Need some carfax help please

[derf]

trying to look up the history of a vehicle

97 mercury mountaineer
4 4M2DU 55P9V UJ47484

[Flexin]

Originally Posted by derf

trying to look up the history of a vehicle

97 mercury mountaineer
4 4M2DU 55P9V UJ47484

I was watching a report the other day that showed a bunch of cars that were said to be accident free. When they did some checking they were wrong. One car was on a dealers lot and they had a clean report. She rechecked it while they were there and the report was updated. They added an accident that happened in 06. All these cars with clean Carfax reports had accidents that were on the CarProof reports.

James

[Cutty72]

Originally Posted by Flexin

I was watching a report the other day that showed a bunch of cars that were said to be accident free. When they did some checking they were wrong. One car was on a dealers lot and they had a clean report. She rechecked it while they were there and the report was updated. They added an accident that happened in 06. All these cars with clean Carfax reports had accidents that were on the CarProof reports.

James

The report won't show up until the title is changed (ie new ownership)

My gf's car was in an accident, and it still shows up clean on carfax.

and to the OP, sorry, I don't have access to that anymore.

[derf]

Its actually for my father, he just bought the car, and now that hes had it for a few days hes noticing little things, like one of the back doors doesnt close right, stuff like that.

[Cutty72]

Originally Posted by derf

Its actually for my father, he just bought the car, and now that hes had it for a few days hes noticing little things, like one of the back doors doesnt close right, stuff like that.

um... it's a 97...


good way to check is look at the fasteners. If they are scuffed like they have been removed, good sign of body work.
Also flow of body lines, how the doors like up with the panels when closed etc.

[derf]

I did, even the original paint on all the bolts was there, but if I open the door it drops almost 1/4" and it takes some effort to close. It also has a wobble at about 70, and the steering wheel is off centered. It doesn't look like its been hit or repaired, none of the telltale signs of a collision repair anyway. All the bolts are still painted in place, there doesn't look to be any creases on the body, the panels all look straight, frame looks good, and all the seams are fairly decent, for a ford product anyway, but I noticed that some of the interior panels dont line up right.

I just wanted to see whats going on with it.

[Flexin]

Originally Posted by Cutty72

The report won't show up until the title is changed (ie new ownership)

My gf's car was in an accident, and it still shows up clean on carfax.

and to the OP, sorry, I don't have access to that anymore.

They talked to Carfax and they said they have the info when it is reported by insurance, police or what ever. But CarProof had all up to date info for the reports they looked at. I used CarProof for my used car business.

James

[Flexin]

Originally Posted by derf

I did, even the original paint on all the bolts was there, but if I open the door it drops almost 1/4" and it takes some effort to close. It also has a wobble at about 70, and the steering wheel is off centered. It doesn't look like its been hit or repaired, none of the telltale signs of a collision repair anyway. All the bolts are still painted in place, there doesn't look to be any creases on the body, the panels all look straight, frame looks good, and all the seams are fairly decent, for a ford product anyway, but I noticed that some of the interior panels dont line up right.

I just wanted to see whats going on with it.

Age? It is 11/12 years old. Might have a bad door pin/hinge. Steering wheel can be an aliment. The wobble could be a bad tire or a missing weight from the rim.

James

[Cutty72]

Originally Posted by derf

I did, even the original paint on all the bolts was there, but if I open the door it drops almost 1/4" and it takes some effort to close. It also has a wobble at about 70, and the steering wheel is off centered. It doesn't look like its been hit or repaired, none of the telltale signs of a collision repair anyway. All the bolts are still painted in place, there doesn't look to be any creases on the body, the panels all look straight, frame looks good, and all the seams are fairly decent, for a ford product anyway, but I noticed that some of the interior panels dont line up right.

I just wanted to see whats going on with it.

Like flexin saidk.
Door drop is worn hinges, it's a ford thing.
Wobble at 70 could be bent rim, worn tires, bad ball joints, or alignment.
Steering wheel off center is almost definatly alignment.
Interior panels are probalby also wear and tear.
How many miles are on it?

[derf]

150k