What does the VIN tell?

[rwmorris]

My neighbor just got an '01 CTD and wants to know if the VIN will show what factory options were put on it. I can't find a listing on what the letters and numbers mean. Can anyone help?

 

[Allnew2Me]

If you take the VIN to the dealer he can give you a STAR printout that tells you everything that came on the truck down to the decal on the tailgate. It gives lots of info about the details, alternator output, spring numbers, trans and transfer case numbers, as well as all the options and colors. The parts guy did it for me at the local dealer.

 

[HBarlow]

I think the VIN will identify weight class ie Ram 2500, Ram 3500, engine, transmission, and rear axle. I believe it also identifies model ie SLT, Laramie, etc. Don't think your friend can learn anything more than that. The engine data plate will show rated horsepower.

A friendly dealer service/parts department can decipher the VIN for you.

 

[AH64ID]

The VIN will tell you a lot if you go thru a dealership or the internet. Fill out this form and ask for a build sheet. http://www.dodge.com/wccsapp/universal/D/index.jsp



Mine had all the flollowing data. .



Cloth 40/20/40 Bench Seat

Dark Slate Gray

Trailer Tow Group

Monotone Paint

Single Rear Wheel Group

5. 9L TD HO Eng(ETH)/6Spd M/T NV5600

136 Amp Alternator

750 Amp Maintenance Free Battery

Anti-Lock 4-Wheel Disc Brakes

40/20/40 Split Bench Seat

Rear Folding Seat

Front Height Adjust Shoulder Belts

Next Gen Multistage Front Air Bags**

Front Seat Area Carpet

Front Floor Mats

Passenger Assist Handle

Rear Underseat Compartment Storage

Overhead Console w/Trip Computer

All Manual Transmissions

6-Speed HD Manual Transmission

Man Shift-on-the-Fly Transfer Case

5,200# Front Axle

3. 73 Axle Ratio

11. 50 Rear Axle

Anti-Spin Differential Rear Axle

5. 9L HO Cummins Turbo Diesel Engine

Tinted Glass Windows

Rear Fixed Window

Rear View Day/Night Mirror

Passenger Side Sun Visor w/Mirror

Power Trailer Tow Mirrors, Fold-Away

All Vehicles W/Power Mirrors

Remote Keyless Entry

Air Conditioning

Dash Liner Insulation

Floor Tunnel Insulation

Route 52 - UP, Spokane, WA

Instrument Cluster w/Tach

120 MPH Primary Speedometer

Var Intermittent Windshield Wipers

Cigar Lighter

Dual Note Electric Horns

12V Auxiliary Power Outlet

Power Locks

Power Windows, Driver One-Touch

Glove Box Lamp

Halogen Headlamps

Clearance Lamps

Fog Lamps

Cargo Lamp

Bright Rear Bumper

Body Color Upper Fascia

Bright Front Bumper

Front License Plate Bracket

Bright Grille

Ram's Head Badge

Black Windshield Moldings

SLT Badge

4X4 Badge

Removable Tailgate w/Caliper Latches

Front Air Dam

Front Bumper Sight Shields

Federal Emissions

35 Gallon Fuel Tank

Engine Block Heater

Speed Control

Electronically Controlled Throttle

Heavy Duty Engine Cooling

Current Generation Eng Controller

Bright White Clear Coat

Bright White Clear Coat

All Radio Equipped Vehicles

AM/FM Compact Disc Radio w/Chgr Ctrl

4 Speakers

Fixed Long Mast Antenna

Power Steering

4-Spoke Steering Wheel

Front Heavy Duty Shock Absorbers

Rear Heavy Duty Shock Absorbers

Front Stabilizer Bar

Tilt Steering Column

Full Size Spare Tire

Tire Carrier Winch

LT265/70R17E BSW All Season Tires

Michelin Brand Tires

17" Steel Spare Wheel

17X8. 0 Steel Chrome Clad Wheels

All Steel Wheels

Center Hub

Non Adjustable Pedals

Pickup Box

Class IV Receiver Hitch

7 Pin Wiring Harness

Trailer Tow w/4-Pin Connector Wiring

Front Hood Protection Shield

Speed Control Type

Spring - Left Front

Spring - Left Rear

Spring - Right Front

Spring - Right Rear

 

[pdxkid]

I wrote down the info from my CDrom manual and did not get the translations too, but here are the meanings for each digit.



1= country of origin

2= make

3=vehicle type

4=GVWR

5=vehicle line

6=series

7=body style

8=engine

9=check digit

10=model year

11=plant location

12-17=vehicle build sequence



hope this helps

 

[HBarlow]

The VIN will tell you a lot if you go thru a dealership or the internet. Fill out this form and ask for a build sheet. http://www.dodge.com/wccsapp/universal/D/index.jsp

Mine had all the flollowing data. .

Cloth 40/20/40 Bench Seat
Dark Slate Gray
Trailer Tow Group
Monotone Paint
Single Rear Wheel Group
5. 9L TD HO Eng(ETH)/6Spd M/T NV5600
136 Amp Alternator
750 Amp Maintenance Free Battery
Anti-Lock 4-Wheel Disc Brakes
40/20/40 Split Bench Seat
Rear Folding Seat
Front Height Adjust Shoulder Belts
Next Gen Multistage Front Air Bags**
Front Seat Area Carpet
Front Floor Mats
Passenger Assist Handle
Rear Underseat Compartment Storage
Overhead Console w/Trip Computer
All Manual Transmissions
6-Speed HD Manual Transmission
Man Shift-on-the-Fly Transfer Case
5,200# Front Axle
3. 73 Axle Ratio
11. 50 Rear Axle
Anti-Spin Differential Rear Axle
5. 9L HO Cummins Turbo Diesel Engine
Tinted Glass Windows
Rear Fixed Window
Rear View Day/Night Mirror
Passenger Side Sun Visor w/Mirror
Power Trailer Tow Mirrors, Fold-Away
All Vehicles W/Power Mirrors
Remote Keyless Entry
Air Conditioning
Dash Liner Insulation
Floor Tunnel Insulation
Route 52 - UP, Spokane, WA
Instrument Cluster w/Tach
120 MPH Primary Speedometer
Var Intermittent Windshield Wipers
Cigar Lighter
Dual Note Electric Horns
12V Auxiliary Power Outlet
Power Locks
Power Windows, Driver One-Touch
Glove Box Lamp
Halogen Headlamps
Clearance Lamps
Fog Lamps
Cargo Lamp
Bright Rear Bumper
Body Color Upper Fascia
Bright Front Bumper
Front License Plate Bracket
Bright Grille
Ram's Head Badge
Black Windshield Moldings
SLT Badge
4X4 Badge
Removable Tailgate w/Caliper Latches
Front Air Dam
Front Bumper Sight Shields
Federal Emissions
35 Gallon Fuel Tank
Engine Block Heater
Speed Control
Electronically Controlled Throttle
Heavy Duty Engine Cooling
Current Generation Eng Controller
Bright White Clear Coat
Bright White Clear Coat
All Radio Equipped Vehicles
AM/FM Compact Disc Radio w/Chgr Ctrl
4 Speakers
Fixed Long Mast Antenna
Power Steering
4-Spoke Steering Wheel
Front Heavy Duty Shock Absorbers
Rear Heavy Duty Shock Absorbers
Front Stabilizer Bar
Tilt Steering Column
Full Size Spare Tire
Tire Carrier Winch
LT265/70R17E BSW All Season Tires
Michelin Brand Tires
17" Steel Spare Wheel
17X8. 0 Steel Chrome Clad Wheels
All Steel Wheels
Center Hub
Non Adjustable Pedals
Pickup Box
Class IV Receiver Hitch
7 Pin Wiring Harness
Trailer Tow w/4-Pin Connector Wiring
Front Hood Protection Shield
Speed Control Type
Spring - Left Front
Spring - Left Rear
Spring - Right Front
Spring - Right Rear

Learned something new. That's a lot more than I thought the VIN would tell a dealer's computer.

 

[CharlieFoxtrot]

To clarify, the VIN itself carries only the info that PDXKID mentioned. It's encoded in the letters and numbers.



However, by looking up the factory records associated with your VIN, the dealer can find all your options, and probably any service/repair records for work performed at a dealer. They could tell you what dealer sold the truck originally, and probably have all sorts of confidential info that they can't tell you, like the original owner's name, purchase price, etc - IOW, whatever records exist at Chrysler, they're filed under your VIN and accessible to any dealer.



I have my truck's original window sticker and all purchase and service paperwork from the original owner...



HTH a little



kevin

 

[AH64ID]

Learned something new. That's a lot more than I thought the VIN would tell a dealer's computer.

To clarify, the VIN itself carries only the info that PDXKID mentioned. It's encoded in the letters and numbers.



However, by looking up the factory records associated with your VIN, the dealer can find all your options, and probably any service/repair records for work performed at a dealer. They could tell you what dealer sold the truck originally, and probably have all sorts of confidential info that they can't tell you, like the original owner's name, purchase price, etc - IOW, whatever records exist at Chrysler, they're filed under your VIN and accessible to any dealer.



I have my truck's original window sticker and all purchase and service paperwork from the original owner...



HTH a little



kevin

Exactly. The VIN just tells the computer what the trucks specific ID is, and then the build is pulled from the computer. Only a Dodge computer can give you that info.