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

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2008 Pontiac G5 and 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. 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 Vehicle Identification Number (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	1	United States
2	Manufacturer	G	General Motors
3	Make	1 2	Chevrolet Pontiac
4 5	Carline/Series	AK, AL, AM, AP AJ, AL, AN	Chevrolet LS, LT, SS, SSI Pontiac SE, GT
6	Body Style	1	Two-Door Coupe (37) Four-Door Sedan (69)
7	Restraint System	2	Active (Manual) Belts W/Driver and Passenger Inflatable Restraint System-Frontal
8	Engine Type	P F B	RPO LSJ, 2.0L, MFI, 4 CYL., SC RPO L61, 2.2L, L4, MFI RPO LE5, 2.4L, L4, MFI
9	Check Digit	-	Check Digit
10	Model Year	8	2008
11	Plant Location	7	Lordstown, OH. USA
12-17	Plant Sequence Number	-	Plant Sequence Number

VIN Derivative Characters

Position	Definition	Character	Description
All engines and transmissions are stamped or laser etched with a partial Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). This table identifies the different VIN derivative characters and their respective positions.
1	Division	1 2	Chevrolet Pontiac
2	Model Year	8	2008
3	Plant Location	7	Lordstown, OH. USA
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 Derivative Position	Equivalent VIN Position
1	3
2	10
3	11
4-9	12-17