I just updated the Library FAQ entry on
Vehicle Identification Numbers... hope I got it all right this time
Quote:
Modern Vehicle Identification Number systems are based on two related standards originally issued by the ISO in 1979 and 1980, ISO 3779 and ISO 3780, respectively. Compatible, but somewhat different, implementations of these ISO standards have been adopted by the European Union and the United States of America.
The rest of this article is specific to GM J-Body cars.
World Manufacturer Identifier
The first three characters uniquely identify the manufacturer of the vehicle using the World Manufacturer/Make Identifier (WMI) code.
The 1st position in the VIN is the region in which the manufacturer is located.
1,4 = United States
3 = Mexico
The 2nd character of a J-Body VIN is always a "G" to indicate General Motors.
G = General Motors
The 3rd character is used by GM as a code for its divisions.
1 = Chevrolet
2 = Pontiac
3 = Oldsmobile
4 = Buick
6 = Cadillac
Here are some examples you will find on J-Body cars:
1G1 = Chevrolet passenger car built in the US
3G1 = Chevrolet passenger car built in Mexico
1G2 = Pontiac passenger car built in the US
3G2 = Pontiac passenger car built in Mexico
4G1 = Chevrolet passenger car built in the US
Vehicle Descriptor Section
The 4th through 9th positions in the VIN are the Vehicle Descriptor Section or VDS. This is used to identify the vehicle type and includes information on the platform used, the model, and the body style.
The 4th position is always a "J" to indicate a J-Body platform car. Note that the Saturn L200 and L300 also have a J in the 4th position, but are not J-body cars.
The 5th position indicates the Series of J-body vehicle:
Buick
S = SkyHawk
T = SkyHawk Limited
E = SkyHawk T-Type
Cadillac
G = Cimarron
Chevrolet
C = Cavalier
D = Cavalier CS
E = Cavalier Hatchback/Type 10/RS
F = Cavalier Z24/LS
H = Cavalier Z24 sedan
Oldsmobile
C = Firenza
D = Firenza SX/LX
Pontiac
B = J2000, 2000, 2000 Sunbird, Sunbird, Sunfire
C = J2000 LE, 2000 LE, 2000 Sunbird LE, Sunbird LE
D = J2000 SE, 2000 SE, 2000 Sunbird SE, Sunbird SE, Sunfire GT
E = J2000 S
The 6th position indicates the Body Style.
1 = Two door coupe (37)
3 = Two door convertible (67)
5 = Four door sedan (69)
8 = Five door station wagon
The 7th position indicates the Restraint Type.
1 = Active (manual) seatbelts
2 = Active (manual) seatbelts with driver and passenger front airbags
4 = Automatic seatbelts
The 8th position indicates the Engine Type. Some of the engines found in J-Body cars include the following:
4 = 2.2L Inline 4 SFI (LN2) aka 2.2L OHC, 2200, "Not an Ecotec" (92-02)
F = 2.2L Inline 4 MFI (L61) aka "Ecotec" (02-05)
D = 2.3L Inline 4 MFI (LD2) aka "Quad 4" (95 only)
T = 2.4L Inline 4 SFI (LD9) aka "Twin Cam" (96-02)
J = 3.1L V6 SFI (LG8)
W = 2.8L V6
G = 1.8L Inline 4 (82 only)
O = 1.8L Inline 4
B = 2.0L Inline 4
P = 2.0L Inline 4
1 = 2.0L Inline 4
K = 2.0L Inline 4
M = 2.0L Inline 4
H = 2.0L Inline 4
G = 2.2L Inline 4 (90, 91)
The 9th position is known as the Check Digit. A mathematical formula is used to determine the value of the check digit, based on the other characters in the VIN. How the check digit is calculated is not a secret (you can find it on the internet easily if you Google search) but is not covered in this FAQ article.
Vehicle Identifier Section
The 10th through 17th positions are used as the Vehicle Identifier Section or VIS.
The 10th character is used to encode the model year of the vehicle. The year code is the model year allocated by GM, not the year in which it was manufactured.
Example: an "early 2002" model year car would be manufactured in the middle of the 2001 calendar year, but will still have the number 2 in the 10th position indicating 2002. Note that some other manufacturers use this to indicate the calendar year in which the vehicle was built as opposed to the model year... but GM does not... and this is the GM J-Body FAQ
C = 1982
D = 1983
E = 1984
F = 1985
G = 1986
H = 1987
J = 1988
K = 1989
L = 1990
M = 1991
N = 1992
P = 1993
R = 1994
S = 1995
T = 1996
V = 1997
W = 1998
X = 1999
Y = 2000
1 = 2001
2 = 2002
3 = 2003
4 = 2004
5 = 2005
The 11th character indicates the assembly plant the vehicle was manufactured in.
M = Lansing, Michigan
7 = Lordstown, Ohio
B = Lansing, Michigan (Genasys convertible plant)
S = Ramos Arizpe, Mexico
C = South Gate, California (82 only)
J = Janesville, Wisconsin
K = Leeds, Missouri
The 12th to 17th positions indicate the Production Sequence Number. This is used to identify the individual vehicle in question. This is a simple sequential number. Cavaliers start with the number 000001, Sunfires start with the number 500001.
There's a picture too... but for some reason I'm getting a file not found error... I'll have to ask Dave!
...j
Quote:
Cavaliers start with the number 000001, Sunfires start with the number 500001.
So... what happens in the instance that over 999998 equally equipped cars are built that year? Check digit changes? (not that it would happen at 1 plant, but a vailid hypothetical question...)
Example:
1G1JC12F*4M000001 - 999999
Got me... never happened with a J-body... so it isn't covered in this FAQ entry
Ok... figured the question would come up, so best to get it out of the way early
If anybody is interested in the check digit process here is a link with some useful info.
Check your digit!
Looks like a Toyota Cavalier to me...
IIRC, the 4 in the first digit is GM export, so if that's the case, Lenko's right
The information for some just don't make sense like, olds; cimarron, so my guess is it's from another manufacturer and country.
4G3JG12T2X7003222
4 = USA
G = GM
3 = Oldsmobile
J = Body style
G = Cimarron
1 = Two Door
2 = Active (manual) seatbelts with driver and passenger front airbags
T = 2.4L Inline 4 SFI (LD9)
2 = Check Digit
X = Model year 1999
7 = Lordstown Plan
003,222 car to roll out.
Hey look, its Lenko's 3rd gen Cimarron
the VIN is taken from a '99 Toyota Cav, so its a lagit GM VIN..... I finally tracked a VIN number down, been looking for one for a few years.
SPD RCR Z -
'02 Z24 420whp
SLO GOAT -
'04 GTO 305whp
W41 BOI -
'78 Buick Opel Isuzu W41 Swap
John Lenko wrote:There's a picture too... but for some reason I'm getting a file not found error... I'll have to ask Dave!
There was a problem with the image uploader. I think I got it fixed, but you'll have to re-upload the image. I hope you still have whatever it was.
"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about
the former." - Albert Einstein
So is stuff like paint color, transmission, etc. determined by looking up digits 12-17 in the GM database?
'99 Z24, Manual
Thanks Dave, I uploaded the file
Brian, I didn't know you needed a VIN... I've got a couple here... sorry man!! I've added the 4G3 code to the FAQ, to avoid future confusion
If only I had some insight on the 1st gen non-North American J's.. I bet they fit into the same VIN system too... heh...
The other info, like paint code, transmission.... all the Regular Production Options (RPO codes) can be found on the sticker on the bottom side of the spare tire cover. If you don't have one... you can get one printed from GM... they'll need your whole VIN number tho.
Kardain wrote:Quote:
Cavaliers start with the number 000001, Sunfires start with the number 500001.
So... what happens in the instance that over 999998 equally equipped cars are built that year? Check digit changes? (not that it would happen at 1 plant, but a vailid hypothetical question...)
Example:
1G1JC12F*4M000001 - 999999
IIRC, the length of VINs has increased since.
Nope... the VIN system isn't changing.
2009 will be a "9" in the 10th position. 2010 will be an "A" again, like 1980. But if you can't tell the difference between a 1980 Chevy and a 2010 Chevy, then the VIN won't help you either
ok, I'm lost with this check digit crap. I followed the link but it lost me. Cool to know my car was made in Lordstown. Glad I was able to drive it back there in 04. Also my car was 281,950 made that year.
FU Tuning
Check digit is just a validation method. That way, any site can check if it's a legitimate VIN combination or not. It takes the rest of the numbers & letters that make up the VIN, multiplies and divides them by a certain number, based on their position in the VIN itself. If the check digit matches what it should be, it's a proper VIN.
In theory, you could fabricate a VIN and still pass the Check Digit test... but it wouldn't necessarily be an "actual VIN"... you could make the Check Digit work, but the GM computers wouldn't have any record of it because it actually didn't exist.... For example, make up a Toyota Cavalier with an Ecotec in it... (4G3JF12F*Y7000001) I didn't bother calculating the check digit.. but if I cared to, I could
Hmm... if my car had a VIN that reflected what was really in it... heh...
why is my sunfires last 6 digits of my VIN 252731 then?
Hmm... got me. I actually pulled the 5 number outta my arse, because I couldn't remember what it started at. I might be wrong on that one
But the rest should match up
I'll check the GM stuff I have... see what I can find...
My fifth character is "H". Thats weird...
And it's an LS Sport coupe? Looks like I have some things to update a bit
i have an ls sport coupe and my fifth character is a H also
i know in Ontario there is a replacement VIN system. basically its used on theft recovery cars where all the VIN plates have been stripped off the car. its a brass plate and it is only put on the drivers door. it will not be the same as the factory VIN, its a really weird VIN. Ive never seen one on a J-body, mostly high end cars.
http://registry.gmenthusiast.com/images/my2005cav/my%20car%20the%20bash.jpg
My fifth digit on my 02 z24 coupe is a H but in the 6th digit they called it a 2dr like it really is.
Thanks Lenko for the great reading. You are truly an asset to the
FORGET GIRLS GONE WILD WE HAVE GOVERNMENT SPENDING GONE WILD!
