This page gives an
overview of the models built by Renault and some details and pictures.
It will be expanded as time permits. Data is taken from a number of
sources, we believe it to be as accurate as possible but if you have any
modifications, photos etc please let us know. The information on these
pages should be taken as a guide only.
Some vehicles may be
in 2 categories, For example the GTA was Renault badged but was an
Alpine.
Blue Text is Links as
are the icons - - Photo -
- Specifications -
- Videos (Some contain minimum age recommendations)
These are
"true" concept cars, as in the final model bearing the name
may be based on these cars but not a similar vehicle, therefore this
list does not contain every model above which may have had a prototype
built but not necessarily as a concept car.
In order to identify both the type and model of cars (particularly for
locating parts) it is useful to have details from the chassis plates.
On the most modern cars, this is in the form of a plate usually on the
drivers door pillar that has a number of useful details on it. On
modern and earlier ones it may be instead (or also) located in one of
the following places.
Firewall of the
vehicle
Radiator Support Bracket
Dash by windshield
Left hand inner wheel arch
Steering column
Guarantee & Maintenance Book
Machined Pad on front of engine
Drivers door or post on passenger side
Component parts as listed above -e.g.- engine, frame, etc.
Later model years most common locations of the VIN:
Left instrumentation panel
Dash plate by window
Drivers door or door pillar - usually on the pillar as doors are too
easy to swap.
Early ones may have a riveted on panel, later ones a tamper proof
label.
Starting at the top
(this is a Matra Renault Espace one) under that, the e2* is the
section of the European type approval that the car conforms to (for
such things as EMC) etc. This tells you the car should be after 1998
(it's bad news if the date is after the car was made). The VF8 number
is the full chassis number. - I've blanked a bit but basically:-
1st two
characters - Country of Origin
VF =France
3rd through 8th
Characters allocated to Manufacturer.
They use these digits
to reflect body type, Car line, restraint system, engine, braking
system, etc. All Domestic Manufacturers use 8th Character for the
engine.
9th Character is a
Check Digit.
It is determined by
carrying out a mathematical computation developed by the Department of
Transportation (DOT). *Einstein's Theory of the Check Digit - will be
discussed later in this article.
10th Character - Year
of Manufacture
B = 1981
G = 1986
M = 1991
T = 1996
1 = 2001
6 = 2006
C = 1982
H = 1987
N = 1992
V = 1997
2 = 2002
7 = 2007
D = 1983
J = 1988
P = 1993
W = 1998
3 = 2003
8 = 2008
E = 1984
K = 1989
R = 1994
X = 1999
4 = 2004
9 = 2009
F = 1985
L = 1990
S = 1995
Y = 2000
5 = 2005
Note: There are no I's
or O's in a VIN, only 1's and 0's. There are no Q's in a VIN. Also,
there are no U's in the 10th digit of the VIN - so as not to be
confused with V's. There are no A's in the 10th digit, because the A
was reserved to represent a 1980 year model, but the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration did not actually mandate the fixed
format until 1981, with the B. The A is used in other sequences of the
VIN, it's just not used as a 10th digit. Also, there is no Z in the
10th digit, because after the year 2000, the 10th digit sequence
started over from alpha to numeric, and the Z was not used. It is not
known at this time what sequence will be used beginning the year 2010.
11th Character - Final
Assembly Plant.
This Character
represents the Manufacturer's final assembly plant.
12th to the 17th
Characters.
The last 6 Characters
of the VIN are the actual serial number of that particular vehicle,
which makes that vehicle unique. Note: The first 11 Characters
of the vehicle are common to other vehicles with the same: Country of
origin, manufacturer, body type - car line - restraint system - engine
- and braking system, year of manufacture, and final assembly point,
but the last 6 Characters will make that vehicle unique. (Even in the
case of 2 identical vehicles, not only will the 12 to the 17th
Characters be different, but the 9th Character Check Digit will also
be different).
When you purchase a
vehicle, check the VIN yourself against the bill of sale. Remember,
the dealer's title clerk has to type those 17 digits, and typo's can
occur. Besides the fact that there is never an alpha "O",
"Q", or "I" in a VIN. Remember that an
"S" can look like a "5" when it is written down
and transposed. Most insurance agency's have a reliable VIN
check computer program, that will alert the agent to an incorrect VIN,
including the 9th digit Check Digit. There are also several online
services such as CarFax and Free
VIN Check available to check VIN's and your vehicle's history. CarFax
and Free
VIN Check offer a free VIN check, and the report will tell you if
there are potential problems with the VIN.
* Einstein's Theory of
the 9th Digit Check Digit: (Use the chart below to compute and check
the 9th digit for accuracy).
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15
16 17
17 Digit VIN:
Line A
Line B
**
Line C
8 7 6 5 4
3 2 10 0 9
8 7 6
5 4 3
2
Line D
0
Final Sum:
______________
Instructions:
1. On Line A, enter
the 17 Digit VIN.
2. On Line B, enter
the "Assigned Value" of each character using the table
below.
3. Multiply the
numbers in line B by the numbers in line C for each of the 17 digits
in the VIN. Record the product of each of these in Line C for each of
the 17 digits in the VIN. Record the product of each of these in Line
D of the same column.
4. Add together all
the numbers recorded in Line D and enter the final sum in the space
provided.
5. Divide the final
sum by the number "11". If the remainder of this division is
a single digit, the this number must equal the 9th character in the
VIN. If the remainder is the number "10" then the check
digit (9th character of the VIN) must b the letter "X".
ASSIGNED VALUE TABLE:
A=1
J=2 T=3 1=1
6=6
B=2
K=2 U=4 2=2
7=7
C=3
L=3 V=5 3=3
8=8
D=4
M=4 W=6 4=4
9=9
E=5
N=5 X=7 5=5
0=0
F=6
P=7 Y=8
G=7
R=9 Z=9
H=8
S=2
By checking the 9th
Character Check Digit of the VIN for accuracy, you may avoid
purchasing a stolen vehicle.
The next 4 lines are the weights. You will have undoubtedly heard of
terms like "Kerbside" and unladen (The full list being in
the owners manual that you will already have read....)
The 2350 is the all up
weight of the vehicle as it is on the road. How you make up this
weight is up to you (fuel, passengers, tow ball weight, roof rack etc)
but exceed it and it's go straight to jail and don't stop to collect
£200 if caught.
The next one is the "Train" weight. This is the most the
vehicle and a trailer can weigh. Note the car on it's own (that is if
the cars wheels only are on the weighbridge) cannot exceed 2350kg so
if the car is 2350 then the trailer can't be more than 1100kg. It may
be that you can have a heavier trailer but in this case the car MUST
be lightened as the total cannot exceed 3450kg.
The exact amount the trailer can be will be in the book (not on the
plate) and will relate to the type of towbar, vehicle and other things
(some are down rated if 2 passengers are in the car).
If the vehicle is plated at over 3500kg either as a vehicle on
it's own or if the trailer plate + vehicle plate > 3500kg you may
need a tachometer - watch this if you are a limited company and have
say a trafic or master van and a trailer!
The next 2 are the
maximum front, then back axle weights. Although the vehicle total
weight cannot exceed the maximum (in this case 2350) each individual
axle must not be breached so don't over fill the boot, spread it
around. Some vehicles may be close to the weight when bought (like
diesels) as it's known you can't really put more in the engine bay.
The lower plaque contains most of the information needed to locate
parts.
JE02 - This is the vehicle type in this case one of the Renault Espace
Range
1****** Vehicle number - may start with a letter
E2 - Type Approval
The other numbers relate to colour, (NV274) trim level and options.
by 2004 They were using adhesive labels:
On earlier cars (1997), you plate may look like this:
1995-1997
Before this the cars used what were known as Oval and Diamond Plates.
Number 1 is the Type.
This type was used on
earlier models. The R number is the model - listed on the model data.
The number is the chassis number. This one is not an original and
could raise issues at both MOT and inspection stage unless the
supporting numbers and documents cross reference.
As an additional check, there should be a second copy of the chassis
number in other places:
5,
9, 11, 21, 25, GTA
Offside
suspension top in the form of a series of dots
In a moment of madness
it occurred to me there was no real list of paint codes. I guess one
will never be complete but I did get this list and it seems a good
starting point. Maybe if you know more you can email me parts@renaultownersclub.com
and I will add them.
- Photo - 
- Specifications - 
- Videos (Some contain minimum age recommendations)
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