VIN # vs. engine serial # -- any correlation ?

[X--Eliminator]

I'm looking at a '99 Subie that a guy is selling and he has stated
that he replaced the engine. I'm concerned that he is not telling the
truth because he says that he has lost the paperwork that shows that
he bought & had the rebuilt engine installed.

I want to know is there any correlation between the VIN # and the
stamped engine number so that I can look at the engine and be able to
see whether the engine in the car is actually the original engine....
ie. are there any numbers on the stamped (EJ22) engine number that
are the same, or can be shown to be the same (in order to prove that
this was the original engine).

I seem to recall that (in the olden days) some US motorcycles & cars
had the same numbers on the engine stamp that were the same as a few
sequential numbers from the VIN # (or that had a readable &
discernable code).

 

[Michael Pardee]

I'm looking at a '99 Subie that a guy is selling and he has stated
that he replaced the engine. I'm concerned that he is not telling the
truth because he says that he has lost the paperwork that shows that
he bought & had the rebuilt engine installed.

I want to know is there any correlation between the VIN # and the
stamped engine number so that I can look at the engine and be able to
see whether the engine in the car is actually the original engine....
ie. are there any numbers on the stamped (EJ22) engine number that
are the same, or can be shown to be the same (in order to prove that
this was the original engine).

I seem to recall that (in the olden days) some US motorcycles & cars
had the same numbers on the engine stamp that were the same as a few
sequential numbers from the VIN # (or that had a readable &
discernable code).

Not an expert, but... my understanding is that cars built in the last couple
decades heve the VIN number stamped in the major components, including the
engine, to identify valuable parts that might get funnelled through "chop
shops." I don't know where the markings are, though.

Mike

 

[Edward Hayes]

Contact www.subaru.com and ask the question!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Wilco van Diest]

replacing an engine in a Subaru...?
Don;t buy it!

Wilco

 

[Bonehenge]

replacing an engine in a Subaru...?

It could have been hit.

 

[Mike Lloyd]

I think a CARFAX would be a cheap and easy way to tell if it's been lost,
stolen, damaged or otherwise. A '99 shouldn't need a new engine unless it's
got a ton of miles on the clock or was in a wreck. For cheap price of a
carfax report it is a world of "peace of mind".

Alternatively, call the guy's shop who supposedly did the repair and he
should have it on file somewhere perhaps.

Mike

 

[Michael Pardee]

I think a CARFAX would be a cheap and easy way to tell if it's been lost,
stolen, damaged or otherwise. A '99 shouldn't need a new engine unless
it's got a ton of miles on the clock or was in a wreck. For cheap price of
a carfax report it is a world of "peace of mind".

Alternatively, call the guy's shop who supposedly did the repair and he
should have it on file somewhere perhaps.

Mike

FWIW, I have limited faith in Carfax. It showed my daughter's Honda used to
be a fleet car, although the title showed I bought it from the original
owner, a private party who bought it new. Carfax also didn't mention that it
had been stolen and recovered, as the owner admitted.

Mike

 

[Josh Assing]

FWIW, I have limited faith in Carfax. It showed my daughter's Honda used to

be a fleet car, although the title showed I bought it from the original
owner, a private party who bought it new. Carfax also didn't mention that it
had been stolen and recovered, as the owner admitted.

A friend was tossing a lot of faith into carfax... I gave him the VIN to two
cars of mine -- both junk yard recoveries.... ie: Salvage Titles.

One was in a wreck so bad, it was easier to cut the frame & re-weld most of it.
The other was rolled & was part of a drunk driving, vehicular homicide
investigation.

Both these cars showed up as clean titles.

A BMW I just bought would show me as the 2nd owner, however, I have contacted 3
of the owners.. so; I'm at least the 5th owner (didn't talk to original owner &
there may have been another person in the line).

My take on carfax is this:

if it shows an accident, it probably was in one. if it shows clean -- then do
more investiagation.. We used carfax for the BMW purchase only to verify
millage... it was pretty acurate.


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[Mike Lloyd]

like I said... if it shows an accident then it's a pretty sure deal.... same
goes for stolen. if nothing shows, then you are out $10 and keep
investigating. I believe in taking the path of least resistance.

 

[Edward Hayes]

Skip all this messing around and losing sleep. Skip this car as it
sounds like headache and find another with a clean record.

 

[lkreh]

I agree with your take on Carfax. It's not infallible, it's just one
tool among many (your eyes are probably the best tool) that should be
used.

As far as the original poster's question, you should follow-up with the
repair shop where the engine work was performed. If they have no
service records, I'd pass on that car. Owners that aren't careful
enough to keep service records probably aren't that careful with
service. There are enough 98's and 99's out there worth buying that
you can afford to walk away from this one.

 

[DG]

I wouldn't necessarily walk away from this deal as others have recommend.
This car may have had the shortblock replaced due to piston slap that
affected the '99 DOHC engines very commonly. If that is the case, then I
would consider the "engine replacement" a definite advantage!!