How to decode a 1997 Mazda B-Series VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1997 Mazda B-Series VIN
World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) codes are unique three-letter codes assigned to every vehicle manufacturer by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). These codes are the first characters of a vehicle’s identification number (VIN), which provide specific information about the vehicle, including its manufacturing location and vehicle type. For the 1997 Mazda B-Series trucks, the WMI code “4F4” indicates that the vehicle was manufactured by Ford Motor Company in the United States, specifically in Dearborn, Michigan. This designation reflects Mazda’s partnership with Ford during the production years of the B-Series, highlighting the cross-brand collaboration in the automotive industry. The WMI is an essential tool for accurately identifying vehicles and accessing relevant manufacturing details.
List of WMI Codes for a 1997 Mazda B-Series
WMI: 4F4
- Model Years Covered: 1994-2009
- Example VIN: 4F4CR17X8VTM34403
- Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company
- Vehicle Type: Truck
- City: Dearborn
- State or Province: Michigan
- Country: United States
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1997 Mazda B-Series 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 Mazda B-Series:
| Known VDS for a 1997 Mazda B-Series | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CR17X | CR12A | CR16A | CR16X | DR17X |
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 Mazda B-Series 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 Mazda B-Series VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| V | 1997 |
11th Character in the 1997 Mazda B-Series VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1997 Mazda B-Series Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T | Edison | New Jersey | United States | 4F4CR17X8VTM34403 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1997 Mazda B-Series
The final 6 characters in a 1997 Mazda B-Series’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
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How to find a 1997 Mazda B-Series’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1997 Mazda B-Series is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 1997 Mazda B-Series. You can see the VIN through the windshield on the driver’s side where the dashboard meets the glass.
- Open the driver’s side door and examine the door jamb area of your Mazda B-Series. The VIN can typically be found on a sticker or plate where the door latches when closed.
- Check the engine block of your 1997 Mazda B-Series, as the VIN is usually stamped onto a part of the engine.
- Examine the frame of the vehicle near the windshield washer fluid container, as some trucks, including the Mazda B-Series, have the VIN stamped on the chassis.
- If your Mazda B-Series has a spare tire well, inspect that area as the VIN can sometimes be found in this location.
- Review your Mazda B-Series vehicle registration, title, or insurance card; the VIN will be printed on these official documents.
What info can a 1997 Mazda B-Series VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 1997, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
- Manufacturing Details: It seems that it’s possible to trace back to where the vehicle was manufactured, including the city (Edison), state (New Jersey), and country (United States).
- Vehicle Specifications: Details such as the make ‘B-Series’, along with its engine model ‘EFI’, and a specific engine configuration ‘V-Shaped’, can possibly be derived from a VIN.
- Body Class and Size: The VIN may provide insights into the body class, indicating that it is a Pickup, and the size can possibly be inferred from descriptors like ‘Crew/Super Crew/Crew Max’.
- Drive Type and Engine Info: Information on how the vehicle operates, such as it possibly being 4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4, and engine details including displacement in CC (4000), CI (244.0949763789), and Liters (4) can usually be obtained.
- Engine Characteristics: The VIN could possibly shed light on the number of cylinders, suggesting an engine with 6 cylinders, possibly indicating certain performance capabilities.
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: There’s a chance that this data point can indicate the vehicle’s weight classification, in this instance, Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg), which might be essential for understanding vehicle usage and restrictions.
Don’t have your 1997 Mazda B-Series’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1997 Mazda B-Series
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Pickup |
| Brake System Type | Hydraulic |
| Cab Type | Crew/Super Crew/Crew Max |
| Displacement (CC) | 4000 |
| Displacement (CI) | 244.0949763789 |
| Displacement (L) | 4 |
| Drive Type | 4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4 |
| Engine Configuration | V-Shaped |
| Engine Model | EFI |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 6 |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From | Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg) |
| Model | B-Series |
| Model Year | 1997 |
| Plant City | Edison |
| Plant Company Name | |
| Plant Country | United States |
| Plant State | New Jersey |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 4F4DR17X*VT |
| Vehicle Type | Truck |
| Sample_VIN | 4F4DR17X0VTM19916 |
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