SC430 - 2nd Gen (2001-2010)
Old 12-15-14, 04:05 PM
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VIN Decoder-How to Decipher What Your VIN Means

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Old 01-22-11, 07:23 PM
  #16  
texsexlex
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...don't know if this will add to the confusion...lol...but I have a 02' with the #696...interested in finding out also !!!
Old 01-22-11, 07:42 PM
  #17  
scdroptop
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Lexus responded again saying they are still researching, lol. It must not be that easy if a bunch of Lexus enthusiasts, two large volume dealers and the initial e-mail doesn't uncover the answer.

I'm betting the 12-17 vin numbers are the # the car was on the assembly line with all the other toyotas/lexus (corrolla and GS were made at our plant) and the 3-digit number is the # SC it is.

I've surveyed the current SC's for sale on eBay and here is what they are:

2002 Pine with # 895 on it, mfg 06/01
2007 Pebble Beach # 183 on it, mfg 10/06
2004 Black on Black # 877 on it, mfg 03/04
2008 Blue on Camel, # 846, mfg 10/07
2004 Black on Ecru, # 364, mfg 02/04
2005 Silver on Black, # 102, mfg 03/05
2008 Matador Red on Camel, # 875, mfg 09/07
2006 Pebble Beach, # 326, mfg 08/05

Doesn't really tell us anything, does it??? Why aren't there single digit numbers like 001, or four digit numbers like 1,004??

One thing you can make a general assumption on: If the car was manufactured LATE in the previous year of its model (a 2004 mfg Q4 2003) then it probably has a higher number. Except for one of the sample cars above, this is true.

I have four things I'm searching for constantly: 1) Pebble beach Lexus material 2) Lexus Tumi luggage 3) VIN decoder information and 4) Eternal Jewel Pics in Japan (real thing, not the glossy ones)

Last edited by scdroptop; 01-22-11 at 07:51 PM.
Old 01-22-11, 07:56 PM
  #18  
scdroptop
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Default Ah Ha!

I may be on to something...

We all know that Pebble Beach cars and NM cars were produced early for their debut in shows...Cours D' Elegance @ Pebble Beach for the PB cars, NM Catalog for Silver Belle.

Well, I believe that for each SC model year, you start over at zero with the 3-digit number. Most of the time you will find that PB cars were produced between June-October the preceeding year of their model year.

I have found that many Pebble Beach cars are mfg first in line, but not necessarily ONLY PB cars, but this is the best example I have for you.

Here is a great example:

2008 Pebble Beach 015 (15th car produced in the SC series) mfg: 09/07
Attached Thumbnails VIN Decoder-How to Decipher What Your VIN Means-015-pebble-beach.jpg  
Old 01-23-11, 08:59 AM
  #19  
Rustito
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I'll add my info to help the cause - and because this is fun and interesting!! My 2004 PB has a date of 8/03 and the 3 digit number below the vin is 498.
Old 01-23-11, 10:10 AM
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The "6" that I have is called a "check digit" more on these right here:
http://www.vsource.org/VFR-RVF_files/BVINcalc.htm

------------------------------------------------------------------------

^ Incorrect!!! according to that calculation, mine should be 5 or 6. However, my "check digit" on the Vin is "0"

My PB is no.699 & built on 9/2003

Last edited by grabber2; 01-23-11 at 10:14 AM.
Old 01-23-11, 10:38 AM
  #21  
Rustito
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I did the math to calculate my "check number" on the vin and it worked!!!! Mine is a 3 (when you round up as they did in the example).

Grabber - You have the same PB as I do. If you take the build dates of yours, mine and the one pictured on this thread on page 1 then at least the order of the 3 digit numbers is correct given ours were built 8/03 and yours was built 9/03, i.e., your 3 digit number is higher than the ones built 1 month earlier. So if it is order including non PBs this might make sense. But does this mean that the serial numbers should also reflect the same order since it is the build sequence??

I have been searching Lexus certification labels to try to see what those 3 digits at the bottom are. I noticed in the pics posted here that the vin numbers off the label has the 3 digit numbers. My car with the white label (the older cars have it this way) have the 3 digit numbers but not the additional vin numbers off the label. For those who do, when you look at the vin in other places on the car like windshield edge, does it have the 3 digits? Also I see an "A" after this number in one of the pics. hummmmm
Old 01-23-11, 11:27 AM
  #22  
scdroptop
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again...works with my theory...PB's were made earlier in the mix...low #'s...under 800 and usually made in Q3-Q4 the prior year.

I still want to hear from some non-PB folks that have other numbers. Why aren't there any 1,000 or single digit cars other than the PB I found above? Strange!
Old 01-23-11, 11:47 AM
  #23  
Rustito
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Droptop - I agree it is strange that we are only seeing 3 digits and you only found one that was 00x so this number just can't be order of anything or they would be higher than 3 digits. Also we seem to see some numbers in the 800s - some have build dates the year of the car and some are built the previous year - so I had a theory that the numbers start over according to calander year but I don't have systematic proof (in fact you probabally could disprove this quickly), i.e., my 2004 PB was built 8/03 with a number of 498 as the one pictured with a number of 439. Grabber's 04 PB was built in 9/03 and is 699. But the black on ecru 04 you list was build 2/04 but has a number of 364. So for awhile I was wondering whether numbers start over by calander year since vehicles start to be produced the previous calander yr and roll over to the actual yr. However 2004s and 2005s are both share production year 2004 (end of the 2004s and beginning of the 2005s).

So what am I saying?? I am not sure except I really am curious now about what this number is. Not to confuse things but I wonder if the other Lexus models have this 3 digit number!!
Old 01-23-11, 12:18 PM
  #24  
Rustito
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One thing is clear and you are right on this one - all the PBs you list including mine have earlier serial numbers than the others for that production year and we know serial numbers (last 5 of vin) are production order. But we are not seeing this trend with the 3 additional digits nor do these sequence by year. We need to have input from non-PBs or for you to get a reply from the top about what this number means.
Old 01-23-11, 12:27 PM
  #25  
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Could this 3 digit number simply be something like the key code?? Anyone know where to find their key code?
Old 01-23-11, 04:44 PM
  #26  
azkaty
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Ok...so I have also called Lexus Corporate and told them I wanted to verify the following about my vin.

How many 2010 SC's were made ? And what is my number in the order..I had originally been told it was the last US market SC made, but I do not think that is true, as I have taken some other numbers I have found o cars.com, and have run the vin thru my data base. The ship dates ( which I can verify) are later than my ship date, which was in August.

My vin is JTHFN2EY7A9021994. The last three digits on the door jam are 634. I know my car was manufactured July 24, 2010.

Lexus has called me and told me that they do not have the production numbers yet for 2010, and that they can not answer my question, but promised to get back to me.

Derek, if you figure this one out , you are a true guru!!

Katy
Old 01-23-11, 06:11 PM
  #27  
Rustito
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One more thought. The unknown 3 digit numbers must repeat because there are only 1000 unique permutations of 3 digits - I think - (allowing for the number to start with 0 and allowing for digits to repeat, e.g., 009, 099 and ofcourse numbers like 100, 232, 233 etc). So if all SC430s have a 3 digit number after the vin then there must some repeats - even within production years because more than 1000 are made in a given year - whether production year or calander year.

Obviously if that 3 digit number is put with a vin number it becomes unique, but not as a stand alone. So any 3 digit number will not be totally unique to a given car, they have to ultimately be assigned to more than one car even withing a given year. I might be wrong on this but right now this sounds like it must be correct - unless we find 4 digit number combinations exist - which we have yet to see any over many model years.
Old 10-01-11, 12:10 AM
  #28  
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The 3 digit numbers on the VIN plate continue to be a mystery...so far...It has been noted that they are usually followed by the letter A. However, as I continue to search for an SC in Canada, I have noticed that vehciles built for sale in Canada have a 3 digit code all followed by the letter B--I cross checked that info with my 2 RX's and my ISC and all have the letter B after the 3 digit number. I did find a 2007 SC for sale here (Cdn vehicle) with the last 5 of the VIN 13843 and the 3 digits being 586 followed by a B and a US vehicle imported here with last 5 of the VIN being 13855 followed by 640A--so the VIN's were only 12 cars apart but the numbers in the bottom right of the VIN plate seem to be very different. Just as a side note one of my RX's was built here in Canada and one in Japan as was my ISC --all 3 were produced for sale in Canada and all 3 have a 3 digit code in the bottom right corner followed by the letter B-which is also true of the 4 SC's I have looked at built for sale in Canada (speedo is primarily in km and climate control in Celsius) and 3 SC's which were imported from the USA - all had a 3 digit code followed by an A (speedo in miles and climate control in Fahrenheit). It would seem therefore that vehicles produced for the USA have a 3 digit code followed by the letter "A" just ones produced for Canada have a 3 digit code followed by the ltter "B". I hope I have not muddied the issue. Just my observations so far.

dentate
Oshawa, ON
Old 10-01-11, 09:50 AM
  #29  
Cliff1F2
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Another data point (non-PB):

Old 10-01-11, 06:58 PM
  #30  
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April=early build on later cars so 105 makes sense.


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