Need Vin help

[missc4]

Ok here's the problem I have a 98 Mazda MPV all sport..{my baby} I bought a Chilton repair manual so we could fix things our selves or at least educate us some on the vechile.In the repair manual it shows how to find out what engine you have.A ford or Mazda engine it says the 8th digit over is a letter and you go by the letter to find out,Letter would be a JE or a U. But my 8th digit over is a 3.I have called our Mazda dealer they have no clue why there is a number and not a letter,,said it was a mazda engine,we called the dealer manufactor they have no clue either said it was a ford engine.So i have no clue what i have or why i have a number and no letter..Any help guys,,PLEASE,,lol..my complete vin is jm3lv5238w0837730

[mazda-fla]

If you have the 3.0 SOHC 18 valve engine, then you have a Mazda engine, that was in the 1989-1998 MPV. It is also the exact same engine that was in the Mazda 929. Also, there was a 929S that had dual overhead cams, a 3.0 DOHC. But that engine was also identical to the 3.0 SOHC 18 value engine. It just had different pistons and heads.

First Generation MPV's with 3.0 liter SOHC 155 hp V6 is a Japanese motor not Ford.

The Mazda pickups trucks (i.e., B3000) have a Ford 3.0 engine, but the Gen1 MPV has the Japanese JDM 3.0. That is where some people get confused. That is a totally different engine, just the liter displacement is 3.0, but is a whole different animal.

There are some in-line 4 cylinders, and diesel engines in some of the MPV's. But most in the United States are the 3.0 V6.

Those Chilton repair manuals are not worth lining a bird cage with. If you want to get a good manual that is specific to your van, then get a 1998 Mazda MPV Workshop Manual. That is what the techs. use at the Mazda Dealership.

You can get a copy at www.books4cars.com right now. Or maybe from www.trussvillemazda.com Or, if you wait long enough, you can probably find a used one on ebay.

[atashashane@hotmail.com]

The VIN# is usually located on the dash as well on the drivers side by the window in front of the steering wheel. Most likely it is the 8th digit that isn't registering. I had the same issue my digit is a 6 and I put a W in and it works

[paanbeen]

If you're talking bout where that site marks the 2nd section of the vin then you might be reading it wrong if it's the 11th digit then it's the assembly plant in which case it's the St. Louis, Mo plant and there's nowhere else in the vin that would have a "Z".