2014 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 SV VIN 1N4AL3AP3EC417794

This Nissan Altima 2.5 SV was built in 2014. There is an automatic gearbox, with front-wheel drive. Under the bonnet is a 2.5-litre petrol engine producing 182 hp. Every figure for this car is given as it appears in the source data.

The clock stood at 139,077 miles when the data was entered. Turning back an odometer takes little skill and leaves no visible trace, which is why earlier figures matter more than the display. A service book or a folder of workshop invoices is the simplest place to find past readings.

When the car was recorded, it showed front-end damage. Whether the damage has been repaired since, and how well, is not something a damage entry can show. Given the kind of damage entered, a mechanic should look first at the radiator support, the headlamp mountings and the front crash structure.

A car that does not run has to be moved on a trailer, and its real condition is known only after a thorough assessment. The engine did not start. No key was present.

According to the source data, the car has a salvage title. A title of this kind usually means the car was written off as a total loss after damage.

Registrations, changes of owner, inspection results and accident claims together make up what is called a car’s history. What a car has been through is seldom visible at first glance, and a respray can make even a badly damaged car look sound.

When a car does not run, a compression test and the condition of the oil tell a mechanic whether the engine can be brought back to life. On a petrol engine, spark plugs, ignition coils and the cooling system are the routine items a service history should cover. With no test drive possible, the automatic gearbox has to be assessed on a lift and with diagnostic equipment.

A vehicle identification number has 17 characters: the first three name the manufacturer, the next six describe the model and its specification, and the last eight identify the individual car. The VIN on file for this car is 1N4AL3AP3EC417794. Scratches, fresh paint or a replaced plate around the VIN markings are warning signs in their own right.

A VIN report gathers what different sources know about a car, such as the number of owners, mileage readings, damage and any branded title. A history report says nothing about the car’s present condition: the frame, corrosion, electrics and the quality of any repair are judged on a lift by a mechanic. A history check on VIN 1N4AL3AP3EC417794 is the place to start.