VIN in ECU does not match chassis VIN

[torontoworker]

I don't know if I never noticed this before but I was checking codes from a CEL I got and took a look at the data section (Durametrics) on my car and noticed that the VIN given in the DME does not match with the chassis VIN. My VIN in the window is WPOAA299XXS623350 yet the ECU VIN is WPOAA2993XS620242.

Does this mean that at some point the DME was changed? I've got just over 186kms (115500 miles) on the car and the engine hours state 2961. Engine ser# from the DME says WO4873

[Loren]

Yes, it is likely your DME has been changed out and not fully updated.

What is the physical engine serial number on the side of the engine?

Did you buy this used? Check the salvage records if possible.

[torontoworker]

Yes, it is likely your DME has been changed out and not fully updated.

What is the physical engine serial number on the side of the engine?

Did you buy this used? Check the salvage records if possible.

Yes bought used. Where is the engine # located? Can I side under the car and spot it or does the car have to be on a hoist? I'm located in Canada and the car came from Vegas. How would I check if it had a salvage record? The CarFax came back clean. This might sound silly but I can't ever remember these VINS not matching - I've owned the car for six years and used Durametric's on it many times. Is it possible this was done during service? I had an issue last year with many O2 codes and cly codes and after a lot of work with new coils, MAF, spark plugs, etc. between two indy's I got the car to pass clean air tests. Would someone have swapped out the DME to problem solve and not put the old one back? That doesn't make sense considering the hours listed on this DME unless you could update the data in some way. I'd be interested to see what CarFax has to say on the DME VIN - like what happened to THAT car?

[ditto]

The engine number is under the car a bit off center towards the passenger side. It is stamped into the casting.

[Loren]

It is a lot of trouble to change out a DME - all IPAS codes for immobilizer, keys, etc must be moved from the old DME to the new (or used) one.

It is more likely (IMHO) that the DME was replaced with a salvaged unit and the person that programmed it forgot to update the VIN, and engine numbers.

If the the transfer was done properly then the engine hours and airbag hours should have also been transferred

Unless you can find service records to verify what happened it is anyone's guess I am afraid...

If the car is running well then it really won't make a difference.