vin number
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 24,418
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From: San Francisco, Ca.
No.
Unless you know of a dealer who has access to the data base that has the build sheet on that vehicle (at least for GM; don't know about Ford, though)
Probably much easier to have the party give you codes off of the TRUCK SAFETY COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATION LABEL.
Those codes will tell you what the vehicle has.
Pretty sure.
Unless you know of a dealer who has access to the data base that has the build sheet on that vehicle (at least for GM; don't know about Ford, though)
Probably much easier to have the party give you codes off of the TRUCK SAFETY COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATION LABEL.
Those codes will tell you what the vehicle has.
Pretty sure.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 24,418
Likes: 3
From: San Francisco, Ca.
True. But not the axle ratio.
straitsix373, You're absolutley correct. The tenth digit code was the year, as was the eight digit for the engine code, starting from (1981; at least on a GM).
I think the first ten characters on a V.I.N. told quite a bit.
straitsix373, You're absolutley correct. The tenth digit code was the year, as was the eight digit for the engine code, starting from (1981; at least on a GM).
I think the first ten characters on a V.I.N. told quite a bit.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,462
Likes: 4
From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
Here you go, a free web decoder of VINs:
http://www.analogx.com/contents/vinview.htm
EDIT: wasn't as helpful as I was hoping...
Ran my mom's Silverado, it knew it was a Chevrolet, said it was made in Canada (I guess it could have been, though we live in Texas), got the year 2000 right, said it was made at assembly plant 1, didn't know it was a Silverado, didn't know engine size.
Oh well better than nothing I guess...
http://www.analogx.com/contents/vinview.htm
EDIT: wasn't as helpful as I was hoping...
Ran my mom's Silverado, it knew it was a Chevrolet, said it was made in Canada (I guess it could have been, though we live in Texas), got the year 2000 right, said it was made at assembly plant 1, didn't know it was a Silverado, didn't know engine size.
Oh well better than nothing I guess...
Last edited by RangerPilot; Nov 12, 2005 at 10:23 PM.
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might be gittin there... digits 4-8 are the model/specific. And we know that the 8th is the motor.. that leaves 4 digits that might tell me a axle ratio.. 4-7 my truck has 3.55 gears and digits 4-7 are EF14
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Damascus-Boring, Ore
It's not in the VIN codes. On GM, there's a separate tag that in the glovebox or under the hood that lists the 3-digit RPO's of everything on the vehicle. You have to know your codes (or someone that does), but its all there. Axle codes always start with a "G**." A G80 is a locker, and an alpha-numeric code is the axle ratio.
That's all waaay too easy for Ford.
On the later model ones, you can run an OASIS to get the equipment, or look for a tag on the rear axle.
That's all waaay too easy for Ford.
On the later model ones, you can run an OASIS to get the equipment, or look for a tag on the rear axle.
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well that's the problem.. I'm buying a used truck online.. it could be 200 miles away, and it's hard to get some of sellers to check the tag on the rear or sticker on the door.. All I can see is a vin #... The serial number is in the vin.. I would think some computer program could tell ya how it was built.. They have websites that tell you if the truck ever hit a deer or if you have ever been pulled over.. If the vin can tell you that I'm sure it could tell you what major drive parts are in it.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,728
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From: Damascus-Boring, Ore
Nope- you can track where it's been and what it's done by the VIN, but on a Ford you have to literally pull the case off of the rear diff and count teeth. With GM, on the other hand, I've been looking at equipment stickers for almost three decades.
I've asked it before- who the heck does Ford use for IT people?
With GM, on the other hand, I've been looking at equipment stickers for almost three decades.I've asked it before- who the heck does Ford use for IT people?
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 24,418
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From: San Francisco, Ca.
polarbear, you brought back some ole memories.
I used to work for a GM dealer a long time ago.
I know about that little white sticker (RPO).
Sometimes under the deck lid, sometimes on the spare tire cover, sometimes in the glovebox, etc.....
"B" were body molding options
"J" were brake options
"M" were trans codes
Etc.........
We did have a way to punch in the VIN and get all of this info, but I'm not sure if this was (in house) for the vehicles that we sold or all GM.
Been a while.
I used to work for a GM dealer a long time ago.
I know about that little white sticker (RPO).
Sometimes under the deck lid, sometimes on the spare tire cover, sometimes in the glovebox, etc.....
"B" were body molding options
"J" were brake options
"M" were trans codes
Etc.........
We did have a way to punch in the VIN and get all of this info, but I'm not sure if this was (in house) for the vehicles that we sold or all GM.
Been a while.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,728
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From: Damascus-Boring, Ore
I can punch in a GM VIN and get, instantly:
vehicle invoice
sales history
service history
incentive payment history
build sheet
You guys used the old GM warranty history program, now known as VISS. The old system (two decades old) is comparable to what Ford uses today. When i order a new Ford, concepts is exactly like GM's original online legacy program they trotted out in the early 80's. For a computer nerd, it's literally like stepping back in time a couple of decades. Unbelievable.
vehicle invoice
sales history
service history
incentive payment history
build sheet
You guys used the old GM warranty history program, now known as VISS. The old system (two decades old) is comparable to what Ford uses today. When i order a new Ford, concepts is exactly like GM's original online legacy program they trotted out in the early 80's. For a computer nerd, it's literally like stepping back in time a couple of decades. Unbelievable.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,873
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From: Atlanta GA
> it's hard to get some of sellers to check the tag on the rear or sticker on the door
If they can not do that, how likely is it that they took good care of the vehicle, actually own it, are honest in the description, or will help if there is a problem after you bid?
On E-Bay I wanted to bid on a 1980 Ford Econoline 4x4 in NJ. The seller could not bother posting the VIN #, the vehicle went unsold. I bought another vehicle from a buyer that provided all the info and even drove the vehicle to my house for me to check out. I bought his van without even dickering about price because I liked it.
If someone can not bother to give you the info you need, at least from a door, then do not bother to buy it, imo. Though I can see someone not wanted to crawl under for an axle tag.
If they can not do that, how likely is it that they took good care of the vehicle, actually own it, are honest in the description, or will help if there is a problem after you bid?
On E-Bay I wanted to bid on a 1980 Ford Econoline 4x4 in NJ. The seller could not bother posting the VIN #, the vehicle went unsold. I bought another vehicle from a buyer that provided all the info and even drove the vehicle to my house for me to check out. I bought his van without even dickering about price because I liked it.
If someone can not bother to give you the info you need, at least from a door, then do not bother to buy it, imo. Though I can see someone not wanted to crawl under for an axle tag.