Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General General HELP!! I'VE BEEN SCREWED!

Hey guys whats up, hope you're enjoying your weekend, i'm not particulary enjoying mine.

I think I've been screwed and miniorly taken for a ride. In short, I believe the [censored] previous owner forgot to mention that the tach had been switched, so that the odometer is in miles, rather then kms!!!!!!

Recently i've been ranting about how bad my gas milage is on CEG. Well, during my road trip to visit my brother out here in Calgary, I became very confused when on a tank of gas from Sicamous, BC to Calgary BC, is was only 301kms (but really miles i guess)!!!!??? Which when checked on mapquest is exactly right (give or take a mile) Right there on the way, I was like WTF. The tac is in KMS, and the rev line is correct as well, which is why I didn't notice in town.

Here is my VIN, could someone please do a carfax/check and post/pm me the results.


Flame me if you want, but help asap is appreciatted.

thanks.
Needslees to say I will be stoping back in to the owner after Calgary.

Sorry: Edit:

here is my vin

1falp68g8wk146257

or (sorry i'm an idiot and cant read...the "1's" are actually "i's")

ifalp68g8wki46257

To my recollection the SVT gauges were only made in MPH.

The SVT's sold in Canada are basically "imported" US models. "SVT" IS NOT a trim level but a completely different build hence the unique VIN number.


BTW - There is NO "I" in the VIN code. They are 1's.


Another BTW - WTF is KMS???

How is the tach in KMS???

The tachometer measures the revolutions of the crankshaft. Hence the term RPM or Rotations Per Minute. There is no such thing as a metric translation for counting.

FWIW, 301 miles is decent for a tank of gas. Oh, and the vin is usually in all capital letters and begins with a 1.

Greg the SVTs that go outside the US (Canada, Europe) do get the KMH speedos :-)

I almost want to laugh,because it's such a stupid thing to have happened,but the difference between miles and kilometers adds up pretty quickly. Does your speedometer read in Kmh as the main unit,like all Canadian cars,or is mph the main display?

Guess it's time to brush up on your math and start filling up with gallons instead of litres,lol.

lmao, i hardly count that as being "screwed" and I think hes was talkin about the odometer not the tach, but i could be wrong. Only thing id be worried about is if the odometer was rolled back or switched from the original.

Ok, the car is definetely rolling in MILES. I just finished my road trip back from Calgary. The trip meter was 390 from Calgary to Kelowna, and, when you punch it in Map quest, is almost exactly that for MILES. KM from Calgary to Kelowna SHOULD be 598km give or take. Everything equalled out to miles. The guages are in Kilometers! WTF....

And the car looks to be manufactured in Canada? But on the inside of the driver door it lists US.

Here is the guage picture and the original listing.


Look at the gas milage I am getting...It should be 1.6x that for km. The trip meter rolls every MILE, I distanced it out.

Listed as KM.




Here is the CarFax (thank you SlimShady):




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Re: Carfax?
From: Slimshady
Good News -- Vehicle qualifies for the CARFAX Buyback Guarantee!
No severe problems (major accidents, fire, flood damage, major odometer problems or lemon history) were ever reported by a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for this 1998 FORD CONTOUR SVT (1FALP68G8WK146257). If you find that any of these severe problems were reported by a DMV and not included in this report, CARFAX will buy this vehicle back.

You must register at www.CARFAX.com to activate this free guarantee!

CARFAX Talking CarTM
The story of this 1998 FORD CONTOUR SVT (1FALP68G8WK146257) according to our interpretation of the information reported to CARFAX:
Blue Arrow This sedan has had 1 owner in British Columbia. The first title for this sedan was reported to CARFAX by a British Columbia DMV in 1997.
Blue Arrow It has had no minor or moderate accidents reported to CARFAX.
Blue Arrow It has had no DMV-reported total loss events, like a major accident, fire or flood.
Blue Arrow It has not been reported by a DMV as having an Exceeds Mechanical Limits or Not Actual Mileage title.
Blue Arrow It has a consistent mileage history with no indication of an odometer rollback. The last odometer reading, reported on 11/08/1999, was 25,476 miles.
Blue Arrow It was not reported by a DMV as a Manufacturer Buyback (LEMON).
Blue Arrow Go to the Detailed Vehicle History for the complete history and a glossary of terms.

Report Summary

1. ACCIDENT CHECK
Total Loss Check No Severe Accidents Reported by a DMV - Buyback Guarantee!
Other Accident Indicators No Accident Indicators Reported

2. MILEAGE ACCURACY CHECK
Truth-In-Mileage Check No Odometer Problems Reported by a DMV - Buyback Guarantee!
Odometer Rollback Check No Potential Odometer Rollback Found
Mileage Consistency Check No Inconsistent Odometer Reading Found

3. LEMON CHECK�®
No Mfr. Buyback Reported by a DMV - Buyback Guarantee!

4. OWNERSHIP CHECK
Number of Owners 1 Estimated Owner(s)
Type of Owners Checked 8 Types of Vehicle Registrations

5. RECALL CHECK
Recall Information Is Now Available From FORD
DETAILED VEHICLE HISTORY 13 HISTORY RECORDS REPORTED


Heading Graphic

Year/Make/Model: 1998 FORD CONTOUR SVT

Body Style: SEDAN 4 DR
Engine: 2.5L V6 SMPI DOHC 24V
Fuel: GASOLINE
Driveline: FRONT WHEEL DRIVE
Manufactured in: UNITED STATES
Safety Equipment: 4 wheel ABS, Dual front air bags/active (manual) belts
Standard Equipment: Power Windows, Power Steering, Air Conditioning, AM / FM Cassette, Power Brakes, Tilt Wheel, 6-digit Odometer


Heading Graphic

Total Loss Check:

GOOD NEWS! No severe damage events were ever reported by a DMV for this 1998 FORD CONTOUR SVT (1FALP68G8WK146257). If you find that any of the following severe problems were reported by a DMV and not included in this report, CARFAX will buy this vehicle back. You must register to activate this free guarantee!

Salvage Title Loss Due To Fire Title
Junk Title Flood Damage Title
Rebuilt/Reconstructed Title Hail Damage Title
Dismantled Title Canadian Total Loss

Other Accident Indicators:

This 1998 FORD CONTOUR SVT (1FALP68G8WK146257) had no accident indicators reported to CARFAX from its sources. This section checks for accidents and/or related damage reported from many public and private sources. Not all accidents are reported to CARFAX. A vehicle inspection completed by your dealer or professional mechanic is recommended.

No Salvage Auction Record Reported No Crash Test Vehicle Record Reported
No Fire Damage Record Reported No Airbag Deployment Record Reported
No Frame Damage Record Reported No Damage Disclosure Record Reported
No Police Accident Record Reported No Collision Repair Facility Record Reported

CARFAX depends on public and private sources for its accident data. Each one of these sources has different processing times. CARFAX can only report what is in our database on 10.Jul.2005 21:24:18. New data will result in a change to this report.



Heading Graphic

Truth-In-Mileage Check:

GOOD NEWS! No major odometer problems were ever reported by a DMV under the Truth-In-Mileage Act for this 1998 FORD CONTOUR SVT (1FALP68G8WK146257). If you find that any of the following odometer problems were reported by a DMV and not included in this report, CARFAX will buy this vehicle back. You must register to activate this free guarantee!

Not Actual Mileage Title - issued by DMV when the owner discloses mileage fraud or a broken odometer.
Exceeds Mechanical Limits Title - issued by DMV when the owner discloses an odometer rollover.


Odometer Rollback Check:

CARFAX found no odometer rollbacks for this 1998 FORD CONTOUR SVT (1FALP68G8WK146257). Rollbacks reported in this section originate from readings collected by a DMV or other verifiable source.

Mileage Consistency Check:

CARFAX found no inconsistent odometer readings in the mileage history of this 1998 FORD CONTOUR SVT (1FALP68G8WK146257).


Date: Mileage:
06/29/1999 20,479
09/10/1999 20,860
11/08/1999 25,476




Heading Graphic

GOOD NEWS! No manufacturer buyback was ever reported by a DMV for this 1998 FORD CONTOUR SVT (1FALP68G8WK146257). If you find that a manufacturer buyback was reported by a DMV and not included in this report, CARFAX will buy this vehicle back. You must register to activate this free guarantee!



Heading Graphic

Ownership History:

CARFAX estimates that this 1998 FORD CONTOUR SVT (1FALP68G8WK146257) had 1 owner(s). CARFAX analyzed this vehicle's title history and other supporting events to identify potential ownership transfers. In compliance with the U.S. privacy laws, CARFAX does not collect or report owner names or addresses.

Estimated Owners: Date: Location:
1st owner 11/07/1997 British Columbia

Types of Owners:

This 1998 FORD CONTOUR SVT (1FALP68G8WK146257) was checked for 8 types of registrations.

No Personal Use Registration Reported No Fleet Registration Reported
Lease Registration Reported No Commercial Registration Reported
No Rental Registration Reported No Non-Profit Registration Reported
No Taxi Registration Reported No Built to Non U.S. Standards Record Reported



Heading Graphic


Recall information for this 1998 FORD CONTOUR SVT (1FALP68G8WK146257) is now available directly from FORD. Get a current list of recalls that require repair for this vehicle.



Heading Graphic
CARFAX searched more than 3 billion records from over 5,300 sources and found 13 record(s) for this 1998 FORD CONTOUR SVT (1FALP68G8WK146257).

Date:
Mileage Reading:
Source:
General Comments:
06/06/1997 NICB
Vehicle manufactured and shipped to original
dealer
11/07/1997 British Columbia
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Surrey, BC
Registration issued or renewed
Registered as lease vehicle
11/07/1997 British Columbia
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Surrey, BC
Registration issued or renewed
11/07/1997 British Columbia
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Surrey, BC
Registration issued or renewed
First owner reported
11/07/1998 British Columbia
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Surrey, BC
Registration issued or renewed
06/29/1999 20,479 Service Facility
Vehicle serviced
09/10/1999 20,860 Service Facility
Vehicle serviced
11/08/1999 25,476 Vehicle Inspection Station
British Columbia
Passed emissions inspection
with 41000 kilometers
01/20/2000 Vehicle Inspection Station
British Columbia
Passed emissions inspection
with 41000 kilometers
01/22/2000 British Columbia
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Squamish, BC
Registration issued or renewed
01/22/2001 British Columbia
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Halfmoon Bay, BC
Registration issued or renewed
01/23/2002 British Columbia
Ministry of Transportation
Registration issued or renewed
01/23/2003 British Columbia
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Registration issued or renewed



Am I on the right track here? Does my contour have over 200,000kms on it? I really think i've been taken for a ride here. I still have the owners phone number, address, and I've been to his and his wife's house 2 times.

I have an appointment with Ford at the end of the week as well.

I'm soooo upset. I'm so crushed, seriously. help.

I'm thinking of 3 things that could have happend:

1. The factory mixed up and put the wrong odometer in.

2. The original odometer failed and whoever fixed it just replaced the odometer and accidentally got the wrong one.

3. The original odometer may or may not have failed and the Metric one was intentionally changed to the US one to make it seem like it had less Km than it really does; makes it fraud in this case.