VIN chassis number query?

Question

I have found out from using the VIN chassis number of my ford focus that the bulid date was 13/12/98, but what exactly does the bulid date tell you? Does it necessarily mean that the engine was made on that date or a few weeks after the car body was put together?

Answer 1

i'm not sure if it means that the vehicle was built on that day (started/finished?). but, sometimes when you go to buy autoparts for the vehicle, they will ask for the production date. ie. your buying brake shoes for your vehicle, well they might have used "part a", up until a certain date (or vehicle #), and then they switched to "part b", after that date (or vehicle #). for the most part (normally), you don't really need to know the production date. however, sometimes you do need to know (explanation above).

now, here's where it gets tricky. sometimes when they (let's say run out of parts), they use any parts (older or new), to make their production schedule, and you can toss what i said out the window.

what i mean is that sometimes in midyear or whenever, they will switch parts, and you can't always go by the production date, or the vehicle #.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

2

Answer 4

The build date will be the day the car was assembled.
The date will be for final assembly, when the body is fitted with the mechanicals and trim.
The body will have been put together a few hours before, and passed through the paint shop.
The engine may have been built a few days before then.
It is unlikely that any parts were more than a few weeks old at final assembly - no manufacturer or supplier can afford to make parts for stock, they are built to match demand from the assembly plant, so the only delay is due to shipping time for the components.

Answer 5

The engine will have its own set of stamps giving the production date . and place. There is also a pad on the engine block with a serial number, all these numbers are hard to see, they are often hidden by wire harnesses or other items attached to the engine. Starter, exhaust manifold,etc..
If you look in a repair manual,such as Chilton, it will give a break down of the Vin numbers and what it means,like the position of letter or number will reveal engine size, manufacture year. I hope this info answers your question.The following is a break down of what the vin number represents:
The first three characters The world manufacturer identifier,the 4th dig is restraint system,the 5th is Manufactures specs.the next 2 is line,series,body type,8th is engine type,9th is check digit,10th veh. model year,11th is assembley plant,and the last set is production sequence. One more thing the focus landed on the show room floor in 2000.

Answer 6

That's the date the car was slung, sorry, put together on the production line. The engine, and for that matter other parts, would have been made elsewhere and at another time, and the whole issue comes together on the production day quoted on the plate.

Hope that helps.

PS the Focus was made from '98 onwards.

Answer 7

The absolutely free reverse vin check sites generally provide fake information. To get real information, money will have to be paid. The free searches provide fake information so they can get your email address to send spam.

Stay away from shady reverse vin check sites, most likely you won't get any information after you make the payment. Not to mention you won't get a report and you won't get an answer if you try to call for a refund. Stick with a reputable reverse vin check site like http://www.reversevincheck.net that has been around since 1995.

Answer 8

3

Answer 9

Chassis suspension and body was assembled during that time