VIN: 7th digit query

I'm in the market for a RAV4, and I have been looking for a 2004 model.
According to the VIN decoder on the Toyota Fleet website
([url]http://fleet.toyota.com/html/vin_decoder.asp)[/url], the 7th digit
represents the restraint type.
[color=blue]
>From what I've been able to determine, in 2004 front driver and[/color]
passenger airbags were standard, and side and curtain airbags were
optional. It seems like every single 2004 RAV4 VIN I check (both in
person and over the net) has a "0" in the 7th spot, which appears to
mean "seatbelts with 2 airbags and curtain airbags". I've also found
that many older RAV4s ('97, '98) also have a "0" in the 7th spot, yet
side/curtain airbags weren't available.

I have two questions:
1. Does anyone know for sure that the "0" represents this restraint
package? I think it's odd that every single one of the hundreds of
2004 RAV4 VINs I've found on the net has the optional curtain airbags
installed????

2. Also, is there any way to tell whether curtain or side airbags exist
in a particular car? I'm taking one for a test drive later this week
and I wouldn't mind knowing what to look for. Should there be an SRS
sticker somewhere on the door/door jam?

Thanks!

"scooba_divr" <scooba_divr@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1165814075.515517.48300@80g2000cwy.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> I'm in the market for a RAV4, and I have been looking for a 2004 model.
> According to the VIN decoder on the Toyota Fleet website
> ([url]http://fleet.toyota.com/html/vin_decoder.asp)[/url], the 7th digit
> represents the restraint type.
>[color=green]
>>From what I've been able to determine, in 2004 front driver and[/color]
> passenger airbags were standard, and side and curtain airbags were
> optional. It seems like every single 2004 RAV4 VIN I check (both in
> person and over the net) has a "0" in the 7th spot, which appears to
> mean "seatbelts with 2 airbags and curtain airbags". I've also found
> that many older RAV4s ('97, '98) also have a "0" in the 7th spot, yet
> side/curtain airbags weren't available.
>
> I have two questions:
> 1. Does anyone know for sure that the "0" represents this restraint
> package? I think it's odd that every single one of the hundreds of
> 2004 RAV4 VINs I've found on the net has the optional curtain airbags
> installed????[/color]

IIRC, the 7th position in the VIN is the 4th digit of the 5-character
engine, model, and body style identifier, unless the system has changed.[color=blue]
>
> 2. Also, is there any way to tell whether curtain or side airbags exist
> in a particular car? I'm taking one for a test drive later this week
> and I wouldn't mind knowing what to look for. Should there be an SRS
> sticker somewhere on the door/door jam?
>
> Thanks!
>[/color]

There should be a sticker or embossed label on the side of the seats for
side airbags that say "side airbag" or "SRS." If there is a side curtain
air bag, there should be something embossed on the plastic trim on the A
pillar next to the windshield.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

Ray O wrote:
[color=blue]
> IIRC, the 7th position in the VIN is the 4th digit of the 5-character
> engine, model, and body style identifier, unless the system has changed.[/color]

According to what I've found on the net, the VIN changed for the 1996
model year. Current VINs use the 7th digit to represent the restraint
system in the car.

scooba_divr wrote:[color=blue]
> From what I've been able to determine, in 2004 front driver
> and passenger airbags were standard, and side and curtain
> airbags were optional.[/color]

Correct.

I have an '04 RAV4 which I purchased new.
It does not have side or curtain airbags.
It has a 0 in the 7th position.
[color=blue]
> It seems like every single 2004 RAV4 VIN I check (both in
> person and over the net) has a "0" in the 7th spot[/color]

OK.
[color=blue]
> which _appears_ to mean "seatbelts with 2 airbags
> *and curtain airbags*".[/color]

What leads you to that conclusion? Why do you believe that?
[color=blue]
> Does anyone know _for sure_ that the "0" represents this
> restraint package?[/color]

For sure? Not me.
[color=blue]
> I think it's odd that every single one of the hundreds of
> 2004 RAV4 VINs I've found on the net has the optional curtain
> airbags installed????[/color]

That certainly would be _very_ odd.

I looked at a lot of '04 RAV4s on multiple dealers' lots.
I never saw _one_ with side or curtain airbags on the sticker.
It was an option that Toyota apparently rarely delivered
to dealers.

From _that_ observation, plus looking at my own VIN,
I would draw exactly the opposite conclusion that you have.
0 = not present, if I were going to make an assumption.
[color=blue]
> Also, is there any way to tell whether curtain or side airbags
> exist in a particular car?[/color]

I believe that Ray's answer is correct. My car has an "SRS"
on the steering wheel and on the dash in front of the passenger
indicating air bags in those locations. There may even be a
law or regulation stating that there has to be an indicator
where an airbag is located. I believe that they're supposed
to be disabled when the car reaches EOL.

Can't you take a VIN to a dealer and they can look up
the exact configuration?

Yeah, I guess that's the next step. I thought that I could save myself
the time by checking here.

The site that's providing this information is Toyota's own VIN decoder,
so obviously it's incorrect.

The link by the way is:
[url]http://fleet.toyota.com/html/vin_decoder.asp[/url]


ll wrote:[color=blue]
> scooba_divr wrote:[color=green]
> > From what I've been able to determine, in 2004 front driver
> > and passenger airbags were standard, and side and curtain
> > airbags were optional.[/color]
>
> Correct.
>
> I have an '04 RAV4 which I purchased new.
> It does not have side or curtain airbags.
> It has a 0 in the 7th position.
>[color=green]
> > It seems like every single 2004 RAV4 VIN I check (both in
> > person and over the net) has a "0" in the 7th spot[/color]
>
> OK.
>[color=green]
> > which _appears_ to mean "seatbelts with 2 airbags
> > *and curtain airbags*".[/color]
>
> What leads you to that conclusion? Why do you believe that?
>[color=green]
> > Does anyone know _for sure_ that the "0" represents this
> > restraint package?[/color]
>
> For sure? Not me.
>[color=green]
> > I think it's odd that every single one of the hundreds of
> > 2004 RAV4 VINs I've found on the net has the optional curtain
> > airbags installed????[/color]
>
> That certainly would be _very_ odd.
>
> I looked at a lot of '04 RAV4s on multiple dealers' lots.
> I never saw _one_ with side or curtain airbags on the sticker.
> It was an option that Toyota apparently rarely delivered
> to dealers.
>
> From _that_ observation, plus looking at my own VIN,
> I would draw exactly the opposite conclusion that you have.
> 0 = not present, if I were going to make an assumption.
>[color=green]
> > Also, is there any way to tell whether curtain or side airbags
> > exist in a particular car?[/color]
>
> I believe that Ray's answer is correct. My car has an "SRS"
> on the steering wheel and on the dash in front of the passenger
> indicating air bags in those locations. There may even be a
> law or regulation stating that there has to be an indicator
> where an airbag is located. I believe that they're supposed
> to be disabled when the car reaches EOL.
>
> Can't you take a VIN to a dealer and they can look up
> the exact configuration?[/color]