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How to find out the exact model using the VIN code. Determination by wine code automatic transmission

(car history: registration, photos, accidents, repairs, theft, bail, etc.).

Additional reports: equipment, manufacturer recall check, Carfax and Autochek (for cars from the USA) are available from our partners - VINformer.SU.

Location of identification number

The VIN code, or as it is also called the body number, must be written in the registration certificate without fail, and be identical to the number that is on the body. Usually the number is located on the non-removable parts of the body (front pillar) and those places where the chance of damage to the car in an accident is minimal.

What information does the decoding of the VIN code of the car give

  • Manufacturer's country.
  • Year of issue.
  • Engine and body type.
  • What equipment should be present when buying a car.
  • General characteristics car.
  • Information about the vehicle, its mileage, its early sales and other similar data.

Decryption steps

As a rule, an identification number has 17 characters, and it consists of 3 mandatory parts:

  • WMI - contains 3 characters.
  • VDS - contains 6 characters.
  • VIS - contains 8 characters.

From the first part of WMI just starting to check the car by vin. These symbols identify the manufacturer of cars that are assigned to a particular country. The first character means its geographical area, and can be either a number or a letter, depending on the country of manufacture. For example, numbers from 1 to 5 would indicate the manufacturer in North America; from 6 to 7 - the countries of Oceania; from 8 to 9, and also 0 - the manufacturer is South America. Letters from S to Z - cars of European origin, from J to R - origin from Asia, from A to H - brought from Africa.

The first part of the vin check makes it possible to find out where the car was brought from.

Second part referred to as descriptive and should normally be 6 characters long. It often happens that the car manufacturer does not fill in all 6 characters, but according to the rules, all 6 characters must be present in the car. Therefore, if there are only 4 or 5 characters in this part of the code, then the remaining ones are simply filled with zeros and always with right side. The descriptive part of the VIN decoding allows you to determine the model of the car and its main characteristics. The numbers starting from 4 and ending with 8 should tell about the type car engine, its series and models, as well as have data on the body type.

And third, the final part of the VIN decoding is VIS, which consists of 8 characters. It is worth knowing that the last 4 characters must be present without fail. This is the part of the transcript in which you can find out the year of issue vehicle, assembly plant data, model year.

All three parts are necessary when deciphering the body identification number, and make it clear to the future owner about the origin and further history of the car.

Self-check VIN code

To check the VIN code, it is not necessary to contact the appropriate authorities and send a request to them.

Knowing the identification number of the body, enter it into the verification form on our website, and you will receive complete information about a particular vehicle. This is a necessary procedure that is recommended before buying a car. It will take a little time, but it will save you from further troubles.

The use of automatic high-speed boxes makes it easier to drive a vehicle. You should consider the main types of types of boxes (automatic), which are regularly installed on the car.

Types of automatic transmissions

Automatic transmission or hydraulic automatic (AT) has a reliable technical equipment, thanks to which you can travel by activating the "winter", "sports" mode. In the first case, the start starts from the 2nd speed, and in the second, the car accelerates faster, as the power unit starts to work at high speeds. Hydromechanical transmissions can be found with 4, 5, 6 steps. The greater the number of steps, the better the dynamics of the course.

The robotic gearbox (DSG) attracts attention in that it provides decent fuel economy in all cycles, and is amenable to repair and restoration work. Implementation of deceleration can occur in manual mode. DSG box combines the advantages of the machine and mechanics. However, the manual transmission is sensitive to the implementation of an aggressive driving style. The need for DSG service may be needed after 60,000 km. In particular, it will be necessary to change the gear oil.

Variable speed gearbox (CVT). Its distinguishing feature from automatic transmission is that the change of speed modes is carried out smoothly, without jerks. The start is fast. With this box, it seems possible to save on fuel consumption, an increased working life of the variator is noted.

It should be noted that the preselective type of CP can occur on Ford vehicles, Volkswagen, Mitsubishi. These cars are valued for dynamic acceleration, fuel efficiency. The BMW model can be equipped with a Tiptronic gearbox (a type of automatic transmission). The peculiarity of this gearbox option is that the motorist independently chooses the desired speed depending on the driving conditions. It is possible to switch the transmission to the "automatic" mode. This improves driving comfort.

Thus, the checkpoints differ from each other in the amount of fuel spent per kilometer, the dynamics of the course.

Important! Each of the listed types of high-speed boxes is demanding on the quality of fuel.

Types of automatic transmissions on modern cars

Initially, cars that have a torque converter gearbox were widely used. Among them stand out:

  • Peugeot;
  • Opel;
  • Mazda.

Peugeot 308 and Opel Astra

In particular, the owners of versions of the Peugeot 308, Opel Astra note the ease of driving. Steering system on these generations is protected from possible overloads. All thanks to the existing transmission system.

Many crossovers are equipped with a CVT:

  • Nissan X-Trail, Qashqai;
  • Toyota RAV4;
  • Honda CR-V;
  • Renault

Also, the variator is found on Audi, Subaru, Mitsubishi. A feature of machines where there is a variator is an increased engine resource. According to the standard, oil should be added to the variator after 50,000 km of run. The continuously variable transmission allows you to move in a fast (sporty) and economical mode.

A robotic gearbox is found on such car brands as:

  • Ford Focus;
  • Toyota Yaris;
  • Opel Corsa.

When compared with a classic automatic transmission, manual transmission weighs less. By their own performance characteristics, the robot is closer to the manual transmission. CVT saves on fuel consumption. Robotic transmissions are found with single clutch or dual clutch.

Acceleration of the above cars with manual transmission is smooth and fast. It doesn't even take a second to change speeds. In addition, in terms of price, it is more profitable to buy a car with a robotic gearbox than with an automatic gearbox. Thanks to the presence of paddles "petals", you can quickly change the speed.

How to determine the type of automatic transmission?

Whenever buying a used car, the potential car owner should check the vehicle against VIN code. Based on it, all the necessary information about the car is obtained. You can determine the type of automatic transmission according to the technical documentation that comes with the car. Also, a test drive helps.

The identification number is located on non-removable parts of the body. As a rule, the necessary information is indicated on the engine compartment plate. Deciphering the VIN allows you to find out the country of the manufacturer of the car, the year of its release. In addition to this, the motorist can find information about whether the vehicle was sold before, what type is available. power unit. The identification number includes 17 characters (letters and numbers). Based on them, you can get detailed information about the origin of the car.

Checking the car by identification number is a great opportunity to find out if the vehicle was stolen. It should be noted that the car identifier can be present not only on foreign cars, but also on domestic cars.

Determining the type of automatic transmission by car brand is one of the services that can be provided at a specialized auto center. Specifically for this, the customer requesting assistance must provide the following information about their machine:

  • brand;
  • year of issue;
  • engine capacity.

The service specialists compare all this data with the data of the available specially designed tables that reflect the characteristics of the vehicle. After a match is found, the driver is provided with the information of interest to him on the gearbox. Thus, it is not difficult to determine the automatic transmission (its type).

To the drive wheels, while the gears are switched without the participation of the driver.

All rubbing and loaded elements of automatic transmissions need high-quality lubrication, and ATF transmission fluid is also a working fluid. Properly selected gear oil will not only increase the life of the automatic transmission, but also help to avoid breakdowns and failures in this unit.

It is important to understand that there are many various types and modifications of automatic transmission. In this article, we will talk about how to choose the right ATF transmission fluid for automatic transmissions by brand or wine code of the car.

Read in this article

How to choose oil in automatic transmission by wine code

When choosing gear oil for automatic transmission, you need to know the type of gearbox, the year of manufacture of the vehicle, as well as a number of characteristics that the transmission fluid must have according to the tolerances specified by the automaker in the manual of this car.

The manufacturers themselves, as a rule, indicate information about the automatic transmission on the gearbox itself, or on the car body in the form of plates with a set of numbers and letters. This information is called VIN - code (VIN-code). It is from him that the car owner can find out comprehensive information about the car, as well as about the type of transmission installed on it.

If the label on the transmission itself is missing or for some reason has become unusable, the inscription on it is not readable, etc., then information regarding the gearbox can be found by the engine number, or by the identification number of this vehicle.

Vin is the official vehicle identification number assigned by the manufacturer and consisting of a unique number (usually 17 characters). By this number, the car owner can find out all the information about his car and, based on this, determine the automatic transmission model.

Based on the information received, the car owner not only gets the opportunity to choose the transmission fluid, but also get information about how much oil is needed for complete replacement ATP, which ones to use, etc.

Selection of oil for automatic transmission by car brand

The service book of any vehicle contains all the necessary information related to its maintenance and operation. In particular, there should be recommendations for the selection transmission fluid for the automatic transmission of this vehicle.

There are also special catalogs from manufacturers of lubricating fluids that allow you to determine the type of lubricant by the brand of the car.

Each box requires oil with a certain type of viscosity and the necessary additive package. The fluid must have the characteristics that were originally set by the manufacturer when designing this transmission.

ATF transmission fluid in its composition is synthetic, semi-synthetic, etc. As for the ATF viscosity index, there are:

  • summer gear oil;
  • summer gear oil for special applications;
  • winter gear oil with different operating temperatures;
  • all-weather gear oil;

ATF types for automatic transmissions and transmission fluid specifications:

  • Class "A" - transmission fluid from General Motors, designed for use in automatic transmissions cars(now practically not used);
  • Class "B" Dexron is one of the most common transmission fluids designed for use in automatic transmissions of vehicles manufactured by General Motors. Dexron II - IV class fluid types are the latest GM oil specifications and meet all requirements, are used in almost all 4-6 speed automatic transmissions;
  • Class "F" is a transmission fluid from the manufacturer Ford, slightly different in composition from Dexron transmission fluid. The coefficient of friction of an "F" class fluid increases with decreasing sliding speed.

In addition to the above ATF specifications for automatic transmissions, factory tolerances are also used (for example, ATF Toyota etc.). Cars produced for European countries are often equipped with automatic transmissions such as ZF,. Such boxes are filled with General Motors class transmission fluid.

Late-year Audi, BMW and Mercedes automatic transmissions use only synthetic oil. There are also transmission fluids (OEM) manufactured by order of automotive brands.

Mixing different types of automatic transmission fluids when changing them

First of all, any automatic transmission fluid must have the following basic properties:

  • resistance to oxidation;
  • low foaming ratio;
  • stable temperature indicators;
  • ability to transmit high torque.

Please note, regardless of the model, brand of car and type of automatic transmission,. For quick identification, automatic transmission fluid manufacturers use special dyes that do not affect the technical properties and characteristics.

If it is not possible to determine exactly which fluid is poured into the gearbox, it is recommended to replace it completely, which will avoid loss of properties and precipitation of additives.

If the automatic transmission fluid is not suitable or mixing has occurred, the main malfunctions resulting from mixing transmission fluids different types:

  • the occurrence of extraneous noise during the operation of the automatic transmission;
  • appearance;
  • fast (when mixing transmission fluids of different characteristics, their viscosity characteristics are lost);
  • when the temperature drops to cold, tight movement of the automatic transmission selector lever when mode D is turned on, etc .;
  • or does not work, the gears do not turn on, which may indicate a complete failure of the box;

Quality transmission fluids should include advanced additive packages to ensure they meet the latest requirements of transmission manufacturers. To be more precise:

  • optimal viscosity coefficient (this indicator determines the pressure in the system, the formation of a stable oil film on rubbing parts, which prevents the appearance of scoring and reduces their wear);
  • resistance to oxidation. During the operation of the automatic transmission in the transmission fluid under the influence of various factors (temperature, vibration, friction, interaction with air, the ingress of metal microparticles, etc.), pollution and oxidation processes occur.

As a result of these processes, the liquid loses its properties. The higher the resistance of a particular transmission fluid to oxidation, the longer its service life without loss of properties and characteristics.

What is the result

As you can see, if you have the necessary information, it is not difficult to choose the oil in the automatic transmission yourself. The main thing is to follow the recommendations of the manufacturer of the car and / or automatic gearbox.

If the owner does not have such information, then it is optimal to use only the original oil, and not analogues. You can also select a lubricant, taking into account the recommendations of specialized specialists.

Finally, we note that a high-quality transmission fluid that meets all standards and characteristics in relation to a particular transmission will allow the box to operate in optimal modes and significantly increase.

Read also

Checking the oil level in automatic box gears: how to check the ATF level. What else to look for: color, smell, ATP contamination, etc.

  • Is it possible to mix oils in a gearbox: what you need to know possible consequences mixing gear oils for gearboxes. Useful tips.
  • Automobile oil is an important component that ensures long engine life. To choose it correctly, you need to take into account the type of engine, manufacturer's recommendations, as well as the experience of the previous owner, if you took the car "from hand".

    Types of motor oils.

    According to their type, motor oils are divided into:

    • Minerals, known as "mineral water", are made by refining and refining oil;
    • Synthetics or "synthetics" are created from the synthesis of gases;
    • Semi-synthetic are a mixture in different proportions of the first two oils and are called "semi-synthetics".

    Each of the presented oils has its pros and cons, for example, mineral oil distinguished by its low cost, compared to the other two. But on the other hand, it often has to be changed, since it quickly burns out in the engine, it is recommended to pour it into cars that are not used in harsh conditions. It has a high viscosity and significantly reduces the risk of replacing oil seals and gaskets. Most often it is used in domestic cars, as well as cars with a carburetor engine.

    synthetic oil- a product that reliably covers the engine and its parts with a film, providing additional protection, and its composition makes it easy to start the car even in cold weather, and also not to overheat the engine in the heat. This oil is often used in sports cars, as well as machines operating in low / high temperatures. The downside, for some motorists, may be the price of synthetic oil.

    Semi-synthetic is an oil that combines the acceptable cost of mineral water and the reliability of synthetics. For many motorists, semi-synthetics are considered to be the golden mean, combining the balance of price and quality.

    How to choose oil?

    To choose the right oil, you need to look into technical documentation and find out what tolerance is specified for the car. More about permission engine oil can be found from . It is also worth considering such a parameter as viscosity - the international SAE standard. It is the viscosity that determines the fluidity of the oil and its ability to easily start the car in cold period. Oils that are recommended for use in the winter season have the letter W in the name (from the English “winter” - “winter”), and the smaller the number in front of the letter, the more resistant the oil is to cold. For example, the oil temperature regime is 0W to -45 degrees, 5W to -35, etc.

    Be sure to take into account the weather conditions in which the car is operated: for cold climates, select low-viscosity oils, and for hot climates, with increased viscosity. If the car’s engine is old and / or worn out, then it’s not worth filling in expensive synthetics, since oil seals and gaskets will simply be incompatible and can only harm the motor. AT technical specifications it is usually indicated to use only original oil, for example, Toyota or BMW. If the car is under warranty, it is worth pouring only original oils. If guarantee period machine has expired, then you can use any other oil with similar characteristics. It is worth remembering that in no case should mixing be allowed different types oils from different manufacturers.

    Most car manufacturers indicate information about the gearbox model on special plates that can be found on the gearbox itself or on the body. Usually the record is a meaningless, at first glance, a set of numbers and letters, but this information will be enough to order spare parts if you contact a sales consultant.

    If there is no such plate (it may be lost or the inscriptions have been erased), then you should try to find the automatic transmission by the body number, engine and year of manufacture, or by the vin number, if any.

    Vin is the identification number of the vehicle, it can be found in the PTS or STS. This is a unique number of seventeen digits that is assigned to each car from manufacturers that support this standard. By the vin number you can find out the most detailed information about the car, when it was produced and what it was equipped with at the factory. VIN numbers are mainly used by car manufacturers in Europe and North America.

    If you understand the nomenclature and designations, you can accurately determine the model of the box and what it is.

    Consider, for example, the automatic transmission A140L manufactured by Toyota, developed for the Toyota Camry.

    A140L A - automatic transmission 1 - series 4 - number of gears 0 - gear ratio or tank D - overdrive L - lockup clutch E - ECT clutch blocking H,F– 4WD with lock-up clutch

    Modern automatic transmissions are very different in design and operating principles, the operation of the gearbox and the behavior of the car depend heavily on the type of gearbox. Let's consider the main ones.

    Hydraulic automatic transmission

    The classic scheme for the implementation of the automatic box. The torque is transmitted to the wheels by means of the pressure of the working fluid (gear oil), that is, they are not mechanically connected in any way.

    To date, such a scheme is still used very actively, however, it, of course, has undergone improvements. Electronic control units allow such boxes to implement a sport, winter, economical mode, and even a manual gear shift mode. Moreover, they are able to adapt to the driver's driving style.

    The gear selector on hydraulic boxes is familiar and understandable.


    P - parking mode, the box is blocked;

    N - neutral gear, it is possible to transport a car on it;

    R - reverse mode;

    L - movement in first gear;

    S - movement to second gear;

    sport- sports mode operation, gears are switched at higher speeds;

    Snow - the car will move from second gear, at a higher torque, which will reduce slippage and make it easier to overcome snow and ice obstacles;

    Eco - economy mode, implemented differently by different car companies;

    Depending on the way the control is implemented, the boxes are divided into hydraulic and electro-hydraulic. In hydraulic automatic transmissions, gear shifting is carried out using pressure by a centrifugal speed controller of the input shaft. In electro-hydraulic automatic transmissions, gears are switched from an electrical signal from the control unit, which activates hydraulic elements.

    Compared with manual gearboxes, automatic ones require more fuel, but the difference is not so critical. You have to pay for comfort.

    Manual gear shifting on automatic transmissions, better known as Tiptronic, has appeared relatively recently.


    Manual gear shifting on automatic transmission - Tiptronic

    The first successful developments belong to Audi specialists. There are similar options from BMW and Volvo. Tiptronic does not fully provide manual control of the gearbox, the electronic unit management still does its job and does not allow the driver to make mistakes.

    The advantages of this type of checkpoint include:

    • opportunity to work with various engines(gasoline, diesel fuel);
    • the presence of additional modes;
    • comfort and reliability (of course, if the box model itself is made normally);
    • the box can switch to the maximum power of the engine;
    • there is no rollback when starting from a place on the rise;
    • it is impossible to start the engine in gear, which gives additional safety;
    • electronic control systems and a torque converter protect the engine well from driver errors, extending its life.

    The disadvantages include:

    • increased fuel consumption;
    • some loss of power from the engine associated with design features and method of moment transmission;
    • the ability to start the engine only with the starter (cannot be started from the "pusher");


    • higher cost compared to mechanical box gear;
    • acceleration dynamics of some automatic transmission models leaves much to be desired (due to incorrect settings and manufacturers' calculations, this mainly concerns the most budget models of cars);
    • the need to monitor the condition and level of oil. Without the proper oil level, the automatic transmission simply won't work.

    Robotic manual transmission

    In fact, this is a manual transmission, but the control of the clutch and gear shifting is entrusted to the mechanisms. Consumption on such boxes is even less than on manual transmissions. Such boxes are light, cheap and simple in filling. But not everything is so good - robots are designed only for a calm and smooth ride. With an aggressive style, this box kicks like an indignant horse, and does not give a feeling of comfort at all. Another disadvantage is not the best reliability.

    Partially, these problems were solved with the help of double clutch. One switched even gears, the other odd. This affected the operation of the checkpoint for the better, the shifts became much softer. But the cost of such checkpoints is still too high.

    The gearshift control lever of the robot may look like a hydraulic automatic transmission control lever or resemble a joystick.


    R - reverse mode;

    N - neutral gear;

    M - switching is carried out by the robot sequentially;

    + - manual upshift;

    — — manual downshifting.

    The advantages of this transmission include:

    • fast switching times and excellent dynamics;
    • the cost of the robot is cheaper than a traditional automatic transmission;
    • low weight of the structure;
    • fuel economy, surpassing even manual transmission;
    • there is no particular need to control the oil level, as with manual transmissions.

    By cons

    • low slip resistance;
    • gear shift delay;
    • rollback at the beginning of the movement;
    • when stopping, you need to switch to neutral;
    • the complexity of the repair;
    • uncomfortable shifting during aggressive driving due to jerks and jerks when shifting gears.

    Variable speed gearbox (CVT)

    The variator is generally a unique development. No disks or gears gear ratios, only a belt that can smoothly change torque by moving between two tapered pulleys. The gears do not change, the car does not twitch, it picks up speed smoothly and monotonously.

    This scheme allows you to drive the same car in completely different modes: from sports to super economical.


    Black Audi RS5 CVT

    The CVT control lever is similar to the lever of a hydraulic automatic transmission, except for the lack of mode low gear. The variator selector is specially made similar so that car owners do not have a feeling of distrust for everything new. On modern CVTs, there are even modes that simulate gear changes and it is possible to leave the car on any of them.

    The pluses include:

    • very smooth acceleration and braking, no jerks, jerks, twitches, maximum comfort;
    • cost-effectiveness compared to a traditional machine;
    • simple design, minimum parts and, accordingly, what can fail;
    • if necessary, the car will accelerate very dynamically. The fastest time to reach the desired moment is provided, there is no pause for switching gears;
    • the engine always works optimally, power losses are minimal, efficiency is increased.

    The cons include:

    • a small resource (although on modern versions everything seems to be fine);
    • unusual monotony of the engine, exhausting the driver (resolved in new generations of CVTs);


    • the complexity of the repair (only in Russia, here it has not yet been mastered);
    • complexity of electronics;
    • high price of consumable transmission fluid and belt (replacement every 50-100 thousand kilometers);
    • high box price;
    • very fast wear during slipping;
    • reverse gear and starting off require additional mechanisms;
    • very fast wear of belts on powerful engines;
    • there are some nuances to measuring the oil level (variators depend even more than hydraulic automatic transmissions on a sufficient oil level).