Currently a device is used to measure the distance traveled by a moving object and it has been increased in vehicles as an odometer. This apparatus is called odometer. It is also known by the name of surveyor and odometer. Taking into account vehicle kilometers and being able to measure distances were commonly used in agriculture, ergometry, road safety and some industrial applications.
In this article we are going to tell you about all the characteristics and operation of the odometer.
Key features
This distance measuring device starts from a different composition and operation depending on the type. Whether it is an analog or digital device, we must know what are the elements that make this device work.
Let's see what are the parts of an odometer:
- Wiring to wheels: These are the cables whose function is to be able to communicate between the gears of the wheel with the meter. Without this change it would not be possible to display the data on the panel. These leads appear on both types of odometers.
- Gear: the gear is in charge of making the measurement work. The gear is what marks the number of turns and is what defines the total distance traveled.
- Core and magnetic bell: the bell is an addition to the nucleus that receives the energy and is what helps to allow the movement of the gears to be transformed into electromagnetic energy.
Mechanical odometer
There are different types of odometers depending on the nature and the use that is raised to give. We have on the one hand the mechanical odometer and, on the other hand, the digital odometer. Each of them has a different operation and consists of other characteristics.
The mechanical odometer is also referred to as the wheel odometer.It counts each time it completes a revolution and travels a distance equal to its perimeter. Therefore, if you can count the number of revolutions it makes, you can accurately determine the total distance traveled. This mechanical odometer basically consists of a series of gears with different numbers on their edges. These numbers are fitted into a wheel and communicate with it through a series of cables.
The gears of the mechanical odometer must be perfectly calibrated so that it can move at a certain speed and is consistent with the turns it makes of the wheel. This is how the distance traveled can be measured in a very exact way. Once it has traveled the distance we want, it shows the distance traveled expressed in the unit in which we have previously calibrated it. The most commonly used units are kilometers and miles.
We must know that the mechanical odometer has different teeth and each of them moves at a different speed. Most of these types of odometers are seen on vehicles that are a certain number of years old. These odometers reach a maximum of 99.999 kilometers and at that moment it turns around and goes back to 00 000. Usually they come with another counter that indicates the number of times it has reached its maximum.
Since most mechanical odometers found in vehicles can be manually manipulated, it has been used as a form of fraud in the used car sales world. The number on the odometer can be altered and reduced. This way, the number of kilometers the vehicle has actually traveled since it was manufactured can be hidden. By reducing the number of kilometers, one can pretend that the car has less mileage than it actually has.
Digital odometer
There is another, more modern type of odometer that records the distance traveled using a computer chip. The mileage reading can be viewed on a digital display whose total mileage value it is being stored in a main electronic module. Since it was thought that the introduction of computers to these types of measuring devices would put an end to secondhand vehicle fraud, this didn't turn out to be the case. Instead, people found a way to modify the values recorded on the vehicle's computer.
All this has led to a fraud in the odometer of second-hand cars. Many factors influence the selling price of a second-hand vehicle. Nevertheless, one of the most influential is the number of kilometers you have traveled. Regardless of the age of the car since its factory installation, the total mileage must be taken into account. Some people have owned a vehicle for more than five years and barely used it. In this case, we would have a vehicle that is older but has low mileage. This helps us know that its parts are not wearing out over time.
If all the vehicle characteristics are the same between two of them, the one with fewer kilometers will be more expensive. This makes the manipulation of odometer measurements have been a widespread practice. This movement is based on pulling out the odometer, moving the gear system until the desired value is displayed, and putting the odometer back on the vehicle.
Tips to avoid being scammed
If you are looking for a semi new car and it has 30 thousand kilometers or less, It should normally still have its original tires. If you see an older vehicle with low mileage, the first thing to do is check the wear on the accelerator, brake, and clutch pedals. To avoid falling prey to scams, it's best to issue invoices or receipts for vehicle maintenance plans. These receipts usually show the mileage on the car when it was serviced.
If the odometer is mechanical, the numbers should be perfectly aligned. If they rub off easily when tapping the panel, it's likely been tampered with. Finally, if you have real doubts about the vehicle's condition, it's best to take it to a professional service center for a complete check of the engine and all the car's mechanics.
I hope this information helps you learn more about the odometer and how it works.