sportsb4life7

well i am really interested in this project 86 rx7.. its nice but needs work .... i want to run a carfax but i dont have the vin ..very long story but the owner has sort of abandoned car in a move for almost 2 years... i need a vin to locate the owner and stuff so how and where are some vins on the car without getting in the car,

I already know there is a vin on the dash BUT oddly it has been "broken off" or is not there for some reason... this makes me a little suspicious yet im still interested.... how else (even if i have to get dirty and under the car a little....(well by sqeezing underneeth it as much i can) how else can i get the vin ? thanks alot

FirstRotaryExp

iTrader: (3)

the vin should be on the firewall, passengers side stamped into the metal, and again in the drivers door jamb and door

sportsb4life7

uh i guess im unfamiliar with that first one... the firewall on the passenger side... where exactly is that?? BTW please remember i have no key to the car and i cant look under the hood or the doors for the VIN ... and the one on the dash is gone... thanks

FirstRotaryExp

iTrader: (3)

ahhh..then you may be fucked. Though if the tags are still on the vehicle you can take the plate number to the dmv and for a fee get teh info you want.

sportsb4life7

that sounds alrite if its under 10bucks i probally will thanks ...

sportsb4life7

ugg i just looked it up and i think its like 7/8 bucks but i have to do a whole fillout sheet and dum process and pay with a credit card or something in advance.... does anyone else know of any places to find the VIN... or an online record lok up with the plates
i mainly need to track down the owner, i have the plates but no vin yet... thanks

Trav

If you don't have a key and can't open the door or hood, then why even the serious interest in the car? If you don't even have that, and you're only interested in it for parts, then who cares what the carfax says. Either way, if you're seriously considering the car as a driver but you're buying it basically sight-unseen, then good luck! I think you may be asking for trouble...

However, if you seriously want to get into the engine bay it's going to take a little effort. Get under the car, drop the undertray (10mm bolts IIRC), reach up with pliers or something and pull the hood cable manually to pop it up. The cable (or more specifically the latch that it's attached to) will need to be pulled towards the driver's side of the car. If you've seen a hood latch on an FC then you should know what I mean. At that point, you can reach in from the front of the car under the hood and release the latch and raise the hood normally from there.

At that point you should be able to see the VIN on the firewall as FirstRotaryExp mentioned. The firewall is the "wall" between the passenger compartment and the engine compartment. Essentially you're looking for a VIN that is stamped into the metal at the top of that "wall" near the center.

Good luck!

AUGieDogie

iTrader: (4)

I only know of the one on the dash, which do occasionally break off. Mine has. The main one on the firewall,and the one on the doorframe sticker. Without the dash one i'm not sure any are visible.

Now since its not your car you really have no reason for getting into it. But keep in mind that sometimes similar keys work. my 87 turbo key opens the door to my 91 vert and i can start my t2 with the vert key. IF you decided to open it remmember you are breaking the law!!!!!! so check the number relock it and be a good ******* boy!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and remember a few bucks and some paperwork are worth it to not have to talk to a cop.


Disclamer- I am not condoning or encouraging anything so don't bitch me out.

sportsb4life7

its not that there is no key but the guy has moved away and has left it in a car lot with a for sale sign on it, he moved and stuff and then didnt leave is information so they dont have it, they are trying to get it for me...... and i dont or know anyone with an rx-7 to let me use there key.

wrankin

Since the car is not yours, the first thing you must try to do is to get ahold of the owner. It seems as though he has abandoned it so I believe that whomever owns the lot will have first dibs. If they just want it gone, then you should contact the local DMV and ask them about the details of what you need to do to take possesion of the car. Since you have no keys, you will have to break into the car. Call a locksmith or try it yourself with a slim jim (I recommend the locksmith if you want it done quickly).

Because the VIN plate is missing, and it's been abandoned, it could very well be a stolen car (although they do break off, esp if you have pulled the dash for any reason). A quick check of the plates with the DMV should let you know. I would do this first.

If you want to put it back on the road, you will have to have a new title issued (get the VIN off the firewall once you have broken in). Take the title to a Mazda dealer and have new keys made.

-bill

Trav

In my experience, abandoned cars are generally not worth the effort unless you're just getting it for parts and you can acquire it dirt cheap.

Goofy

Some inspection stickers list the VIN on them. At least, RI ones do.

sportsb4life7

well im gonna try to get to the dmv when i have time and see what they can do. thanks

ROTARYROCKET7

the one on the dash is the most stupid place to have the vin. Its on the plastic peice.
I heard winshields have vin numbers, i could be wrong but check

jason nyc