New Pads and Rotors after 18K Miles???

[dadi_oh]

I am buying a used 2006 Yaris with 22.5K Km = 18K Miles (due to pick it up today). In Ontario, Canada we have a mandatory safety check on cars so as part of that check the dealer that I am buying from has informed me that they changed the brake pads and rotors. This seems like awfully low mileage to be changing pads. I do a lot of highway miles and my pads usually last me at least 90K Km.

So what are the possibilities here?

1) Defective pads originally.
2) Car was parked a lot between drives and rusted rotors wore the pads.
3) The car was used for a LOT of city driving and the person didn't know how to downshift?
4) The car has a lot more than 22.5K Km on it. Is it even possible on new cars to disconnect the odometer. I would think that would royally mess up the ECU that depends on the speedometer. (Anyone know where the odometer cable comes off the transmission? Maybe I can check the seal).
5) Other ideas?

David

[Irishlass]

I know this will sound crazy but did they use it to deliver newspapers or mail? Also part of the 5K first service is a check of the brake pads....

I hope you enjoy the car all the same!

[YarisTom73]

I think it's none of the above..if the dealer is like the one I work for, then they saw some marginal wear or perhaps a tiny crack, and just went ahead with the brake job to be 100% sure that the vehicle was ready to go. To bank on the side of safety. I wouldn't worry, be thankful you have new parts on a used car :smile:

[dadi_oh]

I think it's none of the above..if the dealer is like the one I work for, then they saw some marginal wear or perhaps a tiny crack, and just went ahead with the brake job to be 100% sure that the vehicle was ready to go. To bank on the side of safety. I wouldn't worry, be thankful you have new parts on a used car :smile:

That is what the salesman said. I guess I just have a history of not necessarily believing everything a salesman says :confused:

The tires seem to be the original tires and don't look like they have more than 22K of wear on them so I am probably just being paranoid.

Looking forward to getting the car today. I was quite impressed by the test drive. A little underpowered IMHO but my last car was a Jetta 1.8T chipped to 205HP so I'm not quite being fair :biggrin:

Looking forward to not seeing the gas pumps so frequently...

[YarisTom73]

I had a Jetta, just a crappy 92, but I loved it..I've always had an affinity for VW. Now, if I could find an old beetle reasonably priced :biggrin:, the Yaris would have a friend to stay warm with this winter, lol.

[aca72]

Most probably, "The car was used for a LOT of city driving and the person didn't know how to downshift?" aka ID-10-T driver.

[YarisTom73]

Most probably, "The car was used for a LOT of city driving and the person didn't know how to downshift?" aka ID-10-T driver.

ID 10 T ??

[dadi_oh]

Well I picked it up at lunch today and had a looonnng drive back to the office :biggrin:

I quite enjoyed it. Given all of the other evidence the car is indeed only 22K KM old (delivery date was November 11, 2005... Possibly even at the 11th minute of the 11th hour). I suspect that it was a lot of city miles coupled with the dealer being cautious with a key safety feature like the brakes (and possibly compunded by the ID 1 OT driver... Reminds me of the "check driver light" in place of the check engine light. With cars getting smarter and smarter that can only be just around the corner :rolleyes:

Well I have new pads and rotors out of the deal :thumbsup:

I had read the ongoing "old" debate about cabin filters and was curious so I pulled off the glove box and there, staring at me was what looks like a relatively fresh cabin air filter. :thumbup: Another bonus. Life just doesn't get any better than this... :drinking:

Looking forward to a long weekend. Toodles.

Dadi Oh

[nsmitchell]

ID10T... hehe similar to a PU55Y.

[YarisTom73]

Wow, can't believe I missed that :redface::cool:

[cm07yaris]

ID10T... hehe similar to a PU55Y.

or PEN15

[joe keeney]

My sister inlaw used to hit stop signs about 50 foot away. New breakes every 6 months.

[PetersRedYaris]

I don't think it's possible your brakes were worn out at 18,000 miles. Unless the first owner drove with two feet (rode the brakes the whole time). Don't you just love seeing people accelerate from a light with their brake lights on as they drive away. What a waste... :thumbdown:

[xpeteyjtx]

Congratulations on the car!

I tend to not believe anything that anyone from a dealer says. So if you want to be completely certain, make sure that you get some sort of receipt from the dealer that says the brakes were replaced. Also, check the thickness of the pads.

[slvryaris]

Hey was that guy the same one that had the video of him going down the hill flyin and his rotors and pads glowing orange:smile: That is a little weird he must have been doing all city driving. I drive like 80% highway and I have 35,000 miles on mine with no problems.

[black2yaris]

2 footed driver for sure ! I worked with a guy who rested his other foot on the brake peddle . He was constantly replacing his brakes . claiming that he had got screwed by the brake MFG'er . He never had a clue !

[slvryaris]

Wow thats nuts. Back in the day when I had drivers ed one girl who was driving asked the instructor if it was ok to take her left foot off the brake and we was like what she said oh i didnt know you only used your right foot.

[dadi_oh]

Congratulations on the car!

I tend to not believe anything that anyone from a dealer says. So if you want to be completely certain, make sure that you get some sort of receipt from the dealer that says the brakes were replaced. Also, check the thickness of the pads.

Yeah that is the premise of my question. The other thing I noted when I got the car was that 2 of the tires are replaced with Michelin's and the other 2 are the original Bridgestones. So not only did they go through a set of brakes but also 2 tires in a mere 22375 km. So now I am really starting to wonder if the odometer can be correct.

So the question still stands. Is there any way that the odometer could have been disconnected or reset by the previous owner? Like I said, with the computers in modern cars it is not so simple to just disconnect a cable. The ECU would get all messed up not having a speed reading.

[YarisTom73]

Try this: Get the hood open and get uder there, look under the structural braces and all around the inner fenders and such for any sign of bodywork/welding. Perhaps this car was in a frontal collision? Run a CARFAX report (it's not free, but worth it!). I used to work with a guy who had a beautiful convertible Oldsmobile, that had all kinds of engine problems..come to find out, you could see fine welds and stress points all over the place under the hood and front end. Good luck!:rolleyes:

[dadi_oh]

Try this: Get the hood open and get uder there, look under the structural braces and all around the inner fenders and such for any sign of bodywork/welding. Perhaps this car was in a frontal collision? Run a CARFAX report (it's not free, but worth it!). I used to work with a guy who had a beautiful convertible Oldsmobile, that had all kinds of engine problems..come to find out, you could see fine welds and stress points all over the place under the hood and front end. Good luck!:rolleyes:

Nothing obvious on the frame so I am 99.9% certain that this has not been in an accident. Could be a 2 footed brake person I suppose. Also, I have always been a highway mileage guy so I am used to front brakes lasting >90K km (and rear drums > 140K km). If this was completely city driving, and improper use of brakes, then I can see how you could go through the pads this quickly.

Other than that I am quite enjoying the car. I have some twisty roads near me and this thing is like a go-kart. Some of the curves are rated 60km/h and I was doing them at 120km/h (75 mph) with barely any effort. Funny thing was I passed another Yaris coming the other way and he seemed to be going about the same speed :thumbup: WHOOOOOSH.