VIN DECODER... HELP track down

[supeman_006]

So any how, I am tring to track down a vehilce ... backwards. I have a few pics and here is what I think... pre rear facelift (plate on bumper), 96 or newer sytle aluminum wheels, XLT package (chrome grille/bumpers w-ground effects), 4.0l engine (paint peeling from just drivers side of hood), moon roof, luggage rack, 4-door and black in color.... I cant tell if its 2 or 4 wheel drive

None the less im trying to put together as much of the VIN as possible, this it what ive got so far
1-1
2-F
3-M
4-D
5-U
6-3
7-2 or 4
8-X or E
9-?
10-T or V
11-C,H,K,L,N,P,T,U or Z
12?
13?
14?
15?
16?
17?


Does any of these opitions eliminate or confirm any of these digits.... or can anyone tell if its 2x4 ot 4x4? Any help is appreciated

 

[my98nnj]

Do you own this vehicle or are you trying to make a vin from a picture?

 

[1AJeremyD]

What exactly are you trying to do? Those look like surveillance photos.....

 

[roboman]

#11 is only a U or Z

That doesn't help much, but it's better than nothing, right?

 

[supeman_006]

Well this guy robbed a few banks, this is one of the detectives on the case.


Why would 11# be U or Z? that would cut my results down by about 80%

Is the XLT prone to the OHV engine or the SOHC

 

[Blee1099]

So your a detective? If so, please provide contact information like agency, phone number, etc. I highly doubt you are a detective at the age of 29.

 

[supeman_006]

http://www.wsaz.com/home/headlines/..._Robbed_Police_Chasing_Suspect_122675519.html

http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/..._Searching_for_Suspect_122978548.html?ref=548


Det. C. A. Cook,
South Charleston PD
9 years as police officer, 3 years as detective
ccook@scpolice.org
304-744-6903 ext 110
http://scpolice.org/home.html

 

[supeman_006]

Im figuring a few explorer nuts may be able to help us with this VIN number.... We find the vehilce, we will find our robber. Each VIN number we figure out brings me closer, its got a WV inspection sticker on it so im going to do a partial VIN number search and them goto each one if I got to.

 

[Blee1099]

We just need to cover our butts..
Well from the looks its gonna be hard to tell without a more detailed photo. Its obviously a 95-97 Explorer. There are a few variables at play.. In 96, there were a v8 model that was released that had V8 badges on the fenders. The 1995-1996 were only OHV and 97 had the option for both V6's and the V8. This Vin decoder should help somewhat
http://www.explorerforum.com/ntrprize/VIN.htm Unfortunately without knowing the complete VIN its hard to determine the color.. Ford maybe able to run a series of VIN numbers to determine the color for those model years so you can try to narrow it down.

 

[1AJeremyD]

I'm going to say contact ford and see how many forest green explorers with moon roofs they made. I'm going to throw my 2 cents in and say its a 1995. Is there any way to run a DMV check on it?

 

[supeman_006]

Are u saying the 97 didn't have the 4.0l ? How ab

 

[Blee1099]

in 97 they introduced the SOHC motor which has the E vin code for the 8th digit

 

[supeman_006]

Are u saying if I'm right about the placement of the paint peeling and I'm thinking it's a 4.0l ...... Ur saying it's a 4.0l OHV meaning the 8th character is a X.... Also I didn't think those wheels were advilable till 96.

Am I hearing something about the explorer not being made in all the assembly plants

 

[roboman]

It's a U or Z because #11 is the final assembly point. That generation of Explorer was built in either Louisville, KY (U) or Hazelwood, MO (Z). I'm 110% sure about this.

I know off the top of my head that H is Lorain, OH (E-Series vans) and N is Norfolk, VA (F150 trucks).

 

[roboman]

...and while you should still search for Z, the probability is probably higher that it's a U given Kentucky's proximity to West Virginia versus Missouri.

 

[supeman_006]

Ok so if it's a 96 the 4.0l engine code would be x for the 10th and if it's a 97 the the 4.0l engine code will be E for the 10th


Great info on the 11th

 

[Blee1099]

Err kind of.. Basically the VINs could be 1FMDU32 or 1FMDU34 after the 32 or 34 it could be a X, P, E depending on the year. The X is available thru all the years your looking at. The P was available starting in 1997, and the E was also available in 1997. P is for the V8 model, E is the 4.0 SOHC, X is the 4.0 OHV motor

 

[supeman_006]

How about the wheels ..... ? Advalible in 95?

Great info so far, thanks

Is there a vin decoder online that would tell me the color..... The local dealer offered to look them up, but I figured that if I could do it faster if i had one

 

[Blee1099]

Sadly those wheels were available from 95-01 in the 15" variety.

 

[supeman_006]

So I guess I need to add a year more of explorers to look though..... Those wheels on the XLT in 95