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1994-2002 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Giovanni,
Yes your car would be in the VIN range indicated in the SI. The SI pertains to cars from a 1996(T) S/N 2037750 to a 1998(W) S/N 2019950. Therefore ALL 1997 3door/5door (3D/5D) cars are included in the SI.
CV does stand for convertible. This is also designated from the 7 in the first number after the year character. The 7 is the factory that made the convetible for those years. In this case it is Nystad, Finland.
VIN on cars sold in the US have been standardized since 1980-1981. There are US regs on how the VIN is constructed. A VIN number is 17 characters long. Here is a break down on how it is constructed.
Characters 1-3 are the manufacturers designation as assigned by ISO (If I remember right). Saab's designation is YS3.
Characters 4-8 are available for use by the manufacturer for any purpose they want. Most use it for engine ID, model type, etc. On the NG900 it is as follows.
#4 will always be a D for the NG900. D was also used for the 9-3 cars. Other Saabs are A=OG900, C=9000, E=9-5, F=9-3SS
#5 is the trim level. This one is hard because Saab has changed their scheme once or twice. Generally the characters M and N were used in 1994. D and F were used from 1995-1998 on the NG900. D and I think M were used to spec an "S" trim level, while F and I think N were used to spec an "SE" trim level.
# 6 is the number of doors the car has 3=3D, 5=5D, 7=CV
#7 is the trans type the car has 5=5 speed manual trans, 8=4 speed auto
#8 is the engine type the car has B=234 non-turbo FI, N=B204L turbo FI, V= 258I V-6
Character #9 is a check digit number. Part of the US regs specs an error checking scheme. It is a Check Sum error routine that works like this. Each of the 17 character positions is assigned a numeric place value. Each possible character is assigned a numeric value. The place and character values are multiplied for each of the 17 places. The results of the 17 places are then summed up. The result is divided by 11 and then the remainder is compare with the Chraracter #9. If they match then you can be reasonable sure that the VIN is vaild. This is not foolproof in cases of more than one mistake in VIN entry. Character #9 will always be 1-9 or X.
Character 10 is the model year of the car. Start with A=1980, B=1981, C=1982, D=1983, E=1984, F=1985, G=1986, H=1987, J=1988, K=1989, L=1990, M=1991, N=1992, P=1993, R=1994, S=1995, T=1996, V=1997, W=1998, X=1999, Y=2000, 1=2001, 2=2002, 3=2003, 4=2004, 5=2005, 6=2006, 7=2007, 8=2008, 9=2009 and I can't remember if 2010 has a code or if we start reusing codes then or in 2011. Note some characters are skipped to help prevent recording errors. For example a I and 1 look a lot alike.
Character #11 is the assembly line the car was produced on. For NG900 2=Trollhotten, Sweden Line B, 7=Nystad, Finland
Characters #11-#17 are the sequential serial number of the car.
There are a couple of good sources of Saab VINs. First Saab has wonderful laminated wall chart that has VIN info from 1956-2001 part # is 0219089 should be under $10.00US and you can order it from your dealer. I don't know when it will be updated. The previous one was from 1956-1998.
Second the workshop manauls and WIS have VIN charts in them for various years.
I highly recommend you learn about Saab VINs for the car you looking at before you go shopping for your Saab. Want to know if that pretty 96 NG900 has a V-6, look at the VIN. Want to know if that 99 9-3 SE really has a HOT motor, look at the VIN. Is that car a real SPG, look at the VIN.
Good luck, hope this helps,
Steve Crowe, Saab Master tech, who represents himself and noone else.
Harpers Ferry, WV
posted by 65.73.1...
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