car impounded after ID check.

[flinchy]

hmmm so this is a worry

is there someone you can call (police station?) with the engine number and find out if it's stolen?

i'd like to know just in case...

[Gammaboy]

.

[Mike V]

Wouldn't red-flag a stolen car?

Quite a few years ago I had my car stolen.
Reported it to the police, got paid out insurance etc. everything by the book.

6 months later I was doing some REVS check on some cars and just for kicks I decided to look up my old car.
Wasn't listed as stolen.
According to a REVS check it was 100% a good buy.

I called REVS to ask why.
They said it was up to the Police to inform them of stolen cars and that they often didn't.
When the police did tell them of stolen cars they often didn't update the database anyway because it wasn't a priority for them.
They said they were only responsible for the financial encumbrance data.

[thechuckster]

Make official complaint against officer(s) who impounded the car? Nothing makes a problem go away faster by making it an issue for senior management.

[Reax]

Email the minister for police voicing your concerns. Nothing gets the ball rolling like a ministerial complaint.

[krt10]

Finally got some info today. "Engine number didn't appear to be original" so that could mean it's been re stamped or there is a number missing or something

I got told worst case I won't be able to register that engine in sa. Best case it'll be all cool. At least it sounds like I'll get my car back, although an investigation has yet to be launched so who knows when I'll see it again.

Feeling pretty stupid as I didn't check numbers when I got the engine, could be a costly mistake.

Cheers

[MRMOPARMAN]

"engine didn't appear to be original" suggests to me that they realised its had a conversion. I assume you showed them all the paperwork and shit?

[carcrazy]

I got pinged for an import motor number once, told that it wasn't an Australian delivered number so I couldn't register it as it might be stolen o/s.

I said what the fuck?!?!? It's an identical replacement and here is my receipt from the importer. They backed down after that.

[herbie beetle]

Yea they will probably X-ray block to check numbers have t been changed then give it back.

Like I said be suspicion and doubt anything will come of it.

We once stamped a fresh block from us with 454followed by last 8 digits of our phone number with initials thrown in middle totally invented number no questions no nothing still registered to this day I see it driving around at shows

[Covert]

SA vehicle ID inspectors are usually pretty good so if they decided the engine number isn't original, they are probably right.

I've seen some genuine SR20 engine numbers that look a bit dodgy at first glance, but there is an easy way to see of they have been tampered with.

[krt10]

I got pinged for an import motor number once, told that it wasn't an Australian delivered number so I couldn't register it as it might be stolen o/s.

I said what the fuck?!?!? It's an identical replacement and here is my receipt from the importer. They backed down after that.

guess ill just have to sit tight now and see what comes of it

could be the same issue here. i got told the engine was from japan.

[Bob Vegana.]

I don't know why they get so hung up on engines in this day and age.

A whole car with a dodgy VIN sure, but an engine seems irrelevant when the diff, gearbox, or ECU, etc could be hot.

[suzuki dave]

this was quite a few years ago , but we got a fresh engine block straight from japan and it didnt have a engine number on it . i actually stamped my mobile phone number on it as an engine number , got the strangest looks when i went to register it but they sighted the number and registered it , i sold the car and the people got it registered in their name and to this day there is an engine running round with my mobile number on it.
/CSH

[Greg Rust]

What's the go with exchange recon engines. It's not like the repair shop is checking all of these.

[krt10]

called up today and got told i could pick the car up although it had to be towed away as the clutch pedal had snapped.
i quizzed them as to why my car was perfectly drive able when they seized it ,as i had driven it down there, to now having a pedal snapped but it was like getting blood out of a stone.
so i rushed off from work, got a trailer and picked her up. no one there was able to tell me what the outcome was and what my next step would have to be.
i had to call 3 different departments to try and get a report but no one could enlighten me as to weather i just need to go through roadowrthy or if there is more to the story ( when i got the call saying the car was realesed i was told "some requirements will have to be met." as to what they are, well i guess ill have to spend most of the day playing their game again)

so its been 25 days, i finally have my car back, all be it now with a mysterious snapped clutch pedal, and no info as to whats next. but at least its home.

i have contacted the ombudsmen and will be making aformal complaint as i feel i have been treated very poorly over the last 25 days. who knows if anything will come of it


cheers guys