Anyone have a 2002/3 service manual?

[NSX2398]

Ojas and I are trying to clarify the interpretation of the eigth digit of the VIN and in early pages of my 91 service manual, they provide a breakdown so I'm presuming they do the same in the newer ones and will have more valid choices for that digit. Some recent attempts to decode VINs of NSX's with automatics using the current interpretation from the FAQ has resulted in inconsistencies.

 

[nsxtasy]

The service manual only decodes the VIN for that particular year, not for all years. All '02-03 NSXs in North America have a "6" in the eighth digit.

Some recent attempts to decode VINs of NSX's with automatics using the current interpretation from the FAQ has resulted in inconsistencies.

Here is what it says in the FAQ about the eighth digit:

2 = 1999 Zanardi Edition (Coupe with Manual Steering, Dual Airbag, Active Belt)
3 = 1997+ NSX Coupe with Power Steering, Dual Airbag, Active Belt
5 = 1991-1994 NSX Coupe with Manual Steering, Driver or Dual Airbag, Active Belt
6 = 1997+ NSX-T with Power Steering, Dual Airbag, Active Belt
8 = 1995-1996 NSX-T with Power Steering, Dual Airbag, Active Belt

As you can see, '91-94 automatics don't fall into any of these categories, but they have a "6" in the eighth digit.

As noted in the FAQ, '95-96 automatic NSX-T has an "8", '97-03 automatic NSX-T has a "6", and '97-01 automatic NSX Coupe has a "3".

I don't know what the '96 automatic NSX Coupe has for the eighth digit but there were only three such cars sold in the States.

 

[NSX2398]

As you can see, '91-94 automatics don't fall into any of these categories, but they have a "6" in the eighth digit.

Then I guess what I'm suggesting is that the category description in the FAQ is wrong .. where did it come from? I have a '92 service manual which says that a '5' means '5sp manual' and a '6' means '4sp auto' so who decided that a '6' meant '97+ NSX-T'?

 

[nsxtasy]

Then I guess what I'm suggesting is that the category description in the FAQ is wrong ..

It's not wrong. It's incomplete.

where did it come from?

Probably from somebody who looked at a few service manuals instead of getting a complete translation for all years.

I have a '92 service manual which says that a '5' means '5sp manual' and a '6' means '4sp auto'

Not exactly. The '92 service manual says that the combination of "15" in the seventh and eighth digits means 5 speed manual, and "26" means 4-speed automatic.

who decided that a '6' meant '97+ NSX-T'?

Honda. The company that makes the cars can decide how to use most of the digits that don't have a standard translation for all makes of cars. This includes the eighth digit.

 

[NSX2398]

It's not wrong. It's incomplete.

If it's incomplete, then by definition, it's wrong

Not exactly. The '92 service manual says that the combination of "15" in the seventh and eighth digits means 5 speed manual, and "26" means 4-speed automatic.
I stand corrected. Although the service manual doesn't make the distinction, the FAQ interpretation says that the 7th digit determines the transmission type so, in effect, the '92 manual provides no added information over what can already be gleaned from the 7th digit.

The company that makes the cars can decide how to use most of the digits that don't have a standard translation for all makes of cars. This includes the eighth digit.
What I was meaning is 'who is the author of what's in the FAQ?' so we can contact them and find out why it's 'incomplete' as you say

 

[nsxtasy]

Although the service manual doesn't make the distinction, the FAQ interpretation says that the 7th digit determines the transmission type so, in effect, the '92 manual provides no added information over what can already be gleaned from the 7th digit.

If you review the definitions of the way the 8th digit is used, you'll notice that for many years, 5 is used to denote manual steering and 6 to denote power steering. So viewed in that regard, it does indeed provide additional information. Does this make you feel any better?

What I was meaning is 'who is the author of what's in the FAQ?' so we can contact them and find out why it's 'incomplete' as you say

Look in the FAQ.

The owner of NSXprime is also the compiler of the FAQ, and the author of many parts; for many other parts, contributors are credited.

Here's how to contact him:

1. Click on FAQ on the red bar at the top of this page.

2. Click on "FAQ Information".

3. Click on "Feedback".

You will then be looking at a web page entitled "Where do I send corrections or suggestions for the FAQ?"

 

[NSX2398]

So viewed in that regard, it does indeed provide additional information. Does this make you feel any better?

Nope .. you're quoting what the FAQ says .. what I said was that the '92 service manual doesn't provide any add'l information. I'll believe the FAQ when I see some hard evidence in an Acura publication.

The owner of NSXprime is also the compiler of the FAQ, and the author of many parts; for many other parts, contributors are credited. ... Here's how to contact him:

Good tip but I had already contacted Lud .. who sent me to Ojas .. who's VIN decoder was based on the FAQ .. so having come full circle, I started this thread thinking that someone else might know. The reason I'm being so anal about the interpretation will hopefully be revealed in the near future.

 

[nsxtasy]

what I said was that the '92 service manual doesn't provide any add'l information.

Actually, since the service manual specifies a combination of the seventh and eighth digit (15 or 26) translating to a five-speed or an automatic, one could easily make a case that all the meaningful information is in the eighth digit, and it's the seventh digit that doesn't provide any additional information.

I'll believe the FAQ when I see some hard evidence in an Acura publication.

Don't hold your breath; AFAIK no Acura publication other than the service manual has any mention of the translation of the individual digits of the VIN. So if you are demanding proof (PROOF! ) you are not likely to get any. And your crusade for the precise answers will remain unconsummated forever. Bummer, huh?

 

[jrehner]

I guess I do not get the argument--I have the 92 acura service manual and the way I see it and the way they describe it is that you have to look at both the 7th & 8th digits together to determine the trany type?

 

[NSX2398]

The VIN decoder information in the FAQ currently describes the 7th digit as the transmission type and the 8th digit as the model type. In the '91 service manual, it does not make that distinction and groups them together in describing the combination of transmission and model. It sounds like your '92 manual does the same.

The real question is how the '93, '94, '95, '96, '97, '98, '99, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003 manuals describe those digits. In the earlier years, there was only one model .. the coupe .. so it didn't make any sense to make a distinction, however, with the introduction of the 'T' roof, the Zanardi, and other models, the FAQ attempts to explain the various combinations. The problem is that if the vehicle is an automatic, the 8th digit explanations are invalid in a large number of cases which may all be early years.

 

[nsxtasy]

The other issue is that the VIN specification in the service manual is applicable only for the market served by that service manual. Thus, while the 7th and 8th digits may operate only in tandem for U.S.-spec cars (as noted in the U.S. service manual), it's possible that each has a specific meaning in other markets.

 

[jrehner]

Okay----I figure the 93 service manual is the same as I have a 93 and my VIN has 15 in the 7Th & 8th spots and so likely the description is the same as the 92 & 91-----I guess we need someone from overseas to advise as to what their manuals indicate