Finding odometer reading on a wrecked truck?

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

EriikK

Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2022
Posts
52
Reaction score
66
Location
Ann Arbor MI USA
Ram Year
2015
Engine
6.4 Hemi
I bought a badly wrecked truck for the engine. I'd like to get confirmation of the mileage if I can.
From reading here it is my understanding that the mileage is stored both in the engine ECU and in the instrument cluster.
On this truck the wiring harness is torn up and the fusebox has been hanging out in the rain, so I probably can't just install a battery and turn the key. I'll try it.... but it may not fly.
It's a 2014 2500 with 6.4 hemi.
Can I just power up the ECU by itself and read the mileage with an OBD II scan tool?
Or power up the instrument cluster and see what it displays?
Let me know what will be easiest. Thanks!
 

jws123

Senior Member
Joined
May 16, 2018
Posts
2,046
Reaction score
1,951
Location
nj
Ram Year
2014
Engine
5.7
You will need to power up the truck/power to ecu and scan it a decent scanner will give a general idea of milage not your cheap autoparts store scanner.
 

crash68

ACME product engineer
Staff member
Administrator
Supporting Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2016
Posts
10,700
Reaction score
16,706
Ram Year
2015
Engine
3.0 EcoDiesel
Can I just power up the ECU by itself and read the mileage with an OBD II scan tool?
Or power up the instrument cluster and see what it displays?
Let me know what will be easiest.
You should be able to plug either into your truck and read the mileage, don't start the engine though. You may have to clear some mismatch codes if you plug in the ECM but it shouldn't be a problem with AlfaOBD
 

BuschLatte420

chill water by day, drink beer by night
Joined
Aug 30, 2022
Posts
544
Reaction score
516
Location
WNY
Ram Year
2022 classic tradesmen crew cab 6’4 box
Engine
5.7L NON E-TORQUE 3.92 gears 4x4
Do you have the vin # I can look up the most recent service on the car fax that was reported
 

Freakydude

Senior Member
Military
Joined
Aug 20, 2022
Posts
108
Reaction score
112
Location
ontario canada
Ram Year
2018
Engine
Ecodiesel
or call the state registration, pretty sure you have to report mileage when you update ownership least ways most Canadian provinces do
 
OP
OP
E

EriikK

Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2022
Posts
52
Reaction score
66
Location
Ann Arbor MI USA
Ram Year
2015
Engine
6.4 Hemi
Well that was easier than I expected. From the condition of the truck I did not have high hopes.
IMG_20221128_123642460.jpg
 
OP
OP
E

EriikK

Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2022
Posts
52
Reaction score
66
Location
Ann Arbor MI USA
Ram Year
2015
Engine
6.4 Hemi
But wow, when I hooked up a good battery the cluster lit right up. 69k miles is not what the VIN check said it would be, but it still seems pretty good to me. So far the engine looks OK, the motor mount bolts are broken off in the block but the bosses on the block are fine. One mount for the AC compressor on the front cover is busted but I can swap out the front cover from my truck. Tomorrow I break out the cutting torch.
IMG_20221128_134147528.jpg
 

Wild one

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2016
Posts
13,723
Reaction score
23,391
Ram Year
14 Sport
Engine
5.7
Might be worth pulling the oilpan off while the engine is out,and looking the connecting rods over close from the bottem,wouldn't be the first time,i've seen the connecting rods bent from a hard hit
 
OP
OP
E

EriikK

Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2022
Posts
52
Reaction score
66
Location
Ann Arbor MI USA
Ram Year
2015
Engine
6.4 Hemi
Yes I'm planning on checking things out and replacing gaskets and seals etc. All so much easier when the engine is out of the truck.
Tell me, how would I check for bent rods? If it's visually obvious that's easy but beyond that what should I look for or how would I measure?
 

Wild one

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2016
Posts
13,723
Reaction score
23,391
Ram Year
14 Sport
Engine
5.7
Yes I'm planning on checking things out and replacing gaskets and seals etc. All so much easier when the engine is out of the truck.
Tell me, how would I check for bent rods? If it's visually obvious that's easy but beyond that what should I look for or how would I measure?
Best bet is just to eyeball them from the bottom,if they're bent,it'll be pretty easy to see.Depends alot on the severity of the impact,head ons and hard hits from the rear are usually the hits that'll bend them
 
Top