VIN check anyone?

[metalsmith]

Have any of you guys used a VIN check system?
How much info can you actually get?
How is info reported on a vehicle's VIN in the first place?

[Raoul]

Off the top of my head the 17 position VIN will tell you
as far as our trucks go...
Country built
Make
Model
Bodystyle
Drivetrain 4x4 or 4x2
Engine
year built
Plant where built
the last six or so numbers are a sequence number that means something to Ford but is undeterminable to the Gen public.

There is a vin box on this home page.
It will work if you don't have a Super Crew because I don't the Steve ever added the 'W' which it represents.

After rereading your post I don't think that's what you're talking about.

[AjRagno]

Raoul, I think he's referring to CarFax

Carfax is actually fairly thorough, depending on which state you live in and whether or not emissions testing is manditory.

What a carfax will tell you is the:

-Date of 1st registration.

-Any emissions tests as well as what the mileage was at the time.

-How many times the vehicle has been registered (sold) and what the mileage was.

-Whether or not it has been in a major accident (salvage title) or flood.

CarFax is a good idea whenever you are looking at a vehicle. Not only are you able to compare mileage records, but you also know how many owners it's had, how long they owned it and whether or not the title is branded.

[rbraughn]

.....Except the info is not always correct.

Do a search and you will see MANY members (myself included) who look up cars that are KNOWN to have been in major accidents, and they get a clean report through Car Fax.....

[01 XLT Sport]

I agree I wouldn't trust CarFax. My truck had like 15,000 miles on it and Ford had to replace the drivers side head and gasket due to a gasket leak. Now this was done at a Ford dealership. About 2 weeks ago (truck now has approx. 32,000 miles on it) he did a CarFax on it for me to see what would show up. Nothing except the reg. no mention of the head and gasket being replaced.

The best rule of thumb if your going to buy something is have a mech. you trust have a real good look at it. If the owner will not let you do that, then run it is a piece of crap.