Decode Your Toyota Pickup VIN

Both our Tech and Sales department have to face this issue on a regular basis, some customers don't know what their vehicle is equipped with. Knowing what your vehicle came from the factory with is not as hard as many people think and is a must if you want to verify the fitment of a specific part.

The Only way to be a 100% sure of your configuration is to inspect it by yourself, specially if the vehicle has gone through some customization processes and/or several owners.

VIN Plate Locator:

1989: newer VIN Plate on passenger cars is located on the inside of drivers door
Prior to 1989: VIN Plate is located on firewall within engine compartment
Note: VIN Plate images below feature clickable hot links to related information

Trucks; example model code: RN80L-TRKRSA3

Engine style:
- RN = 22R or 22RE engine
- VZN = 3VZ-E engine
Basic model code:
- 80 = short
- 85 = long
- 90 = extra long
- 95 = super long
- 100 = short, 4wd, v6
- 101 = short, 4wd, 22re
- 105 = long, 4wd, v6
- 106 = long, 4wd, 22re
- 110 = extra long, 4wd
Drive position:
- L = left hand drive
- (not specified in the manual, but I assume theres an "R" as well)
Cab Type:
- T = Regular cab
- C = extra cab
Deck & Tire type:
- R = Steel low deck (single tire)
- H = Steel low deck (single tire 1-ton US spec)
- W = Steel low deck (dually)
Gearshift type:
- K = 4 on the floor
- T = 4 on the floor, G type
- M = 5 on floor
- L = 5 on floor, USA only, G type
- S = 4spd auto, column
- P = 4-speed auto, floor
Grade:
- R = Std
- D = Dlx
- S = SR5
- G = SR5-V6
Engine specification:
- E = EFI
- S = Carbed
Destination:
- A = USA
- K = Canada
Completeness specification:
- 3 = Deckless
- 6 = Cab and chassis
- blank: Complete model

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4Runners; example model code: VZN61LG-PSEA

Basic model code:
- RN61 - 22RE
- VZN61 - v6
Steering wheel position:
- L=left
Body type:
- V = Van
- W = Wagon
Gearshift type:
- M = W-type 5-speed manual, floor
- P = 4-speed auto, floor
Grade:
- D = Dlx
- S = SR-5
Engine spec:
- E = EFI
Destination
- A = USA
- K = Canada

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Engine Number Designations:

Toyota's engine numbering system breaks down something like the following:

The first number is the revision number of the block, and the following letter is the name of the block.
For example, the 4A is the fourth revision of the A block.
Not all revisions make it to market of course.

The letters after the block designation translate into the following:

G - twin cam
F - economical twin cam (cams closer to each other)
T - turbocharged
Z - supercharged
E - electronic fuel injection
L - lean combustion
C - emissions package or carburated (depending on year/model)
U - passes the Japanese emission regulations
B - twin carbs

Example:

4A-LC = 4th revision of the "A" engine block, lean combustion, carburetor.
22R-EC = 22nd revision of the "R" block with EFI and emissions (CA?) package.

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Color/Paint/Trim Code:

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VIN Decoder:

1990 and later:

DIGIT:            1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
-----------------------------------
W V W D B 4 5 0 5 L K 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
-----------------------------------
WMI.. VDS........ VIS..............
     
     WMI - World Manufacture Index 
     VDS - Vehicle Descriptor Section 
     VIS - Vehicle Identifier Section

1: Country
- J = Japan
2: Manufacturer
- T = Toyota
3: Type
- 1 =
- 2 = Passenger Car
4-5: Body Type (translated from Russian)
- 11 - Dzhip/minivan(Liteache) with the standard roof
- 12 - Minivan with the elevated roof
- 21 - cargo of avtobus(Yuiache) with the standard roof
- 22 - cargo bus with the elevated roof
- 23 - cargo bus with the high roof
- 31 - Pikap(Yuilukh)/Gruzovik(Dyna) with the single cab
- 32 - Pikap/Gruzovik with the one-and-a-half cab
- 33 - Pikap/Gruzovik with the dual cab
- 41 - To avtobus(Yuiache Of chommuter/Choaster) with the standard roof
- 42 - bus with the elevated roof
- 43 - bus with the high roof
- 52 - Khetchbek, 2 the side doors
- 53 - sedan
- 54 - Khetchbek, 4 the side doors
- 63 - sleeping compartment
- 64 - Liftbek
- 72 - Universal/Vagon
6: Engine Series (translated from Russian)
- BUT - 4A, 5A, 7A
- B - 3B, 11B, 13B, 14B, 15B
- CH - 1C, 2C
- E - 2E, 3E, 4E, CABBAGE SOUP
- F - ECHIS
- G - 1G
- YU - 2H, 12H
- ZH - YZHZ, 2ZHZ
- K - 5K
- L - 2L, 3L, 5L
- M - 5M, 7M
- P - YYUZ
- R - 22R
- S - 2S, S, 4S, 5S
7: Model (translated from Russian)
- But - Supra
- B - Choaster
- Ch - Previa RAVYA
- D - MegaChruiser
- E - Chorolla
- F - Lekhus Lsya00
- Yu - Yuiache
- K - To yuiache (new)
- Zh - LandChruiser
- L - Paseo, Terchel
- M - Pichnich
- N - Surf, 4Runner
- P - Starlet
- R - LiteAche
- S - Lekhus Gse00, Gsya00, Chroshn
- T - Charina/Chorona, Chelicha, Avensis
- U - Dyna 200
- C - Chamry
- SH - MR2
- X - Chressida
- Y - Dyna 100, Dyna 150
8: Model Code
9: Check Digit
10: Year
- 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
11: Assembly Plant
- C = Ontario, Canada
- O = Supra plants
- U = Gergetown, Kentucky
- Z = Fremont, California
12 - 18: Sequential Production Number

Pre-1990:

DIGIT:            1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
-----------------------------------
W V W D B 4 5 0 5 L K 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
-----------------------------------
WMI.. VDS........ VIS..............

    WMI - World Manufacture Index 
    VDS - Vehicle Descriptor Section   
    VIS - Vehicle Identifier Section

1: Country
- J = Japan
- 4 = North America
2: Manufacturer
- T = Toyota
3: Type
- 1 =
- 2 = Passenger Car
4: Body Type (translated from Russian)
- Passenger Car
- Truck
  - D = Dual Cab
  - P = Pickup
5:
- 0 = Spare Symbol
- 1-9:
6: Engine Series (translated from Russian)
- BUT - 4A, 5A, 7A
- B - 3B, 11B, 13B, 14B, 15B
- CH - 1C, 2C
- E - 2E, 3E, 4E, CABBAGE SOUP
- F - ECHIS
- G - 1G
- YU - 2H, 12H
- ZH - YZHZ, 2ZHZ
- K - 5K
- L - 2L, 3L, 5L
- M - 5M, 7M
- P - YYUZ
- R - 22R
- S - 2S, S, 4S, 5S
7: Model (translated from Russian)
- But - Supra
- B - Choaster
- Ch - Previa RAVYA
- D - MegaChruiser
- E - Chorolla
- F - Lekhus Lsya00
- Yu - Yuiache
- K - To yuiache (new)
- Zh - LandChruiser
- L - Paseo, Terchel
- M - Pichnich
- N - Surf, 4Runner
- P - Starlet
- R - LiteAche
- S - Lekhus Gse00, Gsya00, Chroshn
- T - Charina/Chorona, Chelicha, Avensis
- U - Dyna 200
- C - Chamry
- SH - MR2
- X - Chressida
- Y - Dyna 100, Dyna 150
8-9: Model Code
10: Spare Symbol
- 0 = Unused
11: Year
- B = 1981
- C = 1982
- D = 1983
- E = 1984
- F = 1985
- G = 1986
- H = 1987
- J = 1988
- K = 1989
11-17: Sequential Production Number

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Other Toyota VIN Decoder Sites:

Special Thanks to 4Crawler.com for the Great Information!

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