Vehicle, Engine and Transmission ID and VIN Location, Derivative and Usage: Notes

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2009 Saturn Vue. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Fig 1: View Of VIN Plate Location

Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) System

Position	Definition	Character	Description
The VIN plate (1) is the legal identifier of the vehicle. The VIN plate is located on the upper left corner of the instrument panel (I/P) and can be seen through the windshield from the outside of the vehicle.
1	Country of Origin	5	United States
2 3	Manufacturer	8	Saturn
4	GVWR	C	4001 5000/Brake System-Hydraulic
5 6	Line/Carline/Series	Z	L/1 VUE Red Line FWD L/3 VUE XE FWD L/5 VUE XE AWD L/9 VUE Red Line AWD L/0 VUE Green Line (BAS Hybrid) FWD
		L	L/3 Captiva LS FWD
			L/5 Captiva LT FWD
			L/6 Captiva Sport LT AWD
7	Body Style	3	Four-Door All Purpose Vehicle
8	Engine Type	Z	RPO LAT Engine Gas, 4 Cylinder, 2.4L, MFI, Aluminum, DOHC, BAS, ECOTEC
		B	RPO LCS Engine Gas, 6 Cylinder, 3.6L, SIDI, V6, DOHC, VVT, Aluminum, GM
		P	RPO LE5 Engine Gas, 4 Cylinder, 2.4L, MFI, Aluminum, DOHC, HO, ECOTEC
		1	RPO LE5 Engine Gas, 4 Cylinder, 2.4L, MFI, Aluminum, DOHC, HO, ECOTEC
		V	RPO LE9 Flexible Fuel, (GAS/ALC) 4 Cylinder, 2.4L, MFI, DOHC, Aluminum, HO
		N	RPO LY7 Engine Gas, 6 Cylinder, 3.6L, SFI, V6, Aluminum, 60 Degrees GM
		7	RPO LY7 Engine Gas, 6 Cylinder, 3.6L, SFI, V6, Aluminum, 60 Degrees GM
		7	RPO LZ4 Engine Gas, 6 Cylinder, 3.5L, SFI, V6, Offset Bore, GM
9	Check Digit	-	Check Digit
10	Model Year	9	2009
11	Plant Location	S	Ramos Arizpe, Mexico
12-17	Plant Sequence Number	-	1000001

VIN Derivative Characters

Position	Definition	Character	Description
All engines and transmissions are stamped or laser etched with a partial VIN. This table identifies the different VIN derivative characters and their respective positions.
1	Division	8	Saturn
2	Model Year	9	2009
3	Plant Location	S	Ramos Arizpe, Mexico
4-9	Plant Sequence Number	-	1000001
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.