VIN location(s)

I acquired a 1996 Tacoma V6 4 X 4 automatic 2 door extended cab pickup recently, a project pickup for my nephew and I. It has an assigned VIN by the CHP... no windshield/dash VIN just a replacement VIN tag on the door jamb... no Federal or State certification info plate either. I was hoping to pull a VIN from the PCM but no luck there. I am wondering if there is a "hidden" location where I can pull a VIN for future parts / additional info on this truck. Any help would be appreciated.

 

Why does it have a VIN assigned by the CHP? I've never heard of anything like that. The factory VIN locations are on an engraved plate visible through the windshield, or on the door jamb. I looked at the Haynes repair manual and it only mentions those two locations. It does, however, state that the transmission and engine should have some type of identification number (not sure if VIN).

 

I'm pretty sure there's little stickers all over the place that have the VIN. If I remember correctly there's some on the doors and under the hood. They should be about 1/2" by 1.5" sticker.

 

Likely a salvage rebuild. Vins and plates may have been pulled to go on another stolen vehicle, while the vehicle was 'out of service'.

OP, if I'm correct, the 'actual' vin may be of little use to you anyway. The truck could be cobbled back together with a variety of parts.

The panel vin stickers are easy to remove, and often disappear during paint work or when panels are replaced with new / other used parts.

Like building a hot rod, you may not be able to make parts determinations on VIN alone. You may have to figure out the correct part by having it in your hand and verfiying fit, then record the PN in case future replacement is needed.

 

vehicle was stolen off the dealers lot new back in the day, the sheet metal panel VINS were scrapped off, door jam and dash plates were removed also. truck was recovered shortly after intact, less VIN plates and insurance "fixed" it. I bought it from the first owner who bought it from the insurance co. / dealership.

 

Should be one behind the tail lights.

 

I will look there in the AM... thanks.

 

Since there is a legal history trail on the vehicle, the initial theft report from the dealer and the involved insurance should have included the VIN. They would have had paperwork on it.

If you can't find any on-vehicle ID, backtracking that case could turn up what you want. Yea, it's 20 years old. But most of that stuff is archived, and old stuff is often being digitized now adays. You could get lucky with a few phone calls........... In fact, while the CHP issued a new VIN, they should have record of what the OE VIN was that they replaced.