VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

Is My Car E85 Capable?

December 12, 2017 by admin 2 Comments

Ethanol-blended fuel is generally sold as E85, consisting of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent straight gasoline. This particular fuel is usually derived from corn or some other grain, or by means of using other renewable or recyclable materials. E85 is relatively clean burning, provides more power to your car, but is less efficient than gasoline. Not all cars can run on E85, but yours might provided that at least one of the following three “clues” is in evidence.

Clue No. 1: Badging

The most obvious indication that your car is E85 compatible is badging or other visible signage affixed to your car. Car manufacturers will often attach a badge stating “Flex Fuel” or “E85 Ethanol” somewhere on the body’s surface, usually at the rear or on the sides of the car.

E85 Fueling Flex fuel means your car can run on straight gasoline or ethanol, signaling that the fuel system has upgraded plastic and rubber parts and a modified fuel sensor to detect the relative amount of ethanol to gasoline.

Clue No. 2: Placarding

With some flex-fuel vehicles, placarding is used to identify this capability. For instance, you may find a sticker affixed directly above the gas cap or inside the fuel door, indicating E85 compatibility.

In addition, some manufacturers use bright yellow gas caps and inscribe E85/Gasoline on the cover of the cap to denote its flex-fuel capabilities.

Clue No. 3: Owner’s Manual

Your owner’s manual provides a wealth of information about your car. Turn to the section about fuel to learn what types of fuel are recommended for your car.

If your car can take E85 fuel, that information will be clearly outlined in the manual.

American Lung Association

The most comprehensive list of flexible fuel vehicles listed online is tracked by the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest’s “Clean Air Choice” website.

This list is updated regularly and includes all models produced since 1995 when select Ford Taurus models were built with flex-fuel capabilities. Moreover, the ALA doesn’t identify affected sub-models, but they do indicate which vehicles offer an FFV option.

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

Your vehicle’s 17-digit vehicle identification number may indicate its flex-fuel capability if no evidence can be found on the exterior of your car or in the owner’s manual. The VIN can usually be found on the driver’s side of the dashboard at the base of the windshield and viewed from the outside of your vehicle.

Each letter or digit also represents something about your vehicle including the year it was made, engine type, body style, country of origin and other factors. The eighth placement is reserved by some manufacturers, including Chrysler, to identify its flex-fuel capability.

Jot down your entire VIN and contact your dealer to determine whether your car is flex-fuel ready.

E85 Order: No Specific Rules

The federal government hasn’t instituted rules to identify E85 vehicles, leaving that responsibility to automotive manufacturers. Flex-fuel vehicles began entering the market in the mid-1990s, which means that the aged sedan you bought for your son or daughter may be flex-fuel capable without your knowledge.

If in doubt about your car’s ethanol readiness, never use E85 as it can damage engine seals. E85 is also harder to find at service stations outside of the upper midwest and is up to 30 percent less fuel efficient than straight gasoline.

Photo Credit: “INL E85 Fueling” by Idaho National Laboratory is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Where is my VIN Number Located?

November 29, 2016 by admin 1 Comment

Making sense of your vehicle’s VIN.

All cars have a vehicle identification number, a 17-character alphanumeric identification unique to that vehicle. Commonly known as a VIN number, your vehicle’s ID is assigned when it is manufactured. And just as your Social Security Number (SSN) is unique to you, a VIN reveals details specific to your car only.

Unlike your nine-digit SSN, it is doubtful you have memorized your VIN. Indeed, you might never think of that figure until someone asks for it, namely your insurance company, a repair shop, or a government agency. Unless you have your VIN written down or have a picture of it residing on your smartphone, you’ll have to locate it.

Here’s where you can find your vehicle’s VIN number:

1. On the dashboard.

The most common place to find a VIN is on your vehicle’s dashboard, specifically near where the dashboard meets the edge of the windshield on the driver’s side. Typically, the VIN is fixed to a metal plate and the code displayed so that anyone can read it from the outside of the vehicle looking in.

vehicle identification number — Reflections obscure the VIN found on the lower dashboard,
but it is still decipherable with the human eye.

2. On the driver’s side door jamb.

Another place where the number is usually found is on the driver’s side door jamb. Here, it is as easy to locate as opening the driver door and finding it.

3. Check your insurance card.

If your car is already insured, then the VIN can be found on your insurance card. That card should be kept in a safe place, such as in your glove box with your other important papers and files (e.g., owner’s manual, repair records, satellite radio contract). Locate the card and the VIN should be published with your insurance information.

vehicle identification number on auto insurance card — A sample auto insurance card featuring a VIN, but with other pertinent blotted out.

4. On other locations.

A vehicle’s VIN can also be found on your engine’s firewall and may be located on other key components, including the transmission. The reason? For security, mostly. Given that many cars are routinely stolen, taken apart, and the parts are sold separately, matching the alphanumeric number is important. If there isn’t a match, that doesn’t necessarily mean the parts were stolen. Rather, it could reveal an engine swap you’re already familiar with, especially one you may have conducted yourself.

Deciphering Your VIN

The VIN isn’t simply some random letters and numbers. Certainly, it can seem that way, but there is a method to this 17-character madness.

The helpful people at Edmunds.com found the VIN reveals quite a bit of data about any car, including the make and model, trim level, country of origin, engine size, and the airbag type. Importantly, you can plug this information into the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s VIN Look-up Tool to find out what outstanding recalls, if any, are associated with your vehicle.

Another nifty tool is VINDecoder.net, what reveals pertinent information about your vehicle. The site is free, but you should know that links to the last 10 decoded VINs are featured. As the following example of a 1992 Honda Civic Coupe shows, there is much information about the car shared, but nothing about the current owner or its repair history.

See Also — Where Can I Find My Car Paint Code?

How to Avoid an Unsafe Rental Car

August 5, 2015 by admin 2 Comments

Millions upon millions of cars are recalled every month, a staggering number that should give consumers reason for concern. What some may not realize is that recalls are not always handled in a timely fashion, especially with rental cars.

Unfixed Recalled Cars and Car Rentals

Although rental car companies may eventually comply with the recalls, that doesn’t mean the affected models have been repaired. Furthermore, there are no laws stipulating that unfixed recalled cars cannot be rented. Here’s what you can do to ensure that your next car is safety compliant.

1. Ask the rental car company. When planning to rent a car, contact the rental car company’s customer service department. Ask the company what their procedures are regarding recall repairs. You may learn that the cars are repaired as soon as possible. You may also learn that cars under recall are still available for renting. Decide whether you are willing to assume the risk of renting a car that may not be suitable to drive.

2. Check the VIN. If you are wondering whether a specific car has been recalled, you can learn whether this is so almost immediately. Locate the VIN (vehicle identification number), typically found in the dashboard on the driver’s side. Visit Safercar.gov and plug in that 17-digit alphanumeric code. You will quickly learn if the car is subject to recalls and what recalls remain open. If a major recall is open and you don’t want to drive the car, notify the rental company of your discovery. Ask for a car that has had its recalls completed.

Raechel and Jacqueline Houck Safe Rental Car Act of 2015.

Possible Legislation: Safe Rental Car Act

In 2013, legislation was introduced in Congress, dubbed the Raechel and Jacqueline Houck Safe Rental Car Act. The act was named for two sisters who rented a 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser from Enterprise Rent-a-Car in San Francisco in 2004.

That particular vehicle was under recall, as Daimler Chrysler found that the power steering hose could leak, causing a fire. Raechel Houck was driving the car on Highway 101 near Bradley, California, when she lost steering ability due to power steering fluid leak. The car crossed a grass median and slammed into an 18-wheeler, bursting into flames. The sisters were incinerated.

As a result of the Houck accident and the battle the parents had with Enterprise, legislators are pushing to require rental car companies to complete all recalls before the vehicles are available in the rental fleet. After initial resistance, the rental car industry is now backing the legislation.

Rental Industry Supports Legislation

Indeed, the American Rental Car Association (ACRA) agrees that all rental cars should be safe to drive. Said Sharon Faulkner, executive director of ACRA, “the end result is a proposal that will provide our customers additional assurance that the vehicles they rent are safe, and provides our industry with a uniform federal standard across the country and that addresses our original operational concerns.”

The Houck bill was finally referred to the committee on May 1, 2015, but its prognosis is not particularly good. The GovTrack.us website gives HR 2198 only an 18 percent chance of being enacted.

Besides not being able to rent open recall cars to customers, the legislation would also forbid rental companies from turning around and selling these vehicles to the public until the repairs have been completed or at least with notice that the repairs are open.

Used Car Shopping

If you are in the market for a used car, you need to do your homework to ensure that all recalls have been complied with. Again, that means making a visit to SaferCar.gov. It should also include obtaining the vehicle’s history report (CARFAX, for example) and following through with an inspection by your mechanic. (Here is an excellent article that details the limits and sometimes the pitfalls with vehicle history reports — Limitations and Problems with Carfax or any Vehicle History Report).

See Also:

Car Recalls and Your Insurance Rates

8 Reasons to Avoid a Particular Used Car

Killed by Takata; Denied Access by the NHTSA

October 24, 2014 by admin 1 Comment

Two-thirds of the airbag recalls involve Honda vehicles.

Honda Accord. — This seventh generation Honda Accord is currently being recalled.

The news this week turned especially gruesome as the New York Times shared the account of a dying Florida woman lying in a hospital bed who appeared to have stab wounds in her neck. On further investigation, it was revealed that an airbag likely deployed, but also spewed forth pieces of metal shrapnel that eventually took her life.

Following the Times’ story the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) expanded its recall to include 7.8 million vehicles from 10 different manufacturers. Two-thirds of those recalls involve Honda models; every affected vehicle contains airbags furnished by Japanese parts supplier Takata.

NHTSA Website Goes Down

After issuing its announcement, the NHTSA’s website denied access to consumers seeking further information, specifically people attempting to verify whether their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) matched the latest recall. The search function was not working and was still experiencing problems through early Thursday. The NHTSA apologized for the downtime and also for supplying an earlier list that inaccurately included Nissan models not under recall. That list has since been updated and has been shared here.

Meanwhile, Takata and Honda are both facing a monumental public relations crisis as regulators confirm that the two companies had known about the airbag problem since 2004, what has resulted in two confirmed deaths and dozens of injuries. If confirmed, the Florida woman’s death would raise that toll to three.

2004 Ford Ranger. — The Takata recall also includes 2004 Ford Rangers

The Current Takata List

The NHTSA’s Takata recall list is current as of Oct. 23, 2014. The vehicles under recall are as follows:

BMW: 627,615 total number of potentially affected vehicles
2000 – 2005 BMW 3 Series Sedan
2000 – 2006 BMW 3 Series Coupe
2000 – 2005 BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon
2000 – 2006 BMW 3 Series Convertible
2001 – 2006 BMW M3 Coupe
2001 – 2006 BMW M3 Convertible

Chrysler: 371,309 total number of potentially affected vehicles
2003 – 2008 Dodge Ram 1500
2005 – 2008 Dodge Ram 2500
2006 – 2008 Dodge Ram 3500
2006 – 2008 Dodge Ram 4500
2008 – Dodge Ram 5500
2005 – 2008 Dodge Durango
2005 – 2008 Dodge Dakota
2005 – 2008 Chrysler 300
2007 – 2008 Chrysler Aspen

Ford: 58,669 total number of potentially affected vehicles
2004 – Ford Ranger
2005 – 2006 Ford GT
2005 – 2007 Ford Mustang

General Motors: undetermined total number of potentially affected vehicles
2003 – 2005 Pontiac Vibe
2005 – Saab 9-2X

Honda: 5,051,364 total number of potentially affected vehicles
2001 – 2007 Honda Accord
2001 – 2002 Honda Accord
2001 – 2005 Honda Civic
2002 – 2006 Honda CR-V
2003 – 2011 Honda Element
2002 – 2004 Honda Odyssey
2003 – 2007 Honda Pilot
2006 – Honda Ridgeline
2003 – 2006 Acura MDX
2002 – 2003 Acura TL/CL
2005 – Acura RL

Mazda: 64,872 total number of potentially affected vehicles
2003 – 2007 Mazda6
2006 – 2007 MazdaSpeed6
2004 – 2008 Mazda RX-8
2004 – 2005 Mazda MPV
2004 – Mazda B-Series Truck

Mitsubishi: 11,985 total number of potentially affected vehicles
2004 – 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer
2006 – 2007 Mitsubishi Raider

Nissan: 694,626 total number of potentially affected vehicles
2001 – 2003 Nissan Maxima
2001 – 2004 Nissan Pathfinder
2002 – 2004 Nissan Sentra
2001 – 2004 Infiniti I30/I35
2002 – 2003 Infiniti QX4
2003 – 2005 Infiniti FX35/FX45

Subaru: 17,516 total number of potentially affected vehicles
2003 – 2005 Subaru Baja
2003 – 2005 Subaru Legacy
2003 – 2005 Subaru Outback
2004 – 2005 Subaru Impreza

Toyota: 877,000 total number of potentially affected vehicles
2002 – 2005 Lexus SC
2002 – 2005 Toyota Corolla
2003 – 2005 Toyota Corolla Matrix
2002 – 2005 Toyota Sequoia
2003 – 2005 Toyota Tundra

Immediate Service Pushed

The NHTSA is urging consumers to take immediate action and have their cars serviced. However, some manufacturers do not have enough parts on hand — it could take weeks or longer before repairs are made. In the meantime manufacturers, such as Toyota, have said that owners of affected models would be notified by first-class mail this week to return their vehicles to their dealer for repairs.

Under the recall Toyota says that it “will replace the front passenger airbag inflator with a newly manufactured one.” However, if a replacement part is not available, the dealer has been instructed to disable the airbag and install a hang tag on the glove box to serve as a warning that the front passenger seat should not be occupied until the repair has been made.

Toyota Corolla Recall. — Select ninth generation Toyota Corollas are under a recall

Consumers Union Weighs In

Not everyone is satisfied with the NHTSA’s handling of the recall. Consumers Union, the advocacy arm of Consumer Reports, urged the government to expand the recall to cover vehicles beyond its current geographic area.

In a letter to NHTSA, George Slover, senior policy counsel for Consumers Union, wrote, “The recalls were originally focused on vehicles registered in areas with ‘high absolute humidity,’ but the dangers could be far broader. We believe it is essential to ensure the widest possible public awareness of this hazard, and for NHTSA, automakers, and suppliers to provide consumers with prompt and effective means to address the hazard.”

Beyond disabling airbags, Consumers Union has asked the NHTSA whether regulators were looking at other options such as providing loaner cars to owners or vouchers for rental cars. CU also pointed out that the recall process for the defective inflators began more than 18 months ago and asked the agency to explain what it was doing to ensure that car manufacturers, Takata and potential other suppliers were manufacturing and supplying “safe replacement parts for all cars that need them.”

Tens of Millions of Recalls

This year will go down as the year of the recall as more than 50 million vehicles have bee recalled to date. GM has recalled about half that many as it battles its own PR crisis. Even so, the automaker reported net income of $1.4 billion for the third quarter.

See Also — Recall Roundup: October 2014

Where Can I Find My Car Paint Code?

June 13, 2012 by admin 6 Comments

Fix that scratch yourself with the right paint code.

For the umpteenth time you’ve taken your car to the store and like several times before it has acquired a new ding or a scratch. This time some paint was removed, exposing your finish to the elements and making your car look less than desirable. You’re not about to pay a mint to have someone else do the work, deciding to touch up the paint yourself. One area of mystery remains: the paint code. Your car’s color is red, but without the right code you can easily apply the wrong shade, making matters worse not better.

Let’s take a look at how you can determine the correct color code for your car:

Open the driver’s door — Like other information placarded on your vehicle, paint code information is typically found inside the driver’s door on the door jamb or the inside of the door. Two types of paint codes are listed — one is for the exterior paint, the other is for the cabin or interior color. One code may say “paint” the other “trim.” Jot down the paint code and call your dealer’s service department to have them decode this for you.

Check the owner’s manual — If you can’t find the paint code, check your car owner’s manual as that book may identify where the paint code placards have been placed. Other places to look include each door jamb and under the top of your car’s hood.

Jot down your VIN — Every passenger vehicle has a vehicle identification number, a unique to your car 17-digit serial number. With pen and paper in hand locate your VIN, something that can typically found on the left side of the dashboard and viewed through the windshield. Write down that number, contact your dealer’s service department and ask them for the color code based on your vehicle. Then, ask your dealer to supply you with the precise name for that paint so that you can purchase it. Car dealers, collision repair shops and automotive parts stores are among the retailers selling car paints.

Cautions

Be careful when using the Internet to decode your car number. There are a handful of websites that match paint color codes with paint names, but that information may not be correct. I had to check my color code number twice when I realized that PV1 was actually PW1 representing stone white, not the light pearlstone metallic found on some Jeep models.

Steps to Find Your Paint Code

With pen and pad in hand, do the following (yes, your smartphone will do):

2001 Dodge Neon — First step: Go to the driver’s side of your car.

2001 Dodge Neon paint code — Step four: Note exterior paint color code. Copy this information.

See Also — Where is my VIN Number Located?