The search function has failed me.....

[chico.medic]

I've spent the last 35 min. looking for an old post regarding the meaning of the Vin numbers. ("The first 4 mean this......and if the 5th letter is a A then it means it's a toyota.....etc.) It came up in conversation today and I tried to refrence it, but could not find it. Anyone have a link to that post....I'm trying to remember who posted it.. x MAIT?

[PapaBear]

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/vin.htm

[chico.medic]

Well it took me an hour this morning, but I finally found it. Thanks for the article papa! Very interesting.

Thank God the voice of reason speaks up. Now YM could you please explain to me what each number on my vehicles VIN means :lol:

1st character- Identifies the country in which the vehicle was manufactured.
For example: U.S.A.(1or4), Canada(2), Mexico(3), Japan(J), Korea(K), England(S), Germany(W), Italy(Z)

2nd character- Identifies the manufacturer. For example; Audi(A),
BMW(B), Buick(4), Cadillac(6), Chevrolet(1), Chrysler(C), Dodge(B),
Ford(F), GM Canada(7), General Motors(G), Honda(H), Jaquar(A), Lincoln(L), Mercedes Benz(D), Mercury(M), Nissan(N), Oldsmobile(3), Pontiac(2or5), Plymouth(P), Saturn(:cool:, Toyota(T), VW(V), Volvo(V).

3rd character- Identifies vehicle type or manufacturing division.

4th to 8th characters- Identifies vehicle features such as body style, engine type, model, series, etc.

9th character- Identifies VIN accuracy as check digit.

10th character- Identifies the model year. For example: 1988(J), 1989(K), 1990(L), 1991(M), 1992(N), 1993(P), 1994(R), 1995(S), 1996(T),
1997(V), 1998(W), 1999(X), 2000(Y)------2001(1), 2002(2), 2003(3)

11th character- Identifies the assembly plant for the vehicle.

12th to 17th characters- Identifies the sequence of the vehicle for production
as it rolled of the manufacturers assembly line.