Hello.
I was pondering to buy an old honda accord, and checked the chassis number/vid number with wiki's data. I came up with something wierd.

Is it possible to tell what engine or spec level a car is from the vid?

Below's the number, and what wiki told me about it.

VID: J H M CB3 6 3 0 0 C ******
Origin: Japan
Make: Honda
Type: Passenger car, built in Japan
Model: Japan Version Accord, 2.2L
Body: 4 Door Sedan, Automatic
Grade: 2.1S Prelude
Year: zero isn't in the list
Assy: Sayama, Saitama, Japan

As you can see it both sais it's an accord 2.2 and a prelude 2.1. Curious and conflicting.
And it isn't helping that the vehicle registration sais HONDA ACCORD 2000 4D SEDAN
And the seller is calling it an Accord 2.0i EX

I haven't seen the car yet, but I know it's been licensed since march 19th 1990

Can someone tell me what the car is, and what I should look at when examining it?

 

The VIN number tells you exactly what the car should be. This is definitely not a 2000 Accord considering it has a CB3 VIN code. You need the next digit after the C to get the model year. However I can tell you that the CB3 came with the 2.0L F20A, and the 2.0EXLi was produced from Sept 89 - 92.

 

the next two digits are 02 - I don't know the last four.

Anyway, is the wiki just not specific enough to work with the car, or is the vin wrong somehow?

 

VIN JHMCB36300C02

J = Nation of origin - Japan
H = Manufacturer - Honda
M = Vehicle type - Passenger car built in Japan
CB3 = Model - Japan Version Accord
6 = Body type & transmission - 4 Door Sedan, Automatic
3 = Grade - incorrect digit for an Accord
0 = Check digit
0 = Model year - Incorrect digit / Nether the digit 0 or letter O are used in this position. 1990 (L), 1991 (M), 1992 (N) & 2000 (Y)
C = Assembly plant - Sayama, Japan
02XXX = Production sequence number

I'm guessing that the VIN number may be a bit screwed up.

 

VIN JHMCB36300Cxxxxxx

This is the Japan made Honda Accord EX 4d, 1990 or 1991 model, 2.0 carburetor engine (F20A3), automatic transmission.

 

Carb? naa that can't be! there's clearly injection on this thing. That much I can tell from the pictures.

Anyway, in an hour or so I'll drive up there and have a look.

Is there anything special I should check not being broken or rusty?

 

Danny you were right after all. It is a carb version.

 

The VIN can only tell how the car was manufactured 20 years ago: i guess a lot of things could have been changed in its live.
Thanks for confirming: was already wondering if someone had replaced the engine.

 

Know of any cheap way to make that particular engine perform better? preferably without breaking local law (prohibiting replacing the block with one offering more than a 20% performance increase).

Being someone who primarily dabbles in 70s opel cars, I know nothing about honda. But appearently there are quite a selection of engines. Autodata doesn't tell me much about the difference between them though.

Apart from some rust on the rear suspension the car looked really well, so I bought it.

 

You could start by doing some maintenance work: doesn't cost much.
cleaning carburator
valve adjustment
replace airfilter, spark plugs
replace engine oil, transmission fluid

If you want to look for more info: the engine type is F20A3 (2.0 16 valve SOHC).

 

Ye I'll have those things done at work (I only have to pay for the parts there)
I'll see if dr google has some cheap suggestions for me tomorrow.

Thanks for your answers.