VIN number in ECU does not match car
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VIN number in ECU does not match car
I was looking at a 2013 civic LX. Car looked impressive at first. It looked more like an ex with alot of options. The odometer said it had 129000kms (approx 80000 miles). I looked the car over, in somewhat decent shape but the engine bay looked like a car of higher mileage. I didn't think too much about it, it ran nicely. I asked the seller if he minded if I hooked my scantool to it. He told me to go right ahead. There was an airbag light on too. He explained the previous owner took out the front seats to detail the car. I never heard tell of that but ok.... Then my son jumped in the passenger seat to put on seatbelt and it wasn't bolted to the seat! So when I connected the scantool, there were no codes and I was unable to find out what was causing the airbag light. However, when I looked into the ecu for the VIN number, I noticed it did not match the vin stamped on the car. I found another sticker on door jamb(that matched the one in the windshield) and that did not match with ecu. I always believe in trusting your instincts. I looked around his yard and he had a few other civics of the same vintage scattered around. He also mentioned that he had lots of parts for civics. I had to walk away. I was thinking that someone likely changed the cluster and the ecu (I'm not blaming him). Anybody care to comment?
"Marge, anyone could miss Canada! All tucked away down there."
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Re: VIN number in ECU does not match car
Run far far away from that car and that seller, it sounds like he's doing some shady things
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There is also a VIN on the engine and transmission you could compare to the body and ECU, but at this point I don't think it matters. You did the right thing.
Dr Krieger of Modification
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If hes selling it as a perfect no accident car, then yes that's shady.
but if hes selling it as a rebuild or "as is", nothing wrong with that.
Ecu vin could be different if the old one died.
but if hes selling it as a rebuild or "as is", nothing wrong with that.
Ecu vin could be different if the old one died.
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