Anyone know of VIN decoder for Edge?

[chadgt]

I have been tracking/searching various dealer inventories online and would like to know based on the VIN number when the build date was, or at least close, so I can determine how long they have been sitting on the dealer lot. A quick search on yahoo didn't yield any such vin decoders. I assume it will have to do with the last six digits, i.e. A12345, which I have all of the window stickers printed out. Please let me know.

 

Thanks,

Chad

[akirby]

All you had to do was google "ford vin decoder" and you'd get this page:

 

https://www.fleet.ford.com/maintenance/VIN_tools/default.asp

 

You can only get the model year and a sequence number, not the build date. The only thing you can say for sure is that a lower sequence number was built before a higher sequence number. The sequence number is not unique to one vehicle (e.g. Edge) - it's unique to the assembly line. So sequence # 42000 might be an Edge, 42001 a MKX, 42002 another MKX, 42003 Edge and so on.

 

The build date is printed on the door jamb sticker on the vehicle itself. Why do you need to know?

[Lex Talionis]

it is kind of fun to just see what it says if for no other reason. I used it many months ago, while waiting for it to arrive from the factory after my order, just to see if the vin was live and active and that was when I saw that my Edge was listed as "Truck/SUV " and my Limited was listed as a "SEL Plus"

[chadgt]

Correct, I found that vin decoder too, however it does not give the detailed info that I want, aka matching the production sequence number up with a timeframe for build date. I see that all Ford trucks (including SUVs and Edges) are all in the same sequence number list as well. As I mentioned, I am watching six different Edges all over PA and would like to know approximately how much time they have been sitting on their lots, for what I would perceive as some extra purchasing info, i.e. I see you've had this on your lot for 6 months, do you want to sell it now, or have it sit another 6 months? If that doesn't work, at least I'd like to know how long it has sat on a dealer lot, getting snowed on, moved 2 spaces around, etc. I posted on blueovalnews as well in their employee section so hopefully someone there can get the info I request.

 

Chad

[bbf2530]

I have been tracking/searching various dealer inventories online and would like to know based on the VIN number when the build date was, or at least close, so I can determine how long they have been sitting on the dealer lot. A quick search on yahoo didn't yield any such vin decoders. I assume it will have to do with the last six digits, i.e. A12345, which I have all of the window stickers printed out. Please let me know.

 

Thanks,

Chad

 

Hi Chad. :D You probably knew this, but just in case: A vehicles build date (month and year) is listed on the sticker/plate located on the vehicles driver side door jamb. EDIT-Just saw this was already stated above.

 

I do not know of a "VIN decoder" which will give you a month/day of build, only the year. There may be one, but I have never seen it.

 

Good luck. :beerchug:

Edited June 9, 2008 by bbf2530

[akirby]

Hi Chad. :D You probably knew this, but just in case: A vehicles build date (month and year) is listed on the sticker/plate located on the vehicles driver side door jamb. EDIT-Just saw this was already stated above.

 

I do not know of a "VIN decoder" which will give you a month/day of build, only the year. There may be one, but I have never seen it.

 

Good luck. :beerchug:

 

You can't tell by the sequence number - it's all relative to how many vehicles were built and how fast, and when they started the model year, etc. You'd have to find a Ford database somewhere and that won't be publicly accessible.

 

You're not likely to find an Edge that's been sitting for more than a month or two.

[bbf2530]

You can't tell by the sequence number - it's all relative to how many vehicles were built and how fast, and when they started the model year, etc. You'd have to find a Ford database somewhere and that won't be publicly accessible.

 

You're not likely to find an Edge that's been sitting for more than a month or two.

 

Hi akirby. :D I noticed you quoted my previous post. I was also stating that the build date is not encoded in the VIN. Did you think I was saying otherwise? Maybe my answer was worded in a confusing manner, but yes I agree, and was trying to make the point that only the model years, and not the build date are encoded into the VIN.

 

He can go to a Dealer Service Department with a VIN and have the VIN run through the system for a build date (they will likely try to charge a fee), but he wants to try and run VINS from Dealer Inventory at home. I agree, no can do.

 

Finding build dates will have to be done the old fashioned way: Go to the Dealer and look at the plate on the door jamb.

 

The only reason I added the "There may be one, but I have never seen it" part was to avoid the inevitable post by someone saying "Well, my cousins, girlfriends, half sisters, next-door neighbor was able to find a VIN decoder online and get my build date".

 

We already agreed. :party:

 

Good luck. :beerchug:

Edited June 10, 2008 by bbf2530

[akirby]

Did you think I was saying otherwise?

 

Nope - just reinforcing your point. Should have just replied instead of quoting.

[chadgt]

I also realize the build date is on the door jam, however I obviously can't drive all over PA looking at door jams. I'm sure I could call the dealers and ask, but I really like to have the info beforehand, then when I ask, it is more of a leading question that I already know the answer. Someone from blueovalnews forums did reply and he can look up vins and get the actual build dates and such, but won't do a lot of them. As well, he explained that production sequence numbers are not 100% sequential, since there could have been delays and such after the vin was created. FYI, as to the comment about not finding many Edges sitting over 1-2 months, that is completely not the case at least in the Reading PA area. I've been watching some since at least Feb/Mar timeframe that are still there, and the others I have no idea because I had the dealer do a statewide search maybe a month ago, so I don't know how long they've been where they are since I didn't know about them earlier, hence the whole original reason for my vin post. With this economy and the so-so mileage these get (15/22 which isn't much better than my 97 ranger 4x4 with 4.0), I'm not surprised to see them sitting on lots. In fact, it is one of my holdups with purchasing one, but we'll see. I see they just added another incentive until 6/30, in addition to $2k incentive, now is $1500 additional to finance with Ford. I wonder how much larger they will get in July/Aug??

 

Chad

[akirby]

You'd be better off simply calling the sales manager and asking if he/she has an Edge that they'd like to get rid of and would be willing to discount more than the rest. They'll know immediately and it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with how long it's been there but rather the options, colors, etc.

 

How much do you really think this will save you? Just curious.

[bbf2530]

I also realize the build date is on the door jam, however I obviously can't drive all over PA looking at door jams. I'm sure I could call the dealers and ask, but I really like to have the info beforehand, then when I ask, it is more of a leading question that I already know the answer. Someone from blueovalnews forums did reply and he can look up vins and get the actual build dates and such, but won't do a lot of them. As well, he explained that production sequence numbers are not 100% sequential, since there could have been delays and such after the vin was created. FYI, as to the comment about not finding many Edges sitting over 1-2 months, that is completely not the case at least in the Reading PA area. I've been watching some since at least Feb/Mar timeframe that are still there, and the others I have no idea because I had the dealer do a statewide search maybe a month ago, so I don't know how long they've been where they are since I didn't know about them earlier, hence the whole original reason for my vin post. With this economy and the so-so mileage these get (15/22 which isn't much better than my 97 ranger 4x4 with 4.0), I'm not surprised to see them sitting on lots. In fact, it is one of my holdups with purchasing one, but we'll see. I see they just added another incentive until 6/30, in addition to $2k incentive, now is $1500 additional to finance with Ford. I wonder how much larger they will get in July/Aug??

 

Chad

 

Hi Chad. :D Just to try and explain. We understand that you can not drive all around PA looking at door jambs. Unfortunately, there is no way to tell build dates (dd/mm/yy/ or mm/yy) from a VIN alone. Only the model year is encoded in the VIN.

 

ViperPilot (on Blue Oval news) only uses the VIN to access the Vehicle Tracking System computer database. Then he can access the build date, order date, delivery date, purchase date, etc, etc and all other vehicle information. The VIN itself does not contain the build date. The information is simply linked to the VIN in Ford's Vehicle Tracking System

 

Look at it in this respect. Take your Social Security #. It does not have your height, weight, and eye color contained in the numbers. But if you give your SS# to your Doctors office, they may have all of that information linked to it in their system. The VIN is the same case. Ford has all of the information contained in its system, linked to the VIN. The VIN merely identifies which vehicle is being accessed.

 

Unfortunately, there is no way to publicly access that Ford Vehicle Tracking System, and it is certainly too time consuming for ViperPilot to be doing it simply for research purposes, as he explained.

 

We are sympathetic to what you are trying to accomplish. Unfortunately, it is not possible to access that information from the outside.

 

Hope this makes things a little clearer from this side.

 

Good luck. :beerchug:

Edited June 11, 2008 by bbf2530

[chadgt]

FYI, someone was nice enough to get me the information talked about above, and to further add to my comments that these things are sitting around dealer lots for well over 1-2 months, out of the 6 I am watching: 2 have been sitting for 2 months, 1 for 3 months, 1 for 4 months, 1 for 7 months, and 1 for 8 months! Interesting info to have and see anyway...

 

Chad

[gradywhite]

FYI, someone was nice enough to get me the information talked about above, and to further add to my comments that these things are sitting around dealer lots for well over 1-2 months, out of the 6 I am watching: 2 have been sitting for 2 months, 1 for 3 months, 1 for 4 months, 1 for 7 months, and 1 for 8 months! Interesting info to have and see anyway...

 

Chad

 

Actually, I think the 9th position of the VIN may be the Month Code. My door jam shows 02/08 and my 9th pos is 2 with my 10th pos 8. Maybe they have letters for months 10-12.

[akirby]

Actually, I think the 9th position of the VIN may be the Month Code. My door jam shows 02/08 and my 9th pos is 2 with my 10th pos 8. Maybe they have letters for months 10-12.

 

Nope - position 9 is a check digit - doesn't mean anything. position 10 is the model year but you can't get the month. Check the 2008 VIN guide in my post #2.

[bbf2530]

Hi gradywhite. :D Akirby is correct, the 9th digit in the VIN is simply a "check digit".

 

You can check VIN's here: LINK: Ford VIN Decoder and here LINK: VIN Checks

 

Good luck. :beerchug:

Edited September 9, 2008 by bbf2530