Morning Members!

While researching some info on VIN plates, I read the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49 Transportation, Part 565 Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Requirements. Most of the content was dry with one exception. The regulation described how to verify the check digit of a VIN using a mathematical formula. So that got my gears turning...Excel spreadsheet time! It was a while since I last tinkered with MS Excel so I made this small file to perform the calculation.

The file is unlocked so anyone may edit the formulas. This calculator could also be used for other vehicles, not just the RX-7. There are limitations to the file. For example, it cannot calculate cars older than the 1981 model year or if the VIN has less than 17 characters. Sorry, SA22 owners!

Instructions for use are simple: Enter a VIN in each block of the "Test VIN" area, highlighted in light green. Once all the fields are entered then look at the "Valid Check?" block. If it highlights in green then the VIN is valid. If it highlights in red then there was an error or the VIN was illegitimate. If you enter any of the letters i,o, or q in any cell then a red "Nil" value would populate the Assigned Value block and cause a "#VALUE!" error in the formula.

The default VIN in the formula is the example cited in the 94 FSM. Give it a try and tell me what you think!

Cheers,
George

 

cool, i will try it out and let you know. i'm looking into the 1995 and 1985 model years, the 1995 is not too bad, its ~500 cars. the 1985 m/y is though, its 500 cars a day

 

Cool. Green for my '95. Well done, sir.

 

Thank you both for the feedback!

I noted a rounding error after checking my Vert. So I replaced the original file in the 1st post with a new one to reflect the correction.

Cheers,
George

 

I also wish to add that the Vehicle Description and Vehicle Identification areas contain Mazda specific identifiers/descriptions. For example, the Car Line or Factory Code descriptors may be different among other manufacturers.

It would also be cool to learn about the history of the car with example VIN, JM1FD333*R0300001. In this case, the * = 6.

Cheers,
George

 

i'll give it a whirl on monday. probably that vin doesn't exist. Mazda tends to build a few cars to emissions test and crash test, and make sure the factory works right, etc. usually these "test" cars don't get sold, they get crushed, or occasionally raced, so they have no history.

 

j9fd3s,

That is another reason to look forward to Monday. The first being 2 days away from DGRR!

Cheers,
George

 

VIN not found - JM1FD3336R0300001

i will get back around to figuring the first 94 vin, i'm about halfway done with 95, so not too much further.

First 95 is JM1FD3335S0400029 its a Silver/black PEP built 8/29/1995
Last is JM1FD333XS0400530 Black/Black PEP, built 12/22/1995

btw possible they skipped one somewhere, so these aren't final numbers

 

j9fd3s,

That's really neat! Too bad that 1st 94 VIN wasn't found. I look forward to reading more about your research!

Cheers,
George

 

My 94 has a build date of 4/92 IIRC... I wonder how many 94 models were built ahead of mine

 

Thanks to all who tried the calculator and provided feedback. As a reminder, the calculator will work on any vehicle made in/imported into the US since 1981.

Cheers,
George