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by george dyke on December 2nd, 2003

george dyke

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Can I tell from my Vehicle Identification Number whether my car is a front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive vehicle?

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  • by Daniel on October 21st, 2005

    Daniel

    The VIN plate of your car does not divulge the drive type in a form which you can decifer. You can however contact a dealership of the appropriate manufacturer and they can inform you of the original factory specification of the vehicle. Sometimes even down to the interior trim.
    If you simply want to know the drive type by any means there are various staggeringly obvious solutions. Here is one:

    Pull up to a junction.
    Turn the steering wheel until the front wheels point in the direction you wish to travel. Select first gear.
    Cancel all traction control systems where fitted.
    Rev engine to the limiter.
    Dump clutch.

    If your vehicle ends up facing the way you came from, it is rear wheel drive

    If your vehicle makes a lot of noise, ruins a pair of tyres and doesn't move, it's front wheel drive.

    If your vehicle smashes through the brick wall in front of you it probably has 4 wheel drive.

    The last 3 statements are made toungue-in-cheek. If anyone fails to understand this and posts a comment about this answer then i feel sorry for you.

    The easiest way to determine driven wheels is to try to pull away fast on a loose surface and get a friend to tell you which wheels spin... from a safe distance.

    Comments

    • hahahaha wow ya I guess this is a good test on a test drive :)

      geek860

      by geek860 on December 28th, 2005

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