liondogs

I have a line on a used RX7 I may purchase. The car is in canada so it has a speedometer that reads out on KPH. I would like to swap out a speedometer that reads out in MPH. If I locate a proper speedometer and just swap it out will it read correctly or will I need to do something else to make it read correctly in MPH.

careyrx7

I have worked for a dealer in Maine for many years. We have purchased hundreds of late Model Canadian vehicles over the years. From a dealer prospective, there is a very specific import process that must be followed when bringing in a used vehicle from Canada. Swapping the speedo is the least of the problem. The import paperwork that is required to properly title the car in the US requires getting specific documents from the US Department of Transportation. It's been awhile since I have dealt with this, but even if everything is in order, this may take 3-6 weeks.



Since I don't know where you are bringing the car in from, I would suggest finding a US new car dealer located on the border that knows how to do this with all the right paperwork so that you have a clear / proper title.



If you use a dealer, they should be able to send the existing speedo out and get a proper replacement. From a dealer prospective, the car has to remaim unmoved at the dealer until the replacement, preset speedo is reinstalled. If you do not follow this proceedure, the vehicle will be TMU, ( Total Miles Unknow) That's OK until you try to sell it or if the vehicle is TMU already. But if the vehicle is low/mid mileage the value will take a big hit if it gets titled in the US as TMU.



If you need any more specifics, you can email directly, I would hate to see anyone take a hit on an Canadian Purchase without having the facts.



Hopre it helps



Carey Campbell

careyrx7@yahoo.com

liondogs

Carey



I talked to my local DMV here in Washington State and they stated all I need to do to get proper Washington state title is to bring in the Canadian registration/Insurance form, the bill of sale and the US customs form I will get as I come across the border. The car is over 10 years old (a 1982) and it has high mileage so it will get TMU on the title regardless.



My question is to get the car to read MPH is the only thing I need to do is swap the speedo with a MPH speedo from another car?



Joe

Bstrickler

Is the speedo like a US one, but inverted? By inverted, I mean are the Km/h and MPH switched around? If it still has the MPH on the speedo, it should work.

liondogs

Yes it is but I would like to change it to the US style.

Bstrickler

You should have no problems, then. It'll still measure properly in MPH when you switch it to the US speedo. If I were you, though, I'd look for a speedo that has close to the same mileage of yours, so you dont have to worry about keeping track of what mileage your car had/has.