| sonko2010 |
Greetings,
New to the group and in a unique situation. My wife and I are moving to Central America to teach at an international school this summer. We are currently looking to buy a 2005 Pilot EX. The catch is that it is a totaled vehicle as many are there. Cars are shipped to Central America from the US and repaired as labor is very inexpensive. I am having a mechanic check everything as well as running CarFax from here.
This is the discrepancy I have found: The CarFax report shows a salvaged registration (no surprise) with 14,000 miles, but my mechanic tells me it shows 5,000. So, was the engine replaced? Would the odometer reset upon engine replacement? ? I have both the VIN and engine serial number, but I am having trouble finding a website or Honda Dealer who can tell me how to match a VIN to the engine serial number to tell if it's original.
Any help would be greatly appreciated! We have to make a decision soon. Many thanks.
Regards,
Chris, Calif. |
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| krygny |
Manufacturers keep cross references between VIN, S/Ns, and a whoooole lotta other vehicle characteristics at time of manufacture. AFAIK, that info is not universally available to the general public. I see no specific reason to believe the engine was replaced. Turning back an odometer, for any reason, is illegal. Besides, why would someone do it after only 14,000 miles. Also, the Pilot has an electronic odometer, not a mechanical one. Resetting the odometer would involve some illicit know-how and some test equipment. Most likely explanation: the CarFax report is inaccurate.
What is a "salvaged registration"? Does that mean it's a recovery vehicle (e.g., major crash, fire, flood, etc.)? |
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| hondacuraworld |
quote:
Originally posted by sonko2010
? I have both the VIN and engine serial number, but I am having trouble finding a website or Honda Dealer who can tell me how to match a VIN to the engine serial number to tell if it's original.
Send me an email to hondacuraworld@aol.com with the info and I'll do it for you. Only takes a minute to pull up the info on Honda iN. |
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| deparson |
It is very likely that the odometer was replaced when the car was fixed. It could have been replaced because it was destroyed in the accident or because it looks better to have 5k miles vs 20k; I don't think there is any way to know. Odometers are not normally replaced just because the engine was replaced.
In the US I am sure it would have to be declared on the title. I don't know about the country you are moving to but I can take a guess :)
I know you did not ask about this and may not have an option but purchasing a rebuild car can be a major source of pain and danger depending on how well it was rebuilt. Unless I had no other good option and knew the shop that did the work personally I would not consider it.
-D
quote:
Originally posted by sonko2010
Greetings,
New to the group and in a unique situation. My wife and I are moving to Central America to teach at an international school this summer. We are currently looking to buy a 2005 Pilot EX. The catch is that it is a totaled vehicle as many are there. Cars are shipped to Central America from the US and repaired as labor is very inexpensive. I am having a mechanic check everything as well as running CarFax from here.
This is the discrepancy I have found: The CarFax report shows a salvaged registration (no surprise) with 14,000 miles, but my mechanic tells me it shows 5,000. So, was the engine replaced? Would the odometer reset upon engine replacement? ? I have both the VIN and engine serial number, but I am having trouble finding a website or Honda Dealer who can tell me how to match a VIN to the engine serial number to tell if it's original.
Any help would be greatly appreciated! We have to make a decision soon. Many thanks.
Regards,
Chris, Calif.
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| hondacuraworld |
| All Honda speedos come with a mileage correction sticker that should be applied in the drivers door jamb. As last I remember though, if we have a similar situation I believe we send the odometers out to a shop to have the exact mileage programmed in on them. |
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| whizmo |
Do you need to buy before arriving? This is one of those situations where buying sight unseen seems high risky.
- Mark |
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| sonko2010 |
Thanks for all the great info. Here's the update... The engine is original to the VIN #, which is good news and I have spoken to everyone from three dealerships including the one it was sold from in KY to Honda Corporate who suspect that the odometer was replaced because of the accident or so it would show less miles. Either way the actual mileage is probably around 20K...which after owning several civics that topped 200K, is nothing.
I am flying down next month for several department meetings at the school, and will have the chance to drive and inspect the car before buying. I am hopeful.
Many thanks for the advice and replies.
Chris |
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