I was looking for the vin number on the motor just to verify it matched.
The only number I saw was on the end of the valve cover. Looking online, it's not clear if that is the actual vin number (it didn't match at all) or if it is another description number of something else.
I see there should be a partial number near the oil filter. Will this be easy to see? Going to make sure these match before purchase.
Spidey senses tingling for some reason.
Thanks

 

Having a replacement engine might actually be a good thing, as it would have less wear on it since the previous one failed in some manner.

If your spidey sense is tingling, test drive it alone to AutoZone or similar and have them check the codes for free. You may have pending emissions codes. Pxxxx . Confirmed engine performance related codes will turn on the service engine soon light. A pending code is stored when the ECU thinks it has detected an issue but has not collected enough data to decide.
Some people think it's ok to clear the codes out before you test drive it, knowing that you won't be driving it long enough for some of them to come on, depending on what they are.

Other types of codes can be read with a full-fledged scanner, but AutoZone won't do that for you.

 

Thanks for the reply.
With less than 60k, I would hope it's the original engine.
He wasn't going to let us drive it alone.
If there were any codes, I am sure he cleared them. He offered to use his code scanner.
I don't know.
Somethings just not right.

 

If a seller TRULY wants to sell a car, he'll let you test drive it alone. Walk away. Something smells fishy.

 

In today's world, some people just take off with the freaking vehicle. Can't entirely fault him for that. Even leaving collateral like your driver's license is useless now because people just have fake ones and are there for leaving you nothing in collateral.

If he's willing to let you use the code reader, it should signal any pending codes if they are there.

60k seems awfully low for a vehicle that old.
Does the odometer and trip odometer work properly? Those values are stored in the actual cluster and are married to the BCM when the car was built. If you put in one from a different vehicle, it will not function properly unless you reprogram things. Just trying to figure out if he is being truthful about the mileage.

One of the other things that comes to mind is that it would have had to sit for extended periods of time during its life. That's not always bad but it's not always good either.

How is the paint? Do you have any pictures? Any pictures under the hood? Is he asking well below market value?

That's often a good indicator of someone's motivation. Motivation to unload what looks like One thing but is actually another