[DrFeelGood]

Hello everyone.
I just went in for my vehicle inspection, which here in the state of Oregon consists of driving to a dedicated DEQ (Department of Environmental Quality) station with my renewal form. Once there the technician plugs their computer into my OBD2 port and reads for codes. No codes, no smoke, and numbers match then I pay my fee ($171 in my case) and I get my tags.
This time around the VIN code that was pulled up from the vehicle computer did not match my door plate/stamped VIN number.
My stamped VIN is 1YVFP82D445Nxxxxx (xxxxx is production number and is the same for both stamped and read)
The vehicle VIN was 1YVDP82D445Nxxxxx
The change was with the 4th digit from F to D. Thankfully the state allows VIN modification at the point of testing on vehicles with a production date prior to 2005.
Looking up my 4th digit code "F" gives me "Dr. & Pass. Air-Bag". Now I have added front seats that have side air bags and will be adding the curtains and side sensors this coming spring (along with the different SRS computer)
The strange thing is that the letter "D" does not correspond to anything I can find. Perhaps it is a default error code indicating change with the passive restraint system.
Vehicles equipped with factory front and side and curtain air-bags use a letter "H" in the 4th position.
Weird.

I have also changed: the info screen so that it can access fuel consumption data from the speedometer (like European models), and the speedometer to a "blackout" style electroluminscent cluster.

Mazda Parts Application Bulliten #VN03 2001&up North America Built VIN Decoder PDF

Any thoughts?

Happy Halloween

 

[TalonTsi90]

How did that happen?

 

[DrFeelGood]

How did that happen?

Got me man, I cant figure it out. To be honest I did not even realize that the VIN could be dynamically changed.

 

[TalonTsi90]

Got me man, I cant figure it out. To be honest I did not even realize that the VIN could be dynamically changed.

The only theory i have is, if you went to the dealer and they hooked it up and it read the extra items you installed and figured there was a discrepancy and updated it. Other than that, you may have a Skynet problem brewing.

 

[DrFeelGood]

The only theory i have is, if you went to the dealer and they hooked it up and it read the extra items you installed and figured there was a discrepancy and updated it. Other than that, you may have a Skynet problem brewing.

No dealer trips since airbags in March of 2016. Registered once since then with no change. If the dealer did do anything they changed it to a letter that has no meaning that I, (or any other VIN ID service) can find. ?

 

[Byakuya]

That's so weird......Computer error when printing the VIN?.....

 

[jman]

Vehicles equipped with factory front and side and curtain air-bags use a letter "H" in the 4th position.

Yeap, mine has an H.

How did that happen?

Maybe the vehicle sensed the new features and auto-adjusted.... ?

 

[DrFeelGood]

That's so weird......Computer error when printing the VIN?.....

It is a possibility. It was first thing in the morning and below freezing so the test cord was pretty stiff. The tech had a bit of trouble keeping it attached to the OBD sensor port.

Yeap, mine has an H.
Maybe the vehicle sensed the new features and auto-adjusted.... ?

I was considering this but why 'D' when I can find no listing of it in any Mazda literature (I know that is hardly a definitive reason but...)?

 

[TalonTsi90]

Maybe the vehicle sensed the new features and auto-adjusted.... ?

Hence my Skynet comment...

 

[tickerguy]

I'd be a bit concerned with this -- you could have some fun down the road if you sell the car.....

 

[bulwnkl]

That’s the strangest automotive thing I’ve heard in a while!

 

[djp-16]

The VIN number on the tag in the lower left hand corner of the front window is the ONLY NUMBER that counts. That VIN tag is your only LEGAL identification and Not any other numbers that shows up on any other paperwork.

 

[DrFeelGood]

That’s the strangest automotive thing I’ve heard in a while!

I agree, it has me perplexed. I just keep coming back to what @Byakuya said about printing glitch.

The VIN number on the tag in the lower left hand corner of the front window is the ONLY NUMBER that counts. That VIN tag is your only LEGAL identification and Not any other numbers that shows up on any other paperwork.

So if true, (and I am inclined to believe you) then what does it mean if I am interrogated by an officer or I try to sell with the registration not matching the window plate?

 

[DJ Raydiate]

So if true, (and I am inclined to believe you) then what does it mean if I am interrogated by an officer or I try to sell with the registration not matching the window plate?

I would almost call Mazda and see if they have ever heard of anything like this. It's a first that I've ever heard of. Maybe see it there is somewhere that could pull the vin from the computer again and see if it matches. I could see where this could be a concern. I would keep an old registration with me with the old vin number just to be safe. Maybe then check with the DMV and see what they say.

Other than that I'm at a loss.

 

[DrFeelGood]

I would almost call Mazda and see if they have ever heard of anything like this. It's a first that I've ever heard of.

Agreed. after the wet season I may follow up with Mazda. Too busy now.

Maybe see it there is somewhere that could pull the vin from the computer again and see if it matches.

This is Exactly what I tried today but arrived after they closed.

I would keep an old registration with me with the old vin number just to be safe.

This is exactly what I did today... before the kids got to their shredding chores I pulled it out of the bin and pit it back in the car with the current info.

Maybe then check with the DMV

This is more likely than me contacting Mazda right now, only because the DMV is in the neighborhood. In reality I would love some answers from both Mazda and the DMV about why and what if... if that makes sense.

 

[MazdaMetalhead]

Just sounds like a state government scheme to get you to waste additional time and $$$ on additional forms and applications

 

[hurddawg]

That is really curious. I'm with @DJ Raydiate, have it checked out again. Maybe some corruption happened during the reading. I had a Mini that the airbag module that went bad and sent garbled data to hand held readers. Maybe the ECU has some minor issue with it? I checked my VIN and its an H like @jman1200

 

[hurddawg]

I have also changed: the info screen so that it can access fuel consumption data from the speedometer

P.S. Do you have a how to on this?

 

[DrFeelGood]

P.S. Do you have a how to on this?

Hey man, been a while. I originally saw the idea on a Polish youtube video,

My pics are here on the "display miles per gallon (mpg) feature? " link

This video shows the disassembly of the display.

I still haven't figured out how to get the info from the speedo. I just located the information on the Mazda training manual and located the leads for mileage and fuel consumption (which I am pretty sure are what is needed for the info display to read.)
I have been crazy busy (five twelves a week busy)

 

[DrFeelGood]

Maybe see it there is somewhere that could pull the vin from the computer again and see if it matches.

That is really curious. I'm with @DJ Raydiate, have it checked out again.

Well I did, and it is with a "D" as I stated earlier. Probably never know why. ?