Vehical Identification Numbers. ( and motors)
USA and some Canada Suzuki Sidekicks and GM GEO Trackers.
We (USA) do not use body tags , we use the VIN and GM (GM) has glove box VPO sticker showing build options.
VIN means Vehicle Identification Numbers ( a 17 digit number)
USA:
It's the 6th or 8th digit in the VIN# (6th for Suzuki badged vehicles, 8th for Geo's).
Look here for Suzuki Engine History?
My page is to decode those parts of the VIN that are Unique to Suzuki Sidekicks and Trackers.
In later years , Suzuki changes some of the MOTOR codes.(willy nilly , see code 5? below?)
Below are the legacy, early 90's codes and earlier.
Just looking at the motor will tell you what you have. 16 Valaves is stamped, on top of motor, no ? then its 8v. (1.6L) in the USA.
But, if you shopping in classified adds or working on a FrankenKick, these codes will help you, because you can discover the original configuration of the car. A Frankenkick is a Sidekick with wrong major parts in it. EG: 91 Sidekick with a 85 samurai motor in it.
Do not forget to look at the motor serial number , it contains the MOTOR ID. and the year, it was made. See the "T"?, that means 1996.
The Motor year code follows the same rule sets at the VIN year, (10th digit). See end of this document for this data.
Suzuki : Look here too:
6th Digit , all are SOHC , unless stated differently.
0 - 1.6l (1590cc) TFI , + 8th digit is body code , C=8v and V=16v ! (in 1996+ body code can be "C" or "V" for 16v)
0 - 1.6l (1590cc) MFI body code V.
1 - 1.6l (1590) MFI body code S X90 Only.
2 - 1.8l (1843cc) MFI DOHC body code V.
3 - 1.3l (1298cc) TFI , body code C (8th digit) engine code 3 is for only Sammi , code 5 only for Sidekicks.
5 - 1.3l (1298cc) Carb Sidekick uses code 5.
5 - 1.3l (1298cc) TFI
5 - 1.3l (1324cc) Carb
5- 2.0L (1997cc) MFI DOHC I4 (notice how code 5 was stolen in later years. 1999+ Vitara's
6- 2.5L (2494cc) MFI DOHC V6 ,eg :Grand Vitara 99'
7- 2.7L (2736cc) MFI DOHC V6
General relationships of bodies and motors,etc.
GEO, Trackers. (they get it right on TFI/MFI) No 1.8L Trackers.
8th Digit:
6 - 1.6l (1590cc) MFI 16v
U - 1.6l (1590cc) TFI 8v
The Carbs & TFI's (Throttle-body Fuel Injection) have 8 valves and the MFI (Multi-port Fuel Injection) is a 16 valve.
Some call TFI , TBI
Some call MFI, MPI.
In addition :
ALL Samurai's came with a 1.3l
1986 - 1989 are 8v-SOHC & have 2-BBL carbs
1990 - 1995 are 8v-SOHC & have TBI
ALL Tracker/Kicks (except Sport) came with a fuel injected 1.6l
1989 - 1991 are all 8v-SOHC & TBI
1992 - 1995 base is 8v-SOHC & TBI; also available with 16v-SOHC MFI
1996 - 1998 are all 16v-SOHC with MFI + sequential injection.
1996 - 1998 "Sport" model came with 1.8l 16v-DOHC MFI
The mostly true list : Sidekick /Trackers.
Any 92-98 4 door will have the 1.6 16V, except the 96-98 Sport models which will have the 1.8l DOHC.
All sports are 4doors
The 91 4 doors will have a 1.6 8V.
The 89-93 2 doors will have an 8V.
The 94 2 doors will have the 16V, if they were Cali or NY models (probably gonna be rare to run across one).
The 95 2 doors that are 4wd will have the 16V.
The 95 2 doors that are 2wd will have the 8V.
The 96-98 2 doors will have the 16V.
The 96-98 X90s will have the 1.6 16V engine. same with all 96-98s really.
There are no 8v motors after 1995.
There are no 1.8L Trackers.
All JLX bodies, are 4 door.
So, if you know the year, model (sport or regular trackick/x90), 2 or 4 door, and 2wd/4wd......which should all be in even a "basic" listing of a vehicle, then you should be able to determine what engine it will have.
The only thing that will be questionable is a 94 2 door trackick...
Cal /NY models all , after 93 have a EGR thermoprob (2 wire conn). not hard to see at all.
In Canada they even have 2door hard tops.
clear as mud , right?
VIN 10th Decode: {YEAR} { this chart works for Engine serial number year codes , too }
| Code | Year | Code | Year | Code | Year | Code | Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A = | 1980 | L = | 1990 | Y = | 2000 | A = | 2010 | |||
| B = | 1981 | M = | 1991 | 1 = | 2001 | B = | 2011 | |||
| C = | 1982 | N = | 1992 | 2 = | 2002 | C = | 2012 | |||
| D = | 1983 | P = | 1993 | 3 = | 2003 | D = | 2013 | |||
| E = | 1984 | R = | 1994 | 4 = | 2004 | E = | 2014 | |||
| F = | 1985 | S = | 1995 | 5 = | 2005 | F = | 2015 | |||
| G = | 1986 | T= | 1996 | 6 = | 2006 | G = | 2016 | |||
| H = | 1987 | V = | 1997 | 7 = | 2007 | H = | 2017 | |||
| J = | 1988 | W = | 1998 | 8 = | 2008 | J = | 2018 | |||
| K = | 1989 | X = | 1999 | 9 = | 2009 | K = | 2019 |
World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) for Vehicle Identification Number (VIN prefix)
Note, than not all the VIN codes have 3 positions. In the case of two VIN position codes, the blank code is not a blank, but usually represents part of the body style or division. If the third position is a "9", it means that the manufacturer will produce less than 500 units per year.
Example 1:
my Canadian Geo Tracker
2CNBE18U5M6907XXX
| North America 1 - 5 | |
|---|---|
| 1A-10 | United States |
| 2A-20 | Canada |
| 3A-3W | Mexico |
| 3X-37 | Costa Rica |
| 38-30 | not assigned |
| 4A-40 | United States |
| 5A-50 | United States |
Examples , more prefixes, common.
VS= Suzuki Spain (common in Europe)
J S =Suzuki Japan
JSAETA01V00110961 (not a good check digit but just for example of Vitara VIN) Made in Japan.
Each character or digit on the VIN Number has a particular purpose,
To understand it click here:
To decode it , click here.:
Or
Google "VIN decode", is all you really need to know, Google is your friend.
rev 4 Aug 15-2009