone have any technical thoughts on this? Joseph

[brad_man_72]

unless your rear end is in upside down and you have to drive with the trans in reverse I have no clue.

[Gobbles]

Maybe its counting down the miles left!

[gcburdic]

Boy the guy in Ferris Bueller's day off could of used this

Sounds like something with the speedo itself....may want to take apartand look around

[HeavyD]

Originally Posted by bobs409

I saw it in the movie "Christine!"

Aha that's what I was going to say. Should be fine just don't make the truck angry

[yote1234]

trans gear in backwards?

[Longhorn Man]

if the speedo is working, I don't see how it could be happening.
As far as the fix it before you selll it comment, there is nothing at all illegal about resetting the odometer. The illegal part is when you try to profit from it. When I got my truck titled for the first time, I flat out told them I set it to 00,000.0 miles.

[brad_man_72]

after 10 years or 100k miles I think you can do what you want with your odometer in mo. I always set mine to 0 when I do an engine rebuild.

[68gmsee]

Did it just start doing it? Did you do any work in the speedometer area before it started acting up?

There's no way to put the transmission drive and driven gear in backwards. The teeth wouldn't mesh properly as they are slanted to engage with each other.

Check if there's some sort of intermediate gearing device someone may have installed in there. If there isn't than it has to be in the odometer itself.

[19seventeeCustom]

LMAO! everybody is kinda cracking jokes at the subject, believe it or not my old 94z28 done the exact same thing!! At first I noticed the odometer not working every once in a while, and outta the blue I happen to see it running BACKWARDS!!!

it done that for the next year or so that I drove it lol I think I ended up putting 2 or 3k miles backwards ....haha

[70C10Toejam]

Originally Posted by brad_man_72

after 10 years or 100k miles I think you can do what you want with your odometer in mo. I always set mine to 0 when I do an engine rebuild.

Iowa's basically the same. 10 years and older exceeds mechanical limit. Even the newer ones that show the 100,000 it isn't needed after 10 years.

[trapperjack]

Is the paint looking better? Dents going away? Rust disappearing? Can I send you mine, and have you run it down to about 10? I could have a new truck. You'll be a millionaire.

[bollybib]

ok, i'll bite and offer a theory,

the drive cable breaks somewhere inside the cable housing, the broken ends shift and slightly overlap one another, and with enough friction between them produce a counter-rotation beyond the break

have at it...

[Stocker]

If the speedometer needle is working correctly, the cable is working correctly. The problem must be the odometer itself.

[69sixpackbee]

Put in in "D" not "R"

[DeputyDan]

Crazy! In Missouri when I went to title my truck they made me submit a regular inspection as well as an odometer inspection. Each cost me $10 at a local mechanic. The mechanic had to fill out a sheet that said the miles were correct, the odometer had not been tampered with, and that the VIN#'s were all matching. They told me I had to do this because I bought the truck in IL and live in MO. So, I guess unless your planning on selling it out of state your probably ok.

[DaSchlange]

Of course I do not know this, but if the odometer is operated by a small electric motor, the ground and positive wires could be switched around causing it to spin the opposite direction.

[sanford66]

Thanks for all the replys guys. I wish the rust, dents etc...was disappearing as i drove it, but unfortunatly this isn't the movies!! HAHA! I'm going to go with you guys and point the finger of blame at the odometer because the speedometer works as it should, even though its about 10mph off. I have had many older cars and trucks over the years and this is the only time i have ever seen or heard of this. Thanks for the opinions and wise cracks, you guys are always good for a laugh! Joseph