Odometer rollback- now what?

Bought a 2001 Tacoma double cab V6 4WD SR5/TRD automatic- 91K miles for 11.5K. To cut my sad story short the carfax actually says the first owner put on 315K, sold it in 2014 to the 2nd owner who put on at least 20K (last listing in 2018). I'm the third owner. Seller is long gone so forget about legal action.

There are zero maintenence records for this car short of a lower ball joint replacement at 100k and a headlight replacement at 216K, seller said timing belt and water pump changed recently but of course that cannot be trusted at this point.

The car is in stellar condition, runs well, passses smog test in CA, no lights out, no codes, insanely clean in and out, no rust whatsoever. Tranny fluid pink, brake fluid clear, brake pads full, tires about 80% and worn evenly. I dont know about the second owner but the first owner must have done something right in the first 315K miles.

So here i sit. This car was to go to Alaska with my 20-something daughter. Either i sell it with full disclosure and take my lumps, or it goes to Alaska in Sept. which of course makes me very uneasy with 350+K miles on it.

Gentlemen, your opinion

Also if I keep it, any thoughts as to how to begin to unravel what this truck might need?

 

Won't speak on getting rid of it, but if you're worried about reliability for your daughter in the harshest American climate and terrain I would suggest do what you can to have peace of mind.

 

So bottom line you don't know much it's possible it's a high mileage with a zillion miles on every thing or there are a lot of new parts.

 

Have it looked over thoroughly by a toyota master tech. A few $100 for a 100 point inspection will uncover anything you can't tell from looking at it yourself. If it gets a good bill of health then what do you have to lose. A nearly rust free tacoma in Alaska will resell pretty quick if need be.

 

Mileage like that is nothing for these trucks. I sold my last 1998 Tacoma, and it had 450,000 miles on it and it had no signs of stopping.

Fix what needs to be fixed, or is due for replacement and run it. You can have the odometer re-programmed to reflect the correct mileage.

 

I second having it checked out before making a decision.

If compression is good and everything suspension and steering wise checks out, send it.

I know it's not entirely the case but mileage on these trucks is not indicative of life expended or life left

 

I have 320K or so on a 03 4X4 that I will happily jump in at anytime and drive 800 miles to Montana to take care of my Mother, dead of winter, no worries

 

Which accent do I use when I pronounce that? Midwest? Southern?

 

Thanks these are all good suggestions. i think the 100 point checkup at a dealer makes a lot of sense. The vehicle does look like its been well maintained but I can only tell so much. I suppose that if i do sell it the report from the dealer would be useful as well.

 

Carfax makes many mistakes on mileage

Here I don`t know any shops that report anything because of so many problems

Maybe things are better out yonder.

It seems from what your saying the Truck was taken care of

Best of Luck.

 

If your primary concern is the alleged ODO reading you can't base the condition of the truck off the number.

I've seen 75k mi trucks with 0 maintenance in worse shape that 300k mi trucks that were loved

 

wyoming, I agree that Carfax misses a lot and may not be vey complete. I dont think I'd ever use it to gauge maintenance. But my carfax report does show a clear run of passed smog checks roughly every two years and 50K miles, so it checks out.

Wulf, yeah, my big concern is the odometer reading. This car - inside, outside, underneath, fluids, could all easily pass for 100K miles- they all look better than my 2015 CRV. So maybe.

Also was looking at what Toyota includes in a 100 point inspection, which all seems pretty basic. I think what I really need is more detailed stuff like a compression test or someone to tell me if that timing belt was changed recently, if the transmission is original, what's been replaced. I guess they could do that if i specified what i wanted. i dont need them to tell if the air filter is clean or all the lights work (it is, they do).

 

carfax is pretty spot on and has checks and balances to keep things accurate. Reputable dealers including chain oil change places provide carfax your mileage through their computer systems.

OP if you want to PM I can help you figure this out and resources (if you live in ca) out there.

 

I thought i had a lot of miles with 430k on it. well i guess more driving for me.

 

Cuban

 

My opinion.

Most things that are going to break, break before 200,000 miles. If it is still working, it is probably just going to keep working.

Some assembled parts have tolerance that line up together perfectly. They don't hardly ever fail, some parts don't and they fail fairly quickly.

If something has worked for 350,000 miles, why would it break now?

I hope that makes sense.

Basically, if it was gonna break, it would already of broken.

 

Thanks Wright, I appreciate the optimism, you may be (w)right.

Still feeling very angry about the whole deal. If you've been watching "I'll Be Gone in the Dark" about the woman tracking down a serial killer, that's more or less how I feel about the guy who rolled the odometer. But, no one got killed here, its just money and pride, and at the end of the day i still have a very nice (high-mileage) Tacoma, so I gotta let it go

 

How is it even possible to change the ODO on these vehicles? Isn't that stored in the ECM?

 

Personally I would keep it and run it, if it is that clean inside and out it I would think the original owner took care of the engine as well as he did the inside. Maybe do a compression test to see the condition of the cylinders, just to see if they are still top of the game or have dropped off a little. Should be anywhere between 174-210PSI, from the Factory service manual.
But should all be within about 15 psi of eachother.

 

I think you will be fine, yeah the dude that did is a crook. He will stand before the Lord and make a answer. Hopefully he will go another direction in life. I expect that you will be fine. I know it sounds silly, but I have seen lots of really nice high mileage vehicles, and lots of ragged junk with low miles.
A old man and his son, both contrasts would come into Midas and they were proud to drive a Ford truck with the odometer disconnected "for when it gets traded in"

It was a ragged piece of junk because those type of people think everyone else is a crook because they are. So things that really needed doing were denied because they thought we were stealing from them.

I would hate to live like that.

I expect if you change and check all fluids, replace any old hoses, belts, replace brake fluid (important!!) Check compression, replace plugs, check timing belt, she will be well served for many years.

Alaska is a place harder than I understand. I expect a vehicle that has proven itself for 350,000 miles will be fine.