Toyota I.D. codes (after 1977).

This is a mirror of the disappeared pages by Stepho. Revived through the internet archive.

The code starting with “JT2RA42” is the VIN. We are not interested in it.
We are interested in the “MODEL” code.

A lot of this information came from Arvin’s page on Jose’s All Wheel Motion Celica GT-4 site.

Cars made by Australian Motor Industries often miss large portions of these codes.
I have seen Corollas with the code COROLLA stamped on them instead of AE82-E...
and Coronas with the code XT130 stamped on them instead of XT130-TE....

These codes seem to have trouble with Hiace (Tarago, Liteace, Townace, Serena, …), Hilux (4Runner) and Landcruiser (Prado) vehicles. If you have trouble with these vehicles then email me your code and I will see what I can do.

There are 3 possible codes that identify a car:

• Model code – lists engine family, body style and factory options
• Body serial number – list engine family, body style and unique serial number
• Vehicle Identification Number – Manufacturer, country, date, unique serial number – America only

Americans usually confuse the VIN with the model code because the VIN is the only number used by their government and insurance companies.
Most other places use the body serial number for unique identification.
Since the USA is the largest market, eventually the VIN was added for the rest of the world in the mid 1980’s but Toyota still uses the model code for determining which features your car has.

Sometimes there is a single letter at the front (eg “A-“, “B-“, …).
This is for Japanese spec cars only.
Each letter corresponds to compliance with a certain year’s anti-pollution laws.
E-TA45-ASMQF

Most I.D. codes start with the letter(s) for the engine family.
Newer cars like the Rav4 and Avalon use 2 letters, with the second letter of the engine code
sometimes merging with the first letter of the chassis code to make C.
Carina     E-TA45-ASMQF
Corolla T-18 TE72-ELMEGQ
Supra        JZA80-... (2JZ engine, A chassis)
Hiace SBV    RCH114-... (2RZ engine, XH chassis)

The second letter is the platform type.
Newer cars like the Rav4 and Avalon use 2 letters, with the second letter of the engine code
sometimes merging with the first letter of the chassis code to make C.
1980 Celica   TA40-BLMGF
1980 Carina E-TA45-ASMGF
1984 Carina   TT142
1984 Corona   ST141-MHDFB

The Carina was merged with the Corona in mid 1982.(ST140).
The Celica was merged with the Corona in mid 1985 (ST160).
The Corona Mark II is different to the standard Corona.

The next 2 or 3 numbers are the model code.
1980 Carina E-TA45-ASMQF
1984 Carina   TT142
Each new generation usually adds 20 to the old model code to get the new model code.
E.g.

Sometimes there is an “L” or “R” after the numbers but before the dash:
TE72R-ELMEGQ

Wagon and van models have a “G” or “V” just before the dash:

Wide bodied models have a “H” just before the dash.
Wide body just means wider flares around the wheels. 1992 Supra GA70H-BLMVZ

First code after the dash is the model type based on the same platform.
1981 Carina       E-TA46-AEKDS
1981 Celica       E-TA46-BCKES
1981 Celica Camry E-TA46-CEKDS
1984 Carina TT142-C
1986 Corona AT160-AEHDE
1986 Celica AT160-BLMSF
This code may be missing if this platform is not shared with any other model.

Next code is the body style:
E-TA45-ASMQF
  TE72R-ELMEGQ

The next code after the dash is the transmission type:
E-TA45-ASMQF

The next code is the trim level or grade:
E-TA45-ASMQF

The next code is the engine type:
E-TA45-ASMQF

The next code is the destination:
E-TA45-ASMQF_
  TE72R-ELMEGQ
  MA47L-BLMQEA
If this code is missing then it is probably a model sold in Japan.

The next code is the rear suspension:
RT132L-TEKRSY
RT132L-TEKRSMY
This code is only present when multiple suspension types are available.

The next code is the power steering:
RT142-EPGFB PS
This code is only present for cars made by Australian Motor Industries.

Colour codes

Colour codes now have their own page