2004 Tribute--where did the engine come from?

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2004 Tribute--where did the engine come from?

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Mazda >> Mazda Vehicles >> Mazda Tribute >> 2004 Tribute--where did the engine come from?

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2004 Tribute--where did the engine come from? - 5/12/2008 12:40:51 PM

gw4851

Posts: 1
Joined: 5/12/2008
Status: offline

I bought a used 2004 Tribute (42,000 miles) from a Mazda dealer that 6 months later blew a head gasket. It was towed to another Mazda dealer in a different town where I was informed that the engine in the car was not the original engine--different serial number, plus writing on it indicating it came from a salvage yard. Mazda guy won't tell me where the engine in it now came from, so I don't know how old it is. No record anywhere that the engine had been swapped out. Is there a way to check where an engine came from?

Thanks!

Post #: 1

RE: 2004 Tributewhere did the engine come from? - 11/12/2008 6:29:16 PM

detox2181

Posts: 16
Joined: 1/3/2007
Status: offline

Some newer cars have the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) on the engine as well as the firewall and in that small little corner under the bottom of the windshield. I would start by checking around the engine to see if you can find the the VIN on it, I would think more on the block (lower part of the engine) rather than on the head (upper part of the engine. I do not know for certain that Mazda does this or if it is done on the Tribute though. Thant would be my best guess as how the mechanic/dealer knew this. If you can find the VIN and it does not match the rest of the car you would have to pull a vehicle history report on the VIN either at a DMV, vehix.com or something like that. Then you would know if the engine was from a scrapped/totaled car or even what they call a long block or short block and was a JDM .

(in reply to gw4851)

Post #: 2