To All:

My 2002 is the first car I've ever purchased, knowing essentially nothing about its previous ownership. Today, unless you buy from a "private party," you will most likely NOT be privy to such information. Seemingly paranoid about potential/actual "privacy violations," everyone, especially a new/used car dealer, is all "lawyered up."

WHAT do I actually KNOW? The last names of the previous (two) owners are "Wren" and "Washington." <Wonders how many publicly-listed entries of said surnames I can locate in the Memphis, TN area? Under a standard Gaussian distribution, what is the probability I can FIND either of said previous owners? And subsequently, that they would actually speak/correspond with me? P(f) = ZERO.>

I won't disclose from whom I purchased my 2002. NO, it was NOT a Honda dealer. Suffice it to say it was from a very large, national "used car" retailer. And, I will NEVER again conduct any business with them.

My car came ONLY with an owner's manual in the glovebox. Nothing else. I would LIKE the "Monroney Sticker," else a reasonable facsimile, thereof. Most of you commonly know this term as the factory "window sticker."

To many, I am sure they would find me far "too particular." Too "picky." But to myself, a vehicle without its "window sticker" is rather like a person without a birth certificate, a Social Security card, or a driver's license. Excusing my "French," a "bastard."

(In engineering terms, this is tantamount to someone handing me a part, expecting me to make perfect sense of it...but minus the blueprints and specification sheets. Once, I was almost fired...for misplacing a decimal point on a "cosmetic" spec. No safety and/or functionality concerns involved.)

Pardon me, but my "New Girl" parked outside, "she" is NOT a <quote-end-quote> "bastard." She IS a rather fine LADY. Just need to get her some documentation!

Pursuant to satisfying my desire, I contacted the the original seller (Dobbs Honda on Covington Pike, Memphis, TN), humbly requesting their assistance. Their sales manager politely informed me that he was unable to accomodate my request. Thanking the Gentleman, I hung up. I was NOT smiling.

Contacting HMC in California, I spoke with a very pleasant CSR. However, she regrettably informed me that HMC maintains "Monroney sticker" database information for five (5) years only. Crestfallen again, I thanked her and hung up.

That said, I will bet you dollars to doughnuts that the "documentation department" in Marysville, OH, likely maintains this info in some (Oracle) database.

I hardly need point out that, per DOT/NHTSA regulation, basic information must be maintained, about every motor vehicle, pursuant to potential/actual warranty and recall action.

It is wholly inconsistent with my basic nature and formal academic training to just give up on a problem. But for the moment, I am "stonewalled." Otherwise, completely out of ideas. There MUST be a SOLUTION!

Doing differentiation and integration of "nth-degree" polynomials sure is a lot easier and much more fun...than aimlessly wandering around in the dark.

Any suggestions...as to HOW/WHERE I can obtain a "Monroney sticker" for my 2002 Accord?

Robert Warden
BSME (retired)

**********************************
1986 Accord Hatchback, LX-i, 5-speed, Misty Beige Metallic over Silky Red (216K miles)
VIN: 1HGBA5348GA167648
2002 Accord Coupe, LX, V6, Satin Silver over Charcoal (81K miles)
VIN: 1HGCG224X2A011655

Carfax will tell you all the previous owners and possibly some other details like dealer service work and emissions inspections.

Try Honda Ownerlink: https://www.ahm-ownerlink.com/login.asp. Type in your VIN to add your car and maybe they will have some history for you? :dunno:

NeHonda:

I DO have the CarFax report published for my 2002, just prior to my purchasing it. It does NOT provide the NAME(S) of previous ownership. To do so would violate the Privacy Act of 1974. From CarFax, at best, you will get a superficial impression of the vehicle under consideration. Nothing else.

Please bear in mind that CarFax provides ONLY a limited, background "snapshot" as the owner(s) is/are entirely free to have any/all other service work performed by non-reporting shops.

I suppose my next step will be to place a written request with the Marysville, OH plant. Maybe my letter will be lucky enough to encounter a clerk who will reproduce...and mail me...a copy of the "window sticker" for my car.

(Most do NOT have time or interest to accomodate such "petty" inquiries. They are preoccupied with producing "window stickers" for the next 10,000 new vehicles...coming down the production line.)

I shall add that most "window stickers" are printed on a unique paper stock. (Probably Avery is the vendor; that would be my first guess.) Flat-white face, with a gloss back, on about a 60-80 pound stock. And like paper money, the inks used are also unique.

This is a "Fed" spec, per the Monroney Act of 1958. Manufacturers do NOT provide a "window sticker" because they WANT to. They do so only because of Federal LAW.

Cajun:

BOTH of my cars are registered with the American Honda Owners' Association.

Robert Warden
BSME (retired)

**********************************
1986 Accord Hatchback, LX-i, 5-speed, Misty Beige Metallic over Silky Red (216K miles)
VIN: 1HGBA5348GA167648
2002 Accord Coupe, LX, V6, Satin Silver over Charcoal (81K miles)
VIN: 1HGCG224X2A011655