How to decode a 1997 Chevrolet Suburban VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1997 Chevrolet Suburban VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is the first three characters of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), indicating the vehicle’s manufacturer, the type of vehicle, and the country of manufacture. For the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban, the WMI “3GN” signifies that it was manufactured by General Motors LLC in the United States, specifically in Warren, Michigan. This multipurpose passenger vehicle falls into the classification based on its designed utility. The WMI is a globally recognized system that aids in the standardization and identification of vehicles across the automotive industry. For this specific model, the WMI denotes its manufacturing origin and category, revealing important information for tracking, registration, and recall purposes.
List of WMI Codes for a 1997 Chevrolet Suburban
WMI: 3GN
- Model Years Covered: 1995-2009
- Example VIN: 3GNGK26J0VG139592
- Manufacturer Name: General Motors LLC
- Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
- City: Warren
- State or Province: Michigan
- Country: United States WMI: 1GN
- Model Years Covered: 1987-2024
- Example VIN: 1GNGC26R6VJ335196
- Manufacturer Name: General Motors LLC
- Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
- City: Warren
- State or Province: Michigan
- Country: United States WMI: 3GC
- Model Years Covered: 1997, 2000-2001
- Example VIN: 3GCFK16R4VG174236
- Manufacturer Name: General Motors LLC
- Vehicle Type: Truck
- City: Warren
- State or Province: Michigan
- Country: United States
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1997 Chevrolet Suburban VIN
These characters correspond to components like:
- Engine type
- Transmission
- Model or trim
- Body style
- Gross vehicle weight range
Below find the known vehicle descriptor codes for a 1997 Chevrolet Suburban:
| Known VDS for a 1997 Chevrolet Suburban | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK26J | GC26R | EC16R | GK26R | FK16R | GK16F | GK26F | GC26J |
Auto manufacturers have some discretion to decide how they want to code this section, but its contents and decoded results are generally consistent.
Character 9 is the “check digit” in a 1997 Chevrolet Suburban VIN.
Based on a formula developed by the US Department of Transportation, it helps reduce fraud by ensuring the validity of the VIN.
10th Character in the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| V | 1997 |
11th Character in the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1997 Chevrolet Suburban Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | Silao | Guanajuato | Mexico | 3GNGK26J0VG139592 | |
| J | Janesville | Wisconsin | United States | Gm Truck Group | 1GNGC26R6VJ335196 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1997 Chevrolet Suburban
The final 6 characters in a 1997 Chevrolet Suburban’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
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How to find a 1997 Chevrolet Suburban’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1997 Chevrolet Suburban is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Check the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Chevrolet Suburban. The VIN is often viewable through the windshield on a small plate.
- Inspect the door jamb on the driver’s side of your Chevrolet Suburban. You might find the VIN on a label or sticker where the door closes.
- Look at the frame of the vehicle beneath the hood. Sometimes the VIN can be found stamped on the Chevrolet Suburban’s chassis or firewall.
- Examine the documents associated with the vehicle such as the title, registration, insurance papers, or owner’s manual, which should all list the VIN for your Chevrolet Suburban.
- Check beneath the spare tire in the trunk or cargo area of your Chevrolet Suburban, as some manufacturers affix a sticker with the VIN in this location.
- Inspect the engine block, as the VIN might be stamped onto a part of the engine in your Chevrolet Suburban.
What info can a 1997 Chevrolet Suburban VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can indicate the vehicles model year as 1997, potentially suggesting the age and market value of the vehicle.
- Vehicle Type and Body Class: The VIN may specify the vehicle as a Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle, specifically a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV), offering insights into the intended use and body style of the vehicle.
- Engine Details: Engine specifications such as a V-Shaped configuration, an 8-cylinder engine manufactured by WRN, and a displacement of 7.4 liters, as provided by the VIN, could showcase the vehicle’s power capability.
- Fuel Type and Efficiency Systems: Information on the primary fuel type (Gasoline) and the fuel delivery system (Multipoint Fuel Injection - MPFI) provided by the VIN, may offer insights into the vehicle’s potential fuel efficiency and emission standards.
- Drive Type and Brake System: The VIN indicates the vehicle has a 4x2 drive type and a Hydraulic brake system, potentially helping understand the drivetrain layout and braking mechanism employed.
- Manufacturing Details: Manufacturing plant location in Janesville, Wisconsin, United States, under GM Truck Group, as obtained from the VIN, may offer historical insights into the vehicle’s production.
- Vehicle Specifications: Basic information including the make (Suburban), series (Conventional Cab), and trim (2500, 3/4 ton) details, as indicated by the VIN, can provide a clearer picture of the vehicle’s design and capacity.
Don’t have your 1997 Chevrolet Suburban’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1997 Chevrolet Suburban
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) |
| Brake System Type | Hydraulic |
| Displacement (CC) | 7400.0 |
| Displacement (CI) | 451.57570630101 |
| Displacement (L) | 7.4 |
| Drive Type | 4x2 |
| Engine Configuration | V-Shaped |
| Engine Manufacturer | WRN |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 8 |
| Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type | Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI) |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From | Class 2G: 8,001 - 9,000 lb (3,629 - 4,082 kg) |
| Model | Suburban |
| Model Year | 1997 |
| Other Engine Info | HO |
| Plant City | Janesville |
| Plant Company Name | GM Truck Group |
| Plant Country | United States |
| Plant State | Wisconsin |
| Series | Conventional Cab |
| Trim | 2500 (3/4 ton) |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 1GNGC26J*VJ |
| Vehicle Type | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle |
| Sample_VIN | 1GNGC26J3VJ373012 |
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