Is there a way to get mileage on a car from a VIN
11-17-2009, 01:16 PM
#1
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Is there a way to get mileage on a car from a VIN
I know you can get a ballpark mileage with VIN from Carfax. Any free way to do it? I'm looking at buying a motor at a boneyard but the electrical on the car was toast when they got it so the dash won't show mileage.
Frank
Frank
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11-17-2009, 01:34 PM
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Get a job at a dealership.
Seriously, I can't think of a method (other than just posting it here and asking if anybody has a current subscription- it happens sometimes), but I'd be less concerned with mileage than the condition of the engine.
First, the car. Was it wrecked? It's a good sign if it was- means the engine was working at the time. Check the oil. How does it look and smell? Pull the valve cover. Lots of residue? Eyeball the cam lobes, too.
In a perfect world, the electrical system will be sufficiently working that you can crank it and do a compression test. Not always possible, but chances are good that if the engine bay looks clean and well-maintained, then the engine was probably well-maintained. OTOH, if it's liberally coated in oil and grime, then maybe the owner wasn't the most fastidious person.
Seriously, I can't think of a method (other than just posting it here and asking if anybody has a current subscription- it happens sometimes), but I'd be less concerned with mileage than the condition of the engine.
First, the car. Was it wrecked? It's a good sign if it was- means the engine was working at the time. Check the oil. How does it look and smell? Pull the valve cover. Lots of residue? Eyeball the cam lobes, too.
In a perfect world, the electrical system will be sufficiently working that you can crank it and do a compression test. Not always possible, but chances are good that if the engine bay looks clean and well-maintained, then the engine was probably well-maintained. OTOH, if it's liberally coated in oil and grime, then maybe the owner wasn't the most fastidious person.
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11-17-2009, 01:53 PM
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I'm checking the car out this week. They said they hooked it up to a jumper and started it. The car is apparently clean. Still, I don't want to pick up a well maintained motor with 150k miles on it vs 55k miles. It's really close to my house so time isn't a big deal. But the cost vs an ebay motor w/shipping and 60k miles is about the same. But then I'd have to arrange for the delivery, for someone to be home, and a way to get it from the shipper.
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