14-10-2019, 04:40 PM
My first 'proper' thread, so please be patient if I get it wrong! Let me start at the beginning...
Having apparently got Lexia up and running, I tried the VIN on my log book. The wiring diags database reported 'problem connecting to corvet' (even though I was offline) - I am not worried about that right now as a more serious issue came up with the service manual database. It reported "Unknown Vehicle".
So I checked the plate under the bonnet, only to find that its VIN number is different to the one in the log book, but only by one character. This makes me think that I'm dealing with a typo rather than a ringed car, but before I head on over to DVLA, I tried both numbers in the various online VIN check websites; none recognised either VIN, but one asked if I meant another VIN, and curiously this suggestion only differed from my two VINs with the same character.
Below, I've inserted spaces to make the VINs easier to read.
Log book:
VF7 GJKFWB 93 115***
ID plate:
VF7 BJKFWB 93 115***
web suggestion:
VF7 8JKFWB 93 115***
But, after paying for its report, I was told I have a 2009 Citroen with about 153k miles on the clock, but my car is a 53 model with 55k on the clock!
The problem is with the fourth character, but as this part of the VIN designates the model, engine, safety features, and other basic specs, I am hoping that some for you will be kind enough to compare this with your VINs and give me an idea what mine should be.
In case it helps, the first 3 characters mean, in turn, Europe, France, Citroen, so all your cars should also start with VF7.
Now it gets complicated - Europe uses a different system to the US, but they are supposed to be compatible. In the US, chars 4-8 describe the model, engine etc. as I just said, and char 9 is a check digit, but in EUR chars 4-9 denote model etc and it seems there is no check digit.
But I am hoping that GJKFW or BJKFW or even 8JKFW (either with or without the B which comes next) will mean a 1.4i Berlingo Forte, which is what my car claims to be. So if you have a Forte, or a 1.4i, or even both, it would be very interesting to compare this part of my VIN with yours.
In the US, chars 10 and 11 are a year code and a mfg plant descriptor respectively, so my car was built in whatever plant 3 means, but the year code 9 means 2009 - hence the report I got above - whereas my 53 model should have a 3 here. At least, that is, if Citroen are using the US VIN format? Do they? In EUR these chars don't necessarily have the same meaning.
The last 6 chars are just a serial number, so I think you'll forgive me not putting the last 3 of them online, but if you want to test this VIN in your own Lexia (any feedback on that score would be very welcome too!), then you could probably use any 3 numbers to replace the asterisks.
If it helps, the car's door sticker gives:
RPO 09871
engine TU3JP
gearbox MA 5N
TIA,
Rasputin
Having apparently got Lexia up and running, I tried the VIN on my log book. The wiring diags database reported 'problem connecting to corvet' (even though I was offline) - I am not worried about that right now as a more serious issue came up with the service manual database. It reported "Unknown Vehicle".
So I checked the plate under the bonnet, only to find that its VIN number is different to the one in the log book, but only by one character. This makes me think that I'm dealing with a typo rather than a ringed car, but before I head on over to DVLA, I tried both numbers in the various online VIN check websites; none recognised either VIN, but one asked if I meant another VIN, and curiously this suggestion only differed from my two VINs with the same character.
Below, I've inserted spaces to make the VINs easier to read.
Log book:
VF7 GJKFWB 93 115***
ID plate:
VF7 BJKFWB 93 115***
web suggestion:
VF7 8JKFWB 93 115***
But, after paying for its report, I was told I have a 2009 Citroen with about 153k miles on the clock, but my car is a 53 model with 55k on the clock!
The problem is with the fourth character, but as this part of the VIN designates the model, engine, safety features, and other basic specs, I am hoping that some for you will be kind enough to compare this with your VINs and give me an idea what mine should be.
In case it helps, the first 3 characters mean, in turn, Europe, France, Citroen, so all your cars should also start with VF7.
Now it gets complicated - Europe uses a different system to the US, but they are supposed to be compatible. In the US, chars 4-8 describe the model, engine etc. as I just said, and char 9 is a check digit, but in EUR chars 4-9 denote model etc and it seems there is no check digit.
But I am hoping that GJKFW or BJKFW or even 8JKFW (either with or without the B which comes next) will mean a 1.4i Berlingo Forte, which is what my car claims to be. So if you have a Forte, or a 1.4i, or even both, it would be very interesting to compare this part of my VIN with yours.
In the US, chars 10 and 11 are a year code and a mfg plant descriptor respectively, so my car was built in whatever plant 3 means, but the year code 9 means 2009 - hence the report I got above - whereas my 53 model should have a 3 here. At least, that is, if Citroen are using the US VIN format? Do they? In EUR these chars don't necessarily have the same meaning.
The last 6 chars are just a serial number, so I think you'll forgive me not putting the last 3 of them online, but if you want to test this VIN in your own Lexia (any feedback on that score would be very welcome too!), then you could probably use any 3 numbers to replace the asterisks.
If it helps, the car's door sticker gives:
RPO 09871
engine TU3JP
gearbox MA 5N
TIA,
Rasputin
53 1.4i MS MPV RIP
53 1.6 MS Desire RIP
08 C4GP 1.9 VTR+
53 1.6 MS Desire RIP
08 C4GP 1.9 VTR+