odometer problem

[ckwood]

Our 2002 Solara convertible is racking up miles at nearly twice the rate it should. Is this a defect? Or is it a scam by our regular service people inorder to get us to pay for maint. services twice as often? Is it even possible for someone to reprogram the odometer to do this? We watch the odometer jump by tens (it will go from 19 to 30). Please advise...

[littlebookworm]

Take your car to a speedometer repair shop; you may have to look in the yellow pages to find one. The dealer might also be able to recommend one. They can check your odometer to see if it's broken. It's not common, but I have heard of odometers going haywaire. After all, they're just another electronic device. If the odometer is bad and you have to replace the "head", make sure you get a letter on the shop's stationary from the repair shop stating the reading on the old odometer, the reading on the new odometer (whether you use a brand new replacement or a used replacement), the reason for the change, and the date of the change. In NY, and I suspect, in most other states, you are required to certify the odometer reading when you sell or trade the car.