GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only
Table 1: VIN Derivative
Table 2: VIN Positions

All engines and transmissions are stamped with a partial Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). A VIN derivative may be used in order to determine if a vehicle contains the original engine or transmission by matching the VIN derivative positions to their accompanying positions in the complete VIN. The following table identifies the different VIN derivative characters, the equivalent VIN positions, the character positions and their respective definitions.

VIN Derivative

VIN Derivative Position

Definition

Character

Description

1

GM Division Identifier

N

M

H

Chevrolet

Pontiac

Oldsmobile

2

Model Year

4

2004

3

Assembly Plant

D

Doraville, GA

4-9

Plant Sequence Number

--

Plant Sequence Number

A VIN derivative can be used to determine if a vehicle contains the original engine or transmission by matching the VIN derivative positions to their accompanying positions in the complete VIN:

VIN Positions

VIN Derivative Position

Equivalent Position

1

3

2

10

3

11

4-9

12-17