Where is the VIN decoder ring hidden?

[sawdust_128]

I have seen several references to a schema for interpreting the vehicle codes. Can some one please give me pointer to it or a link for it?

Thanks.

[Jon Wehrenberg]

Here's the pertinent poop from an earlier thread:

Member Rated:
posted June 30, 2001 07:59 PM
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The chassis manufacturer based on their choice of a production cut-off date for a particular model determines model year. The VIN (which includes the model year), is assigned to the vehicle by the primary chassis manufacturer and is not part of or modified by the secondary manufacturer (conversion company). Once that production cut-off date has been implemented all vehicles manufactured after that date become the new model year. No vehicle manufactured prior to that date may be included into the new model (production) year. In other words: assigned model years cannot be changed to accommodate old unsold inventory.
These are the federally adopted codes for all vehicles sold in the USA.

(d) The fourth section shall consist of eight characters, which occupy positions ten through seventeen (10-17) of the VIN…… (1) The first character of the fourth section shall represent the vehicle model year. The year shall be designated as indicated in Table as follows:

1980.............................................. ........ A
1981.............................................. ........ B
1982.............................................. ........ C
1983.............................................. ........ D
1984.............................................. ........ E
1985.............................................. ........ F
1986.............................................. ........ G
1987.............................................. ........ H
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
2004.............................................. ........ 4
2005.............................................. ........ 5

[ July 01, 2001: Message edited by: Joe ]

Prevost owners use only the chassis model year letter or number (the tenth character) and the last four when ordering parts or asking questions about their coach. It is not uncommon for a chassis model year to be one year older than the year on the coach title because the converter actually titles the final product, and it takes time to convert a new empty shell into a new converted coach. My coach for example is a '96 shell, but the registration and title show it as "97.