Salvage Engine Mileage

[Rastas]

Howdy- I am in the process of replacing a blown 3.3 with a junkyard motor.Is there anyway to verify miles on motor through internet research? I only have the motor serial number to work with.

[conncarl]

Originally Posted by Rastas

Howdy- I am in the process of replacing a blown 3.3 with a junkyard motor.Is there anyway to verify miles on motor through internet research? I only have the motor serial number to work with.

Of course not. Can you imagine a building full of thousands of Chrysler clerks, calling the millions of Caravan owners every month or so to say, "Hello, Mr. Jones, this is Larry, from Chrysler Corporation. I'm calling to get your odometer reading for the month, and could you please verify your engine block serial number for me? Yes, I can hold."

Here's a neat trick I've used in the past that is not well known:

Depending upon the year, you may be able to take the BCM from the donor van and temporarily plug it into your van. It would then read out the total accumulated mileage from that vehicle on your digital odometer.

I know of is no information available anywhere based on the engine serial number, except perhaps for NLETS or NCIC for theft purposes. The BCM data should be pretty reliable though. And there is plenty of info available from various sources from the V.I.N. If you have an analog odometer, and no access to the donor van's BCM or V.I.N., I would guess that you're out of luck.

Carl

[Rastas]

Thanks Carl-
I was thinking there may be a way to use the engine serial number to get the original V.I.N. of the donor vehicle. Then by using the V.I.N. there should be documentation available showing some type of mileage history.

[hernandez3674]

i guess if you have the vin you could do a carfax report to get at least the minimum

[conncarl]

Rastas, the only possiblity I can imagine to get the V.I.N. from the engine serial number would be to write or phone Chrysler Corporation. Here is the contact info:

DaimlerChrysler Corporation
Auburn Hills, MI 48326-2766
Phone: +1 248 576 5741

I know that for many years auto manufacturers had no information regarding engine serial numbers, even when inquiries originated from law enforcement agencies regarding stolen automobiles or components.

But perhaps in this, the information age, that data is available on a computer somewhere. I don't think the odds are very good, but, if you've got an economical long distance carrier, it should cost you less than 5¢ a minute to find out.

Good luck! Carl

[capoeta]

I would not go necesarily by the millage on the engine, but rather I would perfom a compression check on the cylinders to determine if the valves and rings are still holding pressure and the compression is good.