The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is located
on the upper left corner of the instrument panel,
near the left A-Pillar. The VIN consists of 17 characters in a combination of letters and numbers that
provide specific information about the vehicle (Fig.
1). Refer to VIN Code Decoding Chart.
To protect the consumer from theft and possible
fraud the manufacturer is required to include a
Check Digit at the ninth position of the Vehicle Identification Number. The check digit is used by the
manufacturer and government agencies to verify the
authenticity of the vehicle and official documentation. The formula to use the check digit is not
released to the general public.
METRIC SYSTEM....................... 7
STANDARD BODY DIMENSIONS ............ 3
TORQUE REFERENCES ................. 10
VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ......... 1
VEHICLE SAFETY CERTIFICATION LABEL .... 2
Fig. 1 Vehicle Identification Number
Page 2
2INTRODUCTIONPL
GENERAL INFORMATION (Continued)
VIN CODE DECODING
POSITIONINTERPRETATIONCODE = DESCRIPTION
1Country of Origin1= United states
3= Mexico
2MakeB= Dodge
P= Plymouth
3Vehicle Type3 = Passenger Car
4Pass. SafetyE = Active Restraints, Driver &
Passenger Airbags
5Car LineS = Neon / Neon Sport (sold in
U.S./Canada)
6= Neon/Neon Sport (sold in Mexico)
6Series2 = Low Line
T = Toluca
12 Thru 17Vehicle Build SequenceAssembly Sequence
VEHICLE SAFETY CERTIFICATION LABEL
A vehicle safety certification label (Fig. 2) is
attached to the rear facing of the driver’s door. This
label indicates date of manufacture (month and
year), Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) front, Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR) rear and the Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN). The Month, Day and Hour of manufacture is also included.
All communications or inquiries regarding the
vehicle should include the Month-Day-Hour and
Vehicle Identification Number.
BODY CODE EMBOSS
The Body Code Emboss is located in the engine
compartment on the front of the right strut tower.
There are two lines of information in the body code
emboss.
BODY CODE EMBOSS LINE 1
Line 1 contains the Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN). Refer to Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
paragraph for proper breakdown of VIN code.
Fig. 2 Vehicle Safety Certification Label
BODY CODE EMBOSS LINE 2
DIGITS 1-3 —Paint Code
Refer to Group 23, Body for paint information.
DIGITS 4-7 —Trim Code
Refer to Parts Catalog for more information.
DIGITS 5-10 —Open
DIGITS 11-14 —Vehicle Order Number
Page 3
PLINTRODUCTION3
GENERAL INFORMATION (Continued)
STANDARD BODY DIMENSIONS
INTERIOR DIMENSIONS
CAR
PLPL-421005 mm928 mm1080 mm891 mm1333 mm1329 mm1290 mm1286 mm
PLPL-221005 mm928 mm1080 mm891 mm1321 mm1391 mm1277 mm1369 mm
BODY
STYLE
HEAD ROOMLEG ROOMSHOULDER ROOMHIP ROOM
FRONTREARFRONTREARFRONTREARFRONTREAR
39.6 in.36.5 in.42.5 in.35.1 in.52.5 in.52.3 in.50.8 in.50.6 in.
39.6 in.36.5 in.42.5 in.35.1 in.52.0 in.54.7 in.50.3 in.53.9 in.
controls. The symbols correspond to the controls and
displays that are located on the instrument panel.
The graphic symbols illustrated in the following
chart (Fig. 3) are used to identify various instrument
INTERNATIONAL CONTROL AND DISPLAY SYMBOLS
Fig. 3
Page 4
4INTRODUCTIONPL
GENERAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FASTENER IDENTIFICATION
FASTENER IDENTIFICATION
THREAD IDENTIFICATION
SAE and metric bolt/nut threads are not the same.
The difference is described in the Thread Notation
chart (Fig. 4).
Fig. 4 Thread Notation—SAE and Metric
GRADE/CLASS IDENTIFICATION
The SAE bolt strength grades range from grade 2
to grade 8. The higher the grade number, the greater
the bolt strength. Identification is determined by the
line marks on the top of each bolt head. The actual
bolt strength grade corresponds to the number of line
marks plus 2. The most commonly used metric bolt
strength classes are 9.8 and 12.9. The metric
strength class identification number is imprinted on
the head of the bolt. The higher the class number,
the greater the bolt strength. Some metric nuts are
imprinted with a single-digit strength class on the
nut face. Refer to the Fastener Identification and
Fastener Strength Charts.
Page 5
PLINTRODUCTION5
GENERAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FASTENER IDENTIFICATION
Page 6
HOW TO DETERMINE BOLT STRENGTH Hexagon head boltBolt head No.Stud boltNo markNo markHexagonflange boltw/washerhexagon boltNo markGroovedHexagon head boltTwo protrudinglinesHexagonflange boltw/washerhexagon boltTwo protruding linesWelded boltHexagon headboltThree protrud-ing linesHexagon headboltFour protrudinglines
6INTRODUCTIONPL
GENERAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FASTENER STRENGTH
Page 7
PLINTRODUCTION7
GENERAL INFORMATION (Continued)
METRIC SYSTEM
WARNING: USE OF AN INCORRECT FASTENER
MAY RESULT IN COMPONENT DAMAGE OR PERSONAL INJURY.
Figure art, specifications and torque references in
this Service Manual are identified in metric and SAE
format.
During any maintenance or repair procedures, it is
important to salvage metric fasteners (nuts, bolts,
etc.) for reassembly. If the fastener is not salvageable, a fastener of equivalent specification should be
used.
ten, one hundred, one thousand and one million (Fig.
5).
Mega - (M) MillionDeci - (D) Tenth
Kilo - (K) ThousandCenti - (C) Hundredth
Milli - (m) Thousandth
Fig. 5 Metric Prefixes
The following chart will assist in converting metric
units to equivalent English and SAE units, or vise
versa.
Refer to the Conversion Chart to convert torque
values listed in metric Newton- meters (N·m). Also,
use the chart to convert between millimeters (mm)
and inches (in.)
COMMON METRIC EQUIVALENTS
1 Inch= 25 Millimeters1 Cubic
Inch
1 Foot= 0.3 Meter1 Cubic
Foot
1 Yard= 0.9 Meter1 Cubic
Yard
1 Mile= 1.6 Kilometers
= 16 Cubic Centimeters
= 0.03 Cubic Meter
= 0.8 Cubic Meter