How to Decipher VIN
 

Anyone know how to decipher the VIN? I know what the last 6 digits are, but anyone know the rest. Trying to shop online and all the acura dealear websites in MA are missing important details in their inventory, like color, or transmission, but they have the VIN, and I thought maybe I could use that to figure it out. Thanks.

The number at end after the 0's is the build number; e.g. 19XXA330654A00019875. This would mean your car was the 19,875 to be built. If you open the driver's door you'll see a lable that will tell you the actual build date.

How to decode:
Example VIN: 19U UA6 5 5 * 4 A 000001

In order of grouping above (note added spaces):
19U Honda of America Mfg., Inc. USA, Acura Passenger Vehicle
UA6 Acura TL/J32A3 (model code)
5 for 6 speed, 6 for 5 spd. Automatic (kind of backwards)
2 for A/T, 5 for 6 spd. M/T, 6 for 6 spd. M/T with hi-per tire option
Check digit - there's a formula for this that can be found with a web search. Basically, it's a letter or number calculated based on other VIN letters/numbers. If it's "wrong", it means the VIN is wrong.
Model Year (4 is 2004)
Factory Code (A is Marysville, Ohio)
Serial number (starts with 000001 for USA model, starts with 800001 for Canadian model)

The example code above would be a 6 speed manual without the summer tire option. Check digit wouldn't normally be a *.

Hybrid,

Thanks for your info. Ppl keep asking VIN each month...

How to calculate vin check digit


:D

Thanks! Great explanation. :)

This was also covered in the forums previously. There is a free VIN decoder at:http://www.analogx.com/contents/vinview.htm

Thanks for sharing that info, I didn't know that. In particular the part about the US vs Canadian models.

Thanks for the info. My 05 TL (Anthracite 5AT non-navi) VIN's last 6 digits are 801098 (canada). Picked it up Apr 12 which, and given the low build number (1098), sounds like its been on the lot for a while. Had warranty service on it Apr 13th - replaced all 3 catalytics due to MIL. Anyone else in Canada (Toronto) have a build number close to mine and when did you take delivery? or what is your VIN if you picked up your TL around Apr 12?

Hey park390....I purchased my TL in July...picked up in August...looks like I got the 4866th TL. What's MIL(sorry...I'm new)? I've been told by the dealer that my TL was one of the last ones of 2005. Anyone have any idea how many were made for Canada in 2005?

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...t=construction

try this... lil easier to decipher

Vin
 

Great thread guys :). I get questions all the time about the VIN. Mostly people think the color code is located in the VIN and I have to explain that the VIN only helps us determine the color on your car AFTER we have the color code.

-Mike

You beat me to it...I was gonna say....I thought I had a thread somewhere on here with all that info.....

I found this link by googling. Pretty good information. Click the link for a full color version of the following, and it's easier to read too. I posted the info from the link in case the link goes bad.

VIN NUMBERS EXPLAINED http://www.vehicleidentificationnumb...in_detail.html



Each character or digit has a particular purpose.
They are as follows:
1 G 1 J F 2 7 W 8 G J 1 7 8 2 2 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Country Manufactured
Manufacturer
Vehicle Type
Vehicle Features
Accuracy Check Digit
Model Year
Production Plant
Sequential Number
• The first character vehicle identification number (VIN) serial number identifies the country from which the vehicle was manufactured.

• First vehicle identification number digit: U.S.A.(1 or 4), Canada (2), Mexico (3), Japan (J), Korea (K), England (S), Germany (W), Italy (Z)

• Second vehicle identification number digit specifies the manufacturer. Audi (A), BMW (B), Buick (4), Cadillac (6), Chevrolet (1), Chrysler (C), Dodge (B), Ford (F), GM Canada (7), General Motors (G), Honda (H), Jaguar (A), Lincoln (L), Mercedes Benz (D), Mercury (M), Nissan (N), Oldsmobile (3), Pontiac (2 or 5), Plymouth (P), Saturn (8), Toyota (T), Volvo (V).

• Third vehicle identification number digit indicates the vehicle type or manufacturing division.

• Fourth through eighth vehicle identification number digit reveals the vehicle features such as body style, engine type, model, series, etc.

• The ninth vehicle identification number digit is a VIN accuracy check digit, verifying the previous VIN numbers. This is how the check digit works
STEP 1
Assign to each number in the VIN its actual mathematical value and assign to each letter the value specified for it in the following chart:
ASSIGNED VALUES:
A=1 G=7 P=7 X=7
B=2 H=8 R=9 Y=8
C=3 J=1 S=2 Z=9
D=4 K=2 T=3
E=5 M=3 U=4
F=6 N=4 V=5
STEP 2
Multiply the assigned value for each character in the VIN by the position weight factor specified in the following chart:
VIN POSITION AND WEIGHT FACTOR:
1st = 8 10th = 9
2nd = 7 11th = 8
3rd = 6 12th = 7
4th = 5 13th = 6
5th = 4 14th = 5
6th = 3 15th = 4
7th = 2 16th = 3
8th = 10 17th = 2
9th = check digit
STEP 3
Add the products from steps 1 and 2 and divide the total by 11.
STEP 4
The numerical remainder is the check digit which would appear in the 9th position in the VIN. If the remainder is 10, then the letter "X" is used for the check digit.
• Tenth vehicle identification number digit tells the model year. 1988 (J), 1989 (K), 1990 (L), 1991 (M), 1992 (N), 1993 (P),
• 1994 (R), 1995 (S), 1996 (T), 199 7(V), 1998 (W), 1999 (X), 2000 (Y), 2001(1), 2002 (2), 2003 (3) 2004 (4), 2005 (5),
2006 (6),
•
• Eleventh vehicle identification number digit reveals the assembly plant for the vehicle.

• The twelfth to seventeenth vehicle identification number digits indicate the sequence of the vehicle for production as it rolled of the manufacturers assembly line.

Is there a way to decipher if my car is an A-spec or not.
I have all the options available for an a-spec.
6MT, Big brakes, Navi and get the mileage of the 270-horse model, but all my searches have come up with no luck.

Thanks !

This truly makes an interesting reading. It's truly informative and educative

can always google a vin decoder

Good info