Here is a typical  Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) for Skoda Felicia: TMBEEA613V0419133. It is taken from the registration certificate and from the metallic tag located near the lock of the bonnet. We all know that we are asked for it each time we order parts. And each time we get the same answer: Invalid VIN: Failed Checksum. That is because the 9th digit of VIN is a checksum that doesn't match the result of the algorithm.

 

There are many VIN Decoders online that issue the same error. So my question is: does anyone know why Skoda Felicia VIN numbers are not valid?

 

 

 

No idea sorry.

Comes up here though.

http://www.vindecoder.eu/skoda 

53 minutes ago, AwaoffSki said:

Comes up here though.

http://www.vindecoder.eu/skoda 

My guess is that site and probably others are not cross checking the checksum digit against the algorithm.

 

In case somebody wants to know what algorithm is used, here is a link.

Here is a page that checks the validity of VIN and tells what is the correct 9th digit. In our given VIN we see it's not valid because the 9th digit should be 2, not 3.

 

TMBEEA613V0419133

Well, using the Wikibooks page and setting the weight on the check digit as zero, I get 277 as the sum of products, and 2 as the check digit from your VIN in post #1. For anyone unfamiliar with Excel it will calculate a modulus using the formula "=MOD(number, divisor)".

Edited 5 April, 20188 yr by KenONeill

The same thing happens for other Felicia VIN numbers. You can see below other 9 VIN numbers posted in this forum section.

On the left there are original numbers, on the right corrected numbers.

 

TMBEEA614T0242771    TMBEEA617T0242771
TMBEEA414S0069928    TMBEEA411S0069928
TMBEEA614W0806807    TMBEEA611W0806807
TMBEFF61317331676    TMBEFF61017331676
TMBEEA61317330229    TMBEEA61617330229
TMBEEA614T0175257    TMBEEA618T0175257
TMBEEA614T0171143    TMBEEA616T0171143
TMBEEA654T0176818    TMBEEA651T0176818
TMBEEA613W0839991    TMBEEA619W0839991

Actually, are you certain that Skoda used the check digit? My reading of the Wikibooks page suggests that they well not have because it's not mandatory in Europe, only in North America.

Since the VIN was adopted by the VAG concern and Skoda Felicia had been manufactured as part of VAG, I don't see why would had Skoda disregarded the security digit.

It's like "We agree VIN should have 17 characters. We agree the meaning of each group in it... but heck... we don't care of that algorithm, it's too complicated. Let's put a random digit in place of 9th character..."