DOes this VIN have a TORSEN
 

Can anyone help me search to see if this Diff has a Torsen? I just stumbled across a totally wrecked Miata this morning, and the only thing it has left in it is the diff with a broken hanger.

JM1NA351XV0721469

Thanks, Marc

Check that VIN...it's not valid.


Tony

Looks valid to me. See: http://www.hazmat.com/~mjb/candm/decoder/

It's a '97, so it's possible, but that's all we can say from the VIN alone. You need to check the original build records. Call Mazda USA and ask them what option packages the car had. Then compare to this: http://www.miata.net/faq/features.html

Make sure it did not have an automatic.

If the side axles have been removed (you said the diff was all that was left) then you can tell just by looking sideways through the axle holes. If there's a bar in the middle, it's not a Torsen. If it's wide-open, it's a Torsen.

If you know what you're looking for, you can also tell by looking through the oil fill hole.

Double check the VIN is all I can say.

Joe, that is not the best place to check for Mazda VINs.


As far as a quick check for a torsen...if the vehicle has power windows it would have a torsen.


Tony

you can call mazda directly and they can tell you what came with your particular car

And as far as I can tell, you aren't the greatest source of wealth either. VIN pulls up records in carfax.

Well, that is not nice is it...interesting...I guess it's your loss, not mine.

Tony

wow, you are lucky to even find one in the wrecking yard!! strip any parts you may need and put the rest on ebay.

You're right, it isn't. Mazda USA is. Which i why I said:
"You need to check the original build records. Call Mazda USA and ask them what option packages the car had."

This is how I verified that the "purple" car which a junkyard in Arizona had was in fact "Merlot Mica", and therefore an M-edition, which with a 5-speed meant that it must have had a Torsen. And it did.


You fail.

Touring Package cars had power windows and did not have Torsens. And no cars with automatic transmissions had a Torsen, regardless of power windows.

Additionally, the "power windows" test ignores the R package cars, all of which had Torsens, and none of which had power windows.

my loss? wtf?! :jerkit:

STO also didn't have Torsen.

Marc, shoot the VIN to me in email, ben at mazmart dot com
And I'll run it on Monday.

My experience has always been on matching the power windows to the torsen ...but if that is wrong, I stand corrected.


But back to my original point...the posted VIN: JM1NA351XV0721469 is wrong...period.

Tony

VIN JM1NA351XV0721469
Year/Make/Model: 1997 MAZDA MIATA
Body Style: CONVERTIBLE
Engine Type: 1.8L L4 FI DOHC 16V
Manufactured In: JAPAN
Search Results: 10 records found in our database


http://www.miata.net/faq/Miata90-97A3.pdf


so where is this great source that you know it's wrong?