Car Fax - Does it really give you much info about the vehicle ?

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07navi

07navi

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You were literally in another thread asking about how to change the oil yesterday, so no offense but you can't come in here and act like you know what you're talking about now. And it takes a little while longer on these trucks because there is a plate blocking the drain plug and filter; and that's still not accounting for time to go get oil and take back the spent oil. It doesn't magically appear and disappear.

I've told the story on here before but I a had Jiffy Lube screw up an oil change close to 20 years ago. long story, short, they bought me a factory rebuilt engine and put me in a rental for the 2-3 weeks it took for the engine to get shipped and installed. Didn't even have to file a lawsuit, they did the math and realized they were responsible and it was cheaper to pay than fight. When big companies screw up, they pay quick to shut everyone up and make it go away. When you screw up go find your pocketbook. There's a reason just about every major corporation outsources their fleet work, because it outsources liability too.
I just bought this truck and was a mechanic for many years so don't give me that. You are making no sense to me but I am done here...….…………..change your oil.
 

creef14

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Still not buying it, do it yourself...…………………………………...and I don't care if you are a lawyer, nobody likes them anyway.

funny, how this works...wasn't responding to you anyway...and again I was just adding context, but that's cool no one likes a lawyer until they need one

I just bought this truck and was a mechanic for many years so don't give me that. You are making no sense to me but I am done here...….…………..change your oil.

you were a mechanic for many years and you still need the internet to tell you how to change oil? you are not making a strong case for weekend warriors...and I don't need to change my oil dealer took care of it last Thursday, should be good for another 5-6 months
 
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07navi

07navi

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funny, how this works...wasn't responding to you anyway...and again I was just adding context, but that's cool no one likes a lawyer until they need one



you were a mechanic for many years and you still need the internet to tell you how to change oil? you are not making a strong case for weekend warriors...and I don't need to change my oil dealer took care of it last Thursday, should be good for another 5-6 months
:emotions33:
 
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No. I just bought a used Expy from a Ford dealership out of state. The Carfax they showed had one minor thing on it. Had an issue recently where I had to stop at the nearest dealership. They pulled up the records by VIN and the vehicle had a huge list of things that had been done.
 
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07navi

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No. I just bought a used Expy from a Ford dealership out of state. The Carfax they showed had one minor thing on it. Had an issue recently where I had to stop at the nearest dealership. They pulled up the records by VIN and the vehicle had a huge list of things that had been done.
I'm wondering it they can be doctored, changed, or faked to sell more cars also.
 

Thom

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The only time I ever took a car in for an oil change years ago I found one of those plastic rings from the neck of the bottle sitting just under the filler cap. Luckily it was sitting on metal close to the top and I could pull it out. Never again!
 
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07navi

07navi

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The only time I ever took a car in for an oil change years ago I found one of those plastic rings from the neck of the bottle sitting just under the filler cap. Luckily it was sitting on metal close to the top and I could pull it out. Never again!
Nobody cares about your vehicle like you do.
 

joethefordguy

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I am a mechanic, with a degree in mechanical engineering. I actually invented the ICE. I am also an attorney (my experience includes writing our constitution - my "john hancock" is right there at the bottom. Therefor, my expertise is beyond question, so none of your opinions matter; you must all accept my opinion as gospel or you are mentally ill.

[sarcasm off]

It is my professional, expert, knowitall opinion that the number one value of a carfax is in the asking - if they don't promptly show it, that's enough of a red flag for me to go look elsewhere. The only exception I can think of is the private seller; I can see why someone wouldn't want to pay for it in such a circumstance. I don't agree, but it's not as big a red flag as a dealership or other car sales lot not having it available.

Because my Expy was a government truck before I got it, the multipage carfax that came with it did show a lot, but, as others have mentioned, it did not show everything. It did show, however, that the spark plugs had been changed, so that was a benefit right there. On the other hand, it showed some major brake work well ahead of expected service life. I spent considerable time trying to get to the bottom of that, without result. Oh, well.

Like so many other things in life, there's no categorical answer as to whether or not a carfax or such is an absolute value add. It's your car, you get to decide.
As for me, not only did I get a carfax, I also took it to my mechanic, after my own inspection. Paid off handsomely.

You heard it here first.
 

TobyU

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You are so far off-topic it's insane. this post was about Carfax, and it's value as a tool...you gave the topic your first 5-6 sentences and then you were off the races on nonsense

I don't take it personally, but I find people like you, crowding forums with irrelevant crap and sanctimonious ******** about how we're all lazy and should just live like you, to be wholly annoying. and far too often no one tells you, so today I thought I'd let you know (twice now)

you make 2 novel-length posts completely about yourself, your personal likes and dislikes, and blah, blah, blah as if anyone ever gave a shit or asked for that info....then you get mad that someone responded directly to you, instead of in the abstract....maybe if you're so sensitive, you shouldn't make it all about yourself, and just stick to the OP's topic

I don't take it personally either that you don't like my posting style...I haven't the first clue or care as to who you even are on this forum.

I always post like that--or at least most of the time.
I use the forums for enjoyment! I get on here to kill time and shoot the shit with other members.
I have often related it to the old days of talking on CB radios which I used to do a lot and I am also a HAM operator.

Topic to topic and story to story.
I don't mind telling lots of stories and things about myself and my life.

I do get on the rants fairly occasionally. I fully support each person's way of doing things as they have that right but I will be one of the first to say I don't get it, like it, or that I think it's nuts.

ALL opinions! You could preface my membership on a forum with "All views expressed and statements made are solely my preferences, opinions, or personal experiences and observations. YMMV"

When I make a statement like "carfax is not all it's cracked up to be and not all inclusive or accurate with information" I am stating a correct fact though.

La la la.

Not in a rambling mood tonight sooooo....
 

TobyU

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We are on the same page and I am guilty of trying to convince others to do it all my way but I see where they are going wrong and want to help them sometimes.
I'm not always trying to convince them to do it my stated way...just that my way is better- at least in the way I express that it is.
 
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