- 1). Locate the VIN number on the driver's side of the dash panel next to the window molding. The VIN can also be found on the title.
- 2). Interpret the first character to find the country where the car was manufactured. The 2001 Geo Prizm was manufactured in the United States, so it will be 1.
- 3). Interpret the second and third characters to find the manufacturer and division. The letter Y is for General Motors and 1 is for Geo.
- 4). Interpret the fourth and fifth characters for the series. SK is used for the Prizm, SL for the Prizm GSi.
- 5). Interpret the sixth character for the body type. The number 5 is for a four-door sedan, 6 for a four-door hatchback, and 7 for a four-door lift back.
- 6). Interpret the seventh character for the restraint system. The number 1 is for manual belts, 2 for manual belts with a built-in safety system, 3 for manual belts on the driver's side with a built-in safety system, and 4 for automatic belts.
- 7). Interpret the eighth character to find the engine code. The numbers 5 and 6 are used for 1.6-liter engines, and 8 for 1.8-liter engines. The ninth character is a check digit for VIN legitimacy.
- 8). Interpret the 10th character to find the model year. The number 1 is for a 2001 model. Other standard format years since then are 2 for 2002, 3 for 2003, 4 for 2004, 5 for 2005, 6 for 2006, 7 for 2007, 8 for 2008 and 9 for 2009.
- 9). Interpret the 11th digit for the plant location. All Prizms were built in the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. plant located in Fremont, Calif. The code for this plant is Z, included in all Geo Prizm VIN's.
- 10
Note the remaining six characters. These numbers represent the serial number and build sequence of the vehicle.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up here to get the latest news, updates and special offers delivered directly to your inbox.
You can unsubscribe at any time
Prev Post