Running a Background Check on a Used Car

Question: The car I recently purchased has 135,000 miles on it and is running in good condition, but I’m curious about its history. Is there any way I can find out what service was performed before I owned it and how many different people held title to the car? --S.B., Tustin

Answer: I’m not sure why you would want to spend the time or money to check that, since you are stuck with the car, for better or worse. The best time to look into a used car’s history is before you fork over the money to buy it.

If you are buying the car in a private-party transaction, you should always ask for the service records. Doing so not only will let you know which parts may be new and whether the vehicle received good routine maintenance, but also whether the odometer reading is trustworthy. Service records almost always include odometer readings and dates, so you should be able to get a good picture of what the car’s accumulated mileage should be.

Similarly, if the vehicle is relatively new and you are buying from a dealership, the service department should be able to recover the warranty maintenance records from its computer system.

But after the purchase, you will have a tougher time. You can look for stickers placed by garages or dealers on the doorpost and inside the engine compartment that indicate where past service was performed and then contact the mechanics to see if they kept any records.

As for ownership records, you can contact any of a number of organizations that will run vehicle identification number histories by computer. Again, it’s a good idea to do this before you buy the car, because a VIN check can alert you to whether a car was formerly a rental, a fleet vehicle or had been “totaled” by an insurer after a major accident. But be warned that even VIN checks are not foolproof in raising a red flag on a vehicle with a troubled history.

One company that performs these checks is CCC Information Services Inc. of Chicago, which provides VIN-based vehicle history reports, by mail or fax, for $19.95. Information: (800) 633-7834 Ext. 214; or, on the Internet, https://www.vehiclehistory.com

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Q: The “check engine” light on my 1992 Ford pickup truck comes on after I’ve driven several miles, and then it goes off after I drive for about 15 minutes. A dealer supposedly repaired the problem, but then the light started coming on again. Please advise.

--P.B., Los Angeles

A: The “check engine” light is part of the self-diagnostics system that is supposed to alert you when the engine’s emissions system is not performing correctly. This can sometimes be maddening and expensive to put right, so you have plenty of company with other motorists who cannot seem to get the lights to go off.

In your case, the light comes on during initial engine warmup and then, once the motor reaches operating temperature, the system returns to a normal condition. Auto makers and government regulators put heavy emphasis on controlling emissions in the warmup, because that’s when an engine can put out the most oxides of nitrogen and carbon monoxide.

Such problems as a malfunctioning sensor on the exhaust gas recirculation system, which returns a portion of exhaust to the engine for additional combustion, or the engine control module itself could be at fault. Any of a number of other sensors, vacuum circuits or valves also could be causing the light to come on.

If your truck is passing its annual state smog tests and is performing well and if fuel economy is normal, then it is not out of reason to ignore the light if the dealer or mechanic cannot find the problem. Very seldom do “check engine” lights warn of a condition that can actually damage the engine or its components.

Ralph Vartabedian cannot answer mail personally but will attempt to respond in this column to automotive questions of general interest. Write to Your Wheels, Business

Section, Los Angeles Times, Los

Angeles, CA 90053. Via e-mail:

ralph.vartabedian@latimes.com.