VIN Derivative
All engines and transmissions are stamped or laser etched with a partial vehicle identification number (VIN), which was derived from the complete VIN. A VIN derivative contains the following nine positions:
VIN Derivative
| Position | Definition | Character | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GM Division Identifier | Z | Saturn |
| 2 | Model Year | 3 | 2003 |
| 3 | Assembly Plant | Z | Spring Hill, TN |
| 4-9 | Plant Sequence Number | - | 100001 |
A VIN derivative can be used to determine if a vehicle contains the original engine or transmission, by matching the VIN derivative positions to their accompanying positions in the complete VIN:
VIN Positions
| VIN Derivative Position | Equivalent VIN Position |
|---|---|
| 1 | 3 |
| 2 | 10 |
| 3 | 11 |
| 4-9 | 12-17 |