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Implement Alley Discussion Forum

Do odometers work while towed?

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Bret4207

06-28-2006 11:44:22




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My daughter is buying a 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee that was towed back and forth around the US. We"re being lead to believe some of the milage, 165,000, is from the towing. Does this sound right?




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Errin OH

06-29-2006 07:29:12




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 Re: Do odometers work while towed? in reply to Bret4207, 06-28-2006 11:44:22  
You�re going to have to ask a mechanic just how and where the odometer is connected. But if it is not electronic, it likely would read them unless the drive shaft was disconnected as most mechanical Od�s are connected at the end of the drive line just before the drive shaft.

Yes, if mechanical from back of transfer case out to rear wheels.

No, if electronic, anywhere, key off.

Yes, if mechanical 2 wheel drive from rear of trans.

No, if 4x4 back of trans, towed with transfer in neutral. (unlikely)

I would ask him (seller) about the just how it was towed. If the rear wheels where on a dolly (doesn't sound like it) point is moot, but if not, not only do you have the lube issues, you also have the rear lash on the drive line. They are designed to go forward. Towing great distances is like driving in reverse. Ring and pinions� are not really designed to do that but for short distances. Trans really don't like it. That�s why most whine in reverse.

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david from mo

06-28-2006 13:57:52




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 Re: Do odometers work while towed? in reply to Bret4207, 06-28-2006 11:44:22  
Only if the key was left on while the Jeep was towed. So to answer your question 165000 plus the towed miles.



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chiefrunamuk

06-28-2006 13:38:32




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 Re: Do odometers work while towed? in reply to Bret4207, 06-28-2006 11:44:22  

Bret4207; as far as i know, saturn is the only car that does not show miles when towed. My sister delivers motor homes
and semi tractors for a living and tows her saturn, all 4 wheels on the ground and
does not show mileage, has worn out 2 saturns and is about ready for another,
been doing this for about 15 years Ken



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Bret4207

06-28-2006 13:37:16




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 Re: Do odometers work while towed? in reply to Bret4207, 06-28-2006 11:44:22  
Well thanks guys. It's a cheap ride for around town. It's in good shape bodywise and everything else looks good. Oddly enough my in laws had a similar model and put over 300K on before body rot got it.



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old

06-28-2006 13:10:28




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 Re: Do odometers work while towed? in reply to Bret4207, 06-28-2006 11:44:22  
A car made in that year if the drive wheels where on the ground yes the odometer will give engine drive miles and tow miles unless the drive shaft is removed when towing. Also if it has an automatic tranny its hard on the tranny to be towed very much in that way. The reaso is the tranny pump runs off the engine and when towed the pump isn't working so part in the tranny don't get the lube they need to have

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Luke S

06-28-2006 14:26:13




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 Re: Do odometers work while towed? in reply to old, 06-28-2006 13:10:28  
Old, on Jeeps of that vintage and newer you put the transfer case in nuetral and that disconnects the drive shafts from the rest of the drivetrain, i.e. the trans. So the only thing turning are the differentials and drive shafts.



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old

06-28-2006 14:46:40




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 Re: Do odometers work while towed? in reply to Luke S, 06-28-2006 14:26:13  
Well yes that does work, if they do that and also if they did the miles on the od would also be true engine miles. But how many people would do that?? But yes I did forget about being able to do that, but shoot I forget a lot of thing any more. I guess its either old age setting in, or to many beers over the last 30 years or so, or just the fact I have learned way to much stuff and its starting to fall out one or both of my ears LOL

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Luke S

06-28-2006 15:18:25




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 Re: Do odometers work while towed? in reply to old, 06-28-2006 14:46:40  
That is one of the main reasons people pick Jeeps to pull behind motor homes, because of the nuetral range on the t-case. If it wasn't towed with the t-case in nuetral, the tranny would have craped out long ago, and many times over if they'd have continued to pull it without putting the t-case in nuetral.



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nballen

06-28-2006 12:37:20




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 Re: Do odometers work while towed? in reply to Bret4207, 06-28-2006 11:44:22  
Could also depend on the towing method - whether the drive wheels were rolling or not -

For instance, a front wheel drive car towed with a dolley would not record any towed miles, but the back wheelbearings would see every mile.



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Stan - Florida

06-28-2006 12:25:38




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 Re: Do odometers work while towed? in reply to Bret4207, 06-28-2006 11:44:22  
I had a '99 KIA Sportage and now have an '04 Ranger...both have been towed behind a motor home. Neither one racked up any miles on the odometer while being towed. I can't help on the Jeep question, however...sorry.

Stan



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JoeK

06-28-2006 12:02:14




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 Re: Do odometers work while towed? in reply to Bret4207, 06-28-2006 11:44:22  
Depends somewhat.On most older vehicles the odometer was driven off the transmissions output shaft,so if the driveshaft was turning,as it would be during towing,miles would accumulate just as if being driven.Many newer vehicles have an electronic speedometer/odometer hookup which would not rack up miles unless actually being driven.Sooo,it would depend on the system the jeep has.



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Jack B. Nimble

06-28-2006 12:38:03




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 Re: Do odometers work while towed? in reply to JoeK, 06-28-2006 12:02:14  
I"m not sure that would be a selling point anyway. Fact is the Jeep has 165000 miles on it. Those miles would be just as hard on the chassis wether being towed or driven. Maybe the motor and trans don"t have that many actual running miles but nowadays it really would not matter since the body and chassis are usually shot long before the engine & trans. I wouldn"t worry about the miles and just base the purchase on its current condition and blue book price.

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