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rolled-back odometer or mistype?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by odysseus, Dec 15, 2009.

  1. odysseus

    odysseus Junior Member

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    I'm considering a 2005 Prius that is being sold by a leasing company. The service records look like this:

    By
    Dealer 09/18/09Champion
    Toyota 47,990 081641915K FACTORY SERVICE (LOF,INSP
    & View
    Details
    By
    Dealer 09/18/09Champion
    Toyota 47,990 0816419*TEXAS STATE INSPECTION View
    Details
    By
    Dealer 09/18/09Champion
    Toyota 47,990 0816419MISC. SHOP CHARGES View
    Details
    By
    Dealer 09/18/09Champion
    Toyota 47,990 0816419REPLACE ENGINE AIR FILTER View
    Details
    By
    Dealer 09/18/09Champion
    Toyota 47,990 0816419REPLACE CABIN AIR FILTER View
    Details
    By
    Dealer 09/18/09Champion
    Toyota 47,990 0816419PERFORMED A WALKAROUND
    INSPECTIO View
    Details
    By
    Dealer 08/01/08Champion
    Toyota 65,100 0737824VEHICLE DIAGNOSIS FEE View
    Details
    By
    Dealer 08/01/08Champion
    Toyota 65,100 0737824SUBLET REPAIRS View
    Details

    Notice how the repairs performed in August 2008 correspond to 65,100 miles, but the repairs from September 2009 to 47,990? Both repairs/maintenance occurred at the same dealer.

    Is this a mistype, or is it possible to roll back the electronic odometer on a Prius?
     
    #1 odysseus, Dec 15, 2009
  2. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Probably a mistype.

    Not possible to roll back the odometer; but it is possible to remove the combination meter (which stores the odometer reading) and install a meter from another vehicle.
     
    #2 Patrick Wong, Dec 15, 2009
  3. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    What is the current odo reading?
     
    #3 JimN, Dec 15, 2009
  4. odysseus

    odysseus Junior Member

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    It's around 50,000. What's weird is that the 08/01/08 maintenance interval is listed on Carfax without a corresponding mileage indication, whereas 09/18/09 shows "47,990."

    So: simple error or fraud?
     
    #4 odysseus, Dec 15, 2009
  5. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    The link you provided in post #4 shows 40K miles as of 2/2008.

    What was the source of your service record info shown in post #1?

    I'd be more interested in the nature of the sublet repairs performed in 8/2008. Not sure why a dealer would subcontract repairs unless they had to do with body work.
     
    #5 Patrick Wong, Dec 16, 2009
  6. odysseus

    odysseus Junior Member

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    toyotaownersonline.com

    Isn't it weird that carfax wouldn't pick up the 65,100 figure or else flag it as an odometer problem?

    I've seen that notation before from the dealer -- on another car. Could "sublet" mean that they were the subcontractor and performed the repair for a "third" party such as a leasing company or another division in the dealership such as used car sales? As far as what was done, I had called the dealer about the work on 8/2008, and they told me that they replaced the auxiliary (12V) battery. When I click on "detail," toyotaownersonline shows this:

    1 08/01/2008 VEHICLE DIAGNOSIS FEE ~|~ ~|~65100 BATTERY IS BAD REPLACE BATTERY AND120 AMP FUSE

    Parts >>
    CUSTOMER PAY
    2 08/01/2008 SUBLET REPAIRS

    CUSTOMER PAY
     
    #6 odysseus, Dec 16, 2009
  7. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Interesting that the 120A MAIN fuse was replaced. Maybe a prior owner had shorted out the battery when trying to jump it.
     
    #7 Patrick Wong, Dec 16, 2009
  8. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    Have another dealer thoroughly inspect it before buying.
     
    #8 richard schumacher, Dec 16, 2009
  9. odysseus

    odysseus Junior Member

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    Thanks. It's hard to find a used Prius in truly excellent condition (I guess that's why they say that fewer than 5% of vehicles meet the requirements).

    I thought that lease vehicles might be a good bet, if only because their drivers have to pay penalties for exceeding mileage limits (usually 10K to 12K miles / year), but I wonder whether their drivers treat them like rentals.
     
    #9 odysseus, Dec 16, 2009
  10. paprius4030

    paprius4030 My first Prius

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    I wouldn't buy that one...too many questions
     
    #10 paprius4030, Dec 16, 2009
  11. odysseus

    odysseus Junior Member

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    Thanks -- that's the conclusion that I reached as well.
     
    #11 odysseus, Dec 16, 2009
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