How to decode a 1997 Chrysler Sebring VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1997 Chrysler Sebring VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code made up of the first three characters in a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), distinctly identifying the manufacturer of the vehicle. For the 1997 Chrysler Sebring, the WMI is indicative of where and by whom the car was made. Specifically, the WMI “3C3” reveals that the vehicle was manufactured by Chrysler de Mexico Toluca, in Santa Fe, Mexico City, Mexico, denoting it as a passenger car. This identification system allows for traceability and verification of vehicles on a global scale, ensuring each car’s origin is accurately recorded and accessible. Understanding the WMI is crucial for understanding a vehicle’s background, including its manufacturing location and the company responsible for its production.
List of WMI Codes for a 1997 Chrysler Sebring
WMI: 3C3
- Model Years Covered: 1996-2000
- Example VIN: 3C3EL45H0VT515565
- Manufacturer Name: Chrysler de Mexico Toluca
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Santa Fe
- State or Province: Mexico City
- Country: Mexico WMI: 4C3
- Model Years Covered: 1995-2005
- Example VIN: 4C3AU52N2VE065248
- Manufacturer Name: FCA US LLC
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Auburn Hills
- State or Province: Michigan
- Country: United States
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1997 Chrysler Sebring 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 Chrysler Sebring:
| Known VDS for a 1997 Chrysler Sebring | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EL45H | EL55H | EL45X | AU52N | AU42N |
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 Chrysler Sebring 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 Chrysler Sebring VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| V | 1997 |
11th Character in the 1997 Chrysler Sebring VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1997 Chrysler Sebring Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E | Normal | Illinois | United States | Bloomington Assembly | 4C3AU52N2VE065248 |
| T | Toluca | State Of Mexico | Mexico | Toluca Assembly | 3C3EL45H0VT515565 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1997 Chrysler Sebring
The final 6 characters in a 1997 Chrysler Sebring’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Check your Chrysler Sebring’s VIN below:
How to find a 1997 Chrysler Sebring’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1997 Chrysler Sebring is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Chrysler Sebring, where it meets the windshield. The VIN can usually be seen from outside the vehicle.
- Examine the door jamb on the driver’s side of your 1997 Chrysler Sebring. Check for a sticker or plate where the door latches when closed, as the VIN might be there.
- Under the hood of your Chrysler Sebring, check the front of the engine block. This area can sometimes contain the VIN inscription.
- Take a look at the trunk area of your Sebring. The VIN might be located under the spare tire, often on a label or a stamped plate. 5. Inspect the vehicle frame near the windshield washer fluid reservoir of your Chrysler Sebring. It’s a less common location but worth a check for a VIN stamp. 6. Consult the Chrysler Sebring’s paperwork; the VIN should be on the vehicle title, registration, or insurance documents.
What info can a 1997 Chrysler Sebring VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, being the year 1997, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
- Body Class and Doors: A VIN can specify the body class, indicating that the vehicle is a Convertible/Cabriolet, suggesting a design with open-air driving and potentially two doors for easy access.
- Engine Type and Displacement: Information such as the engine configuration being In-Line, the displacement details (2.4L or 146.45698582735 CI or 2400.0 CC), and it having four cylinders may be decoded from the VIN, providing insights into the vehicle’s power and performance capabilities.
- Fuel Type: The primary fuel type the vehicle uses, which in this case is Gasoline, can possibly be determined from the VIN, offering details on the vehicle’s fueling needs.
- Safety Features: Safety features, including the possible presence of front airbags for both the driver and passenger in the 1st row, are ascertainable from the VIN, suggesting safety provisions for the occupants.
- Manufacturing Details: The VIN can possibly provide insights into the vehicle’s manufacturing details such as the plant city (Toluca), country (Mexico), and the specific assembly plant name (Toluca Assembly), offering potential details about the vehicle’s production origins.
- Vehicle Specifications: Basic make and model details are possibly encoded within the VIN, offering specific model information such as the Sebring, including trim level (JX) and series (H Series), providing detailed insights into the vehicle’s specific model and features.
Don’t have your 1997 Chrysler Sebring’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1997 Chrysler Sebring
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Convertible/Cabriolet |
| Displacement (CC) | 2500.0 |
| Displacement (CI) | 152.55936023683 |
| Displacement (L) | 2.5 |
| Doors | 2 |
| Engine Configuration | V-Shaped |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 6 |
| Front Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type | Sequential Fuel Injection (SFI) |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating To | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) |
| Model | Sebring |
| Model Year | 1997 |
| Other Engine Info | Sales Code: EEB |
| Other Restraint System Info | CGW except LH |
| Plant City | Toluca |
| Plant Company Name | Toluca assembly |
| Plant Country | Mexico |
| Plant State | State Of Mexico |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Series2 | H Series |
| Trim | JX (JX-H-27 Conv.) |
| Valve Train Design | Single Overhead Cam (SOHC) |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 3C3EL45H*VT |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | 3C3EL45H0VT515565 |
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