This is a quick one: how can you find your car’s engine code using just your VIN number?
While each car has it’s VIN with specific codes, and you can search for them online, and decode them, we’re in 2022 and you can also use the internet! Just go to https://www.vindecoderz.com/ and enter your VIN code. It will show everything it knows about your car based on that VIN number. Very easy and free!
note: I am not sponsored or anything. Just found this tool and it’s pretty sweet as it support a lot of car makes and models.
The above website supports the following makers: Acura, Airstream, Alfa Romeo, Arctic Cat, Aston Martin, Audi, Alpina, BAW, Bentley, Brilliance, BMW, Buick, Bugatti, BYD, Cadillac, Caterpillar, Can-Am, Chery, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Citroen, Dacia, Daewoo, DAF, Daihatsu, Daimler, Dodge, Ducati, Ferrari, Fiat, Ford, Fleetwood, Gaz, GMC, Geely, Great Wall, Harley Davidson, Hafei, Haima, Honda, Holden, Hummer, Husqvarna, Hyundai, Infiniti, International, Isuzu, Iveco, Jaguar, Jeep, Kenworth, Kia, KTM, Lada, Lamborghini, Lancia, Land Rover, Lotus, Lexus, Lifan, Lincoln, Lucid, Mack, MAN, Maserati, Mercury, McLaren, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, MG, Mini, Mitsubishi, Navistar, Nissan, Opel, Oldsmobile, Peterbilt, Plymouth, Peugeot, Pontiac, Porsche, RAM, Renault, Rolls-Royce, Rover, Saturn, Saab, Scion, Scania, Seat, Skoda, Smart, SsangYong, Subaru, Suzuki, Tata, Tesla, Vauxhall, Toyota, Volvo, Winnebago, Yamaha, Freightliner, Kawasaki, Volkswagen.
So there’s a pretty high chance it will work for you too. But in case it doesen’t there are other free tools out there too.
Here’s where the engine code for one of my cars is located on that website after I entered the VIN. It’s a Renault Laguna III 🙂
Where it says Engine, that is the engine code. K9K780 in my case. Sometimes written as K9K 780 for this car. So I can now shop for parts knowing they will fit my engine. Cool!
How to find out your car’s VIN number?
The usual spot is on the front of the dashboard, on the driver’s side. And the easiest way to read it is to loof through the windshield from outside your car.
The VIN number may also be written on the driver’s side door pillar or on the front of the engine block under the hood. And of course, it should be written on your vehice’s title or liability insurance documents.
Why would you need to know your engine’s code?
In case you want to purchase something like an engine air filter or another spare part that you’d like to DIY as it is cheaper. Or if you want to buy cheaper parts and just hand them over to your mechanic so he would install them and service the car.
Apart from that, it’s your property. It’s good to have a general idea about your car and its engine, especially since you can DIY some maintenance tasks.
Another useful thing you can do with your engine code is search for common faults for that engine. For most popular cars you’ll find interesting things. Like some engine has injectors that are quite picky with fuel quality – that would tell you that choosing good quality fuel will avoid costly problems in the future and you would not save cash by cheaping out on fuel quality if your car’s injectors are costly.
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