Odometer Turned Back?

[lesman67]

I purchased a Delica Super Exceed already in transit from a local importer. It has arrived, I have done compliancing, and numerous maintenance repairs HOWEVER: I believe that it is not 100,000 KM, based on pedal wear and the front seat is really worn. Not to mention that even though the timing belt looks like it was done, it looked like a long time ago.

I pick the Van up tomorrow. Is there anyway you can tell if the odometer has been fiddled with? Yes, I am pretty CHOKED!!

[quadzilla]

Super exceed cushions do tend to show considerable wear - especially on the edge where you slide on and off of them. There have been some threads about odometers - you will need to take it out and look at it, but even then you may not know if it was rolled back or not. Hard to say what's going on without having an experienced mechanic take a good look at everything and give an assessment of probable km's on the motor.

[marsgal42]

I guess I lucked out: Gumdrop came with full dealer service history, and while it's all in Japanese, the odometer numbers are clear and have not been messed with.

Good luck...

...laura

[Green1]

the odds of the odometer being rolled back are slim to none (I've heard many people say that it's done "all the time" but none of them have ever been able to show even a single example of it having happened, and most of them have little to no experience with JDM vehicles.
What it all really boils down to is that people fail to take in to account Japanese driving style.
There is nowhere to go, and insane traffic, the vehicle will most likely have idled far more than it has driven, and been sat in more than even that.
The timing belt could easily have been replaced several years ago before 100,000km and still be due again (do it every 5 years or 100,000km, if you don't know when it was last done, DO IT NOW!)

A much better gauge of vehicle use in Japan would be an hour meter instead of an odometer, but unfortunately these vehicles are not equipped with them.

For now just realize that it's a 15 year old vehicle, and treat it as such.

[delicat]

And as for your seat, if the previous owner did put 100k on it but used it for a business where he'd be in and out of the vehicle many times a day than that driver seat will show more wear than a 150k used for longer trip where there's not as much jumping in and out...

But agreed with Green1, get your timing belt done right away. No need to take chance and if you do all the preventive maintenance you'll know you're good for another 100k problem free.

And finally, if it has more mileage it might even be a good thing as it means it's been driving and not idling or parked for years. I'd rather have a regularly used 200k van than a 50k that's been parked. But that's only me...

Enjoy your new ride, they are amazing vehicle!

David

[39Ronin]

the odds of the odometer being rolled back are slim to none (I've heard many people say that it's done "all the time" but none of them have ever been able to show even a single example of it having happened, and most of them have little to no experience with JDM vehicles.
What it all really boils down to is that people fail to take in to account Japanese driving style.
There is nowhere to go, and insane traffic, the vehicle will most likely have idled far more than it has driven, and been sat in more than even that.
The timing belt could easily have been replaced several years ago before 100,000km and still be due again (do it every 5 years or 100,000km, if you don't know when it was last done, DO IT NOW!)

A much better gauge of vehicle use in Japan would be an hour meter instead of an odometer, but unfortunately these vehicles are not equipped with them.

For now just realize that it's a 15 year old vehicle, and treat it as such.

I agree that the odds of odometer being rolled back are slim but I bet there are more with swapped out odometers than people think. You have mentioned the Japanese driving style theory before, but I disagree. My experience from living there is the contrary; Japanese people live the closest to a train station as possible, either walk or ride a bike there and then commute on a train. Cars for most part are strictly recreation use, like going to the park or the zoo on weekends. That is why these vehicles have such low kilometers. Yes, some cars may be used to commute and therefore sit in traffic longer like you said but the majority of Japanese people use trains to commute.

[Green1]

my point exactly, people don't drive them in Japan.

Everyone assumes that simply because the vehicles are low mileage they must be rolled back, this is simply not the case, they're low mileage because they are not used to commute, and most travel is done by transit not vehicle, the vehicles are strictly recreational, and are used in a much different way to that of people in Canada, so don't expect the same usage patterns as we have over here.

higher wear on the seats also makes a lot of sense for a vehicle like a Delica because it is not only the recreational transport, but the destination as well, a picnic, or a change-room, or whatever else, these things have kareoke built in.. . think about it!

[jessef]

Like David said as well, higher mileage than average (100k+) is a good thing.

These 2.5's aren't really broken in until they hit 200k.

People seem to be foolishly hung up on the 'low km' bandwagon when talking about or looking for RHD's.

Wow ! only 30,000km's ! It must be a gem ! Mint condition ! Like new !

Wrong.

Just because you have a 30,000km vehicle doesn't mean that it is better than a 150,000km vehicle.

This is not to say that all sub 200k JDM's are in poor condition mechanically.

More often than not, the 30k vehicle will have sat for months or even years at a time without moving, whereas the 150k vehicle has been driven on/off or on a more consistent basis.

Meaning the 150km vehicle will have more wear and tear, but mechanically that is a good thing. Bushings, hydraulics, lubricated parts that all need to have movement/cycling may have more mileage but will be in good working order as opposed to a low km vehicle with these components being broken down due to a lack of lubrication/cycling/movement (ie. belts, pistons, shafts, joints, axles, cv's, etc...)

When I was searching for a Delica, I was specifically looking at grade 3-4's with 140-180k's on them and a service history to make certain that they didn't sit idle for 4 years (example).

As for the odo turned back. You can rip everything apart and start looking for signs of internal wear, but at that point it would be best to start replacing parts.

I would be more wary of a sub-100km delica's internal/mechanical condition and not the odometer but really this goes for any used vehicle where the exterior is in pristine condition and the drivetrain/mechanics are the unknown.

Jesse

[marsgal42]

The timing belt could easily have been replaced several years ago before 100,000km and still be due again (do it every 5 years or 100,000km, if you don't know when it was last done, DO IT NOW!)

When you think of what's at stake, it's false economy to do anything else. Bad Things happen when timing belts break in these engines.

...laura

[jcolvin]

I don't think the odds are quite "slim to none". My delica L300 was definitely rolled back...it had 42,000 on the odo, but plenty of wear on the seats, door handles, gear shift etc. I'd guess it had at least 120,000+. By the way the odo doesn't even have to be "rolled back", all the P.O. needs to do is disconnect the speedo for most of the year and reconnect it before taking it to the shaken. My (Japanese) auction agent in JP says this is not uncommon, which is why his inspector notes if the interior wear is out of line with what the odo claims.

[FalcoColumbarius]

Yes. I believe it's called a "Haircut". Welcome to the world of used vehicles. How's she running? Mine said 61,000 when I got her and she performs well for a nineteen year old.

Falco.

[CV-25]

Odometers get turned back for sure, but even though it is an ancient post I appreciate jfarsang saying that the Delica is not dead after 100000clicks. Mine has 178000 and even though Mardy shook his head a few times I am super happy with my Delica. Seats are all in great shape, I think it might depend on the weight of the person who did most of the driving. My wife's drivers seat looks brand new after 160000 and I know if I had sat in that seat for most of those kms the seat would look "more aged".
I also brought in a Celsior and the speedometer cluster had been completely replaced. I knew the actual km's on the vehicle and wondered why the odemeter showed less. Asked my friend who I got it from and he then told me they replaced the whole speedo unit. Why, I don't know.....

[Fullon]

I suppose you look at the state of the car...and decide that way. But it still would be good to know the actual kms on the delicas as one can hide stuff by replacing bits and pieces...

[mdrive]

the odds of the odometer being rolled back are slim to none (I've heard many people say that it's done "all the time" but none of them have ever been able to show even a single example of it having happened, and most of them have little to no experience with JDM vehicles.
What it all really boils down to is that people fail to take in to account Japanese driving style.
There is nowhere to go, and insane traffic, the vehicle will most likely have idled far more than it has driven, and been sat in more than even that.
The timing belt could easily have been replaced several years ago before 100,000km and still be due again (do it every 5 years or 100,000km, if you don't know when it was last done, DO IT NOW!)

A much better gauge of vehicle use in Japan would be an hour meter instead of an odometer, but unfortunately these vehicles are not equipped with them.

For now just realize that it's a 15 year old vehicle, and treat it as such.

from your posting looks like you were never been to Japan. Outside Tokyo it is same as Canada. Roads are wide open and driving habbit same as Canada.

[nxski]

I've noticed significant wear on my seats the further the drop is to get out. For example, my seat covers get pulled more with a lift in the van that they did before it went in. The passenger seat gets even worse treatment now because of all the short women who have to "slide' across it to climb down. I would say a Super Exceed will look extremely worn before it's done too may km's too because of the materials used. Also, a work vehicle gets torn to shreds before it hits 10,000km (I've driven mine 2000km in 2 weeks and it's already filthy, has a few scratches and dents, brake and engine trouble, problematic defroster, bad seals, etc.