Vehicle identification number (VIN)
This number, extremely important in its meaning, is engraved on a metal plate (shield), mounted on the instrument panel under the windshield on the driver's side of the car (refer to accompanying illustration).
The VIN is also entered into the TCP and vehicle registration certificate. This number, consisting of 17 points, encodes information about the date and place of manufacture of the car, its configuration, model year, body type, etc. (refer to accompanying table).
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
J | T | 1 | 1 | 1 | E | J | A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
1–3 Producer index | |
1 - State of production | J - Japan |
2 - Manufacturing plant | T – Toyota (Jap) |
3 - Region of manufacture | 1 - Europe 2 - USA/Canada 7 - Australia and «third countries» 3,4,8,B,C - Gulf countries 0 - Taiwan/Singapore |
4–9 Model Description | |
4–5 - Body type | 11, 12 - Jeep / minivan 21, 22, 23 - Cargo bus 31, 32, 33 - Pickup/Truck 41, 42, 43 - Bus 52 - Hatchback, 2 side doors 53 – Sedan 54 - Hatchback, 4 side doors 63 - Coupe 64 - Liftback 72 – Wagon/Wagon |
6 – Engine series | A – 4A, 7A |
7 - Model | F – Lexus 400 |
8–9 - Model code | The letters mean the second ten: A=10, B=11, C=12, D=13, E=14, F=15, G=16, H=17, J=18, K=19, L=20, N =22 etc. Some of these characters are not used and N is currently the last character. For example: A0 – 100 A1 – 101… …B0 – 110… …N1 – 221 |
10-17 Vehicle identification number | |
10 - Spare symbol | Not used. Usually this place is «0» |
11–17 - Vehicle serial number |
Engine identification number
The engine is identified in two ways - about the model code (e.g. 2UZ-FE) and cylinder block number. When ordering spare parts, knowing the engine number can be of great importance: if the engine was built before or after a certain date, certain modifications to the spare parts may be required.
Information Label for Emission Control Systems (VECI)
The VECI label is attached to the bottom of the car's hood and contains information on the location of components for exhaust gas reduction systems, specification parameters for setting up individual components, as well as a vacuum hose routing diagram (refer to accompanying illustration).
Identification numbers of the gearbox and transfer case
The numbers are given on the nameplates fixed on the walls of the transmission housing and transfer case.