Welcome to Hydraulic Information



History of Hydraulic Jacks

Hydraulic jacks are widely used all across the globe. They have a lot of relevance in the present era, as they have made an incredible contribution in making our life much more comfortable than it was before. These jacks have outweighed conventional screw jacks that were in use at some point of time. They consist of two cylinders joined together. It works on the principle of Pascal's law which suggests that when there is an increase in pressure at any point in a container of fluid, there is an equal increase in pressure at every other point in the container.

History

The origin of hydraulic jacks can be dated several years ago when Richard Dudgeon, the owner and inventor of hydraulic jacks, started a machine shop. In the year 1851, he was granted a patent for his hydraulic jack. In the year 1855, he literally amazed onlookers in New York when he drove from his abode to his place of work in a steam carriage. It produced a very weird noise that disturbed the horses and so its usage was limited to a single street. Richard made a claim that his invention had the power to carry near about 10 people on a single barrel of anthracite coal at a speed of 14 m.p.h. Dudgeon deserves a special credit for his innumerable inventions including the roller boiler tube expanders, filter press jacks, pulling jacks, heavy plate hydraulic hole punches and various kinds of lifting jacks.

Common Types

Floor Jacks: These jacks are primarily used to lift heavy equipments from the surface of the floor. It is more often used to change the tyres of vehicles. Floor jack is known by different names such as garage jack and car jack. Nowadays, you can find more powerful jacks in the market that use hydraulic power for maximum lift.

Hydraulic Bottle Jacks: Hydraulic bottle are versatile since they can be placed in tight spots and provides good leverage. They have a longer handle as compared to rest of the hydraulic jacks and push up against a lever that gives a lift to the main lift arm. With their use, it is possible to give a greater lift per stroke. They are extensively used in the construction of buildings and repairing the foundation of houses. It has also been found to be very useful in search and rescue operations.

Long Ram Jacks: In simple terms, it is a hydraulic jack with a long size ram. Its lever handle is quite easy to use. It is primarily used for performing various types of repairing work.

Shop Press jacks: They are of great use in press jobs where there arises a need to generate tremendous pressure with minimum effort.

Another popular form of jack that enjoys high demand in the market is the Porta Power Jack.

Redboxtools is a leading supplier of hydraulic jacks in the whole of the US. We offer an extensive range of hydraulic jacks, at the most affordable prices. We aim for excellence and strive hard to live up to the expectations of our customers. We also provide a money back guarantee on each of our products. If there is anything we can do to improve your customer experience with Red Box Tools, please call us at 877-874-4856 or contact us online at any time at: http://www.redboxtools.com

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Hydraulic Pumps

Hydraulic pumps convert mechanical energy and motion into hydraulic fluid power and are usually powered by gas or electricity. However, hand and air driven pumps are also utilized. There are three main types of hydraulic pumps used in the fluid power industry, namely vane pumps, gear pumps, and piston pumps. These are all positive displacement pumps, meaning that they transfer a calculated quantity of pressurized hydraulic fluid into a hydraulic system. This fluid progresses to the necessary component and its pressure is reconverted to mechanical force.

A general hydraulic pump design can be further categorized into specific groups. For example, piston pumps can be radial, axial, in-line reciprocating, or axial bent-axis piston pumps. Vane pumps are either cam or sliding vane pumps. Pumps can be further subcategorized according to the modifications made for special applications. These pumps show a great variety in design. Irrespective of the design, all hydraulic pumps are to be used with fluids of definite viscosity. Changes in fluid viscosity will cause altered performance, often lowering the efficiency. Most pumps get damaged by any solid particles in hydraulic fluid, and, hence, require a filtration system.

A hydraulic pump is a very important component of construction, manufacturing, and machining equipment. It is responsible for a machine's precision, its efficiency, and overall performance of an entire system. Various materials are used in hydraulic pumps to minimize wear and provide consistent performance. The type of material used varies according to pressures and temperatures that a hydraulic system will undergo. A number of plastics, synthetic rubbers, and steel alloys are used in the manufacturing of hydraulic pumps. High-strength alloys and polymers are used in high-pressure systems.

When choosing a pump, it is recommended to consider factors like operating pressure, temperature, and frequency. For applications requiring minimal pressures, less expensive, low-pressure pumps are available. Some examples of hydraulic pump manufacturers are Lifco Hydraulics, Inc., Flint Hydraulics, Inc., HYSECO, Inc., and Craft Fluid Systems.

Pumps provides detailed information on Pumps, Water Pumps, Heat Pumps, Sump Pumps and more. Pumps is affiliated with Sun Powered Heat Pumps.

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Hydraulic Boat Lifts

Among a variety of technologically advanced and mechanically upgraded boatlifts, hydraulic boatlifts deserve special mention. In the search for protection that's tough on waves - but easy on the environment and community aesthetics - many have found a solution in floating wave attenuators.

Most hydraulic boatlifts are standard with non-corrosive stainless steel bolts, stainless cable and brass nuts, giving you many years of service while maintaining a clean appearance. Thick urethane sheaves are used to maximize cable life and to ensure lasting performance under heavy use. Most of the hydraulic vertical lifts offer rigid diagonal V-bracing on both sides, giving uncompromised strength on demand when your boat is raised to maximum height. There are a number of companies who offer a variety of hydraulic boats ready to give these pleasures and advantages. Certain characteristics and features of hydraulic should be highlighted:

The hydraulic cylinder is enclosed in a beam assembly. Stainless bolts, pins, and brass nuts are used on all lifts and accessories to provide years of reliable service. The hydraulic pump, motor, and battery are enclosed in a poly box that can be locked to protect your investment.

The hydraulic lift comes standard with a two-button remote for raising and lowering the lift. Additional remotes are available and are easy to program to each specific unit.

No matter which kind of hydraulic boatlift you choose, see if you can get a one-year warranty, or an even longer one if possible. That way, if it ever breaks down, you won't end up throwing away even more money than you spent in the first place. A boatlift is meant to save you money on repairing your boat; it should never become an ongoing expense unto itself.

Boat Lifts provides detailed information on boat lifts, used boat lifts, floating boat lifts, boat lift motors and more. Boat Lifts is affiliated with Boat Docks.

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MTS extreme-duty container dumper

Unit is designed to discharge bulk containers of wood and scrap.

* Discharges material at 50 inches above floor level.

* Has a capacity of 6,000 pounds.

* Designed for a duty cycle of 80 cycles per day.

* Skip meassures 80 inches wide by 82 inches deep.

* Equipment can be custom designed to meet specific applications requirements.

* Hydraulic system provides smooth, controlled bucket rotation..

Filtration products

Luber-finer, a division of Champion Laboratories, has recently launched its redesigned website www.luberfiner.com. The new site includes all of Luber-finer's technical bulletins, and industry- and product-related information on each of its six filter lines: lube, fuel, air, coolant, hydraulic and automotive.

New DISCMAN Manufacturing Software from DISC based on BASIS International's BBx

Columbia Pictures' "Anaconda" Wouldn't Make A Move Without Them

The giant Anaconda snake that slithered its way across theater screens early this year wasn't given "star" billing and won't be considered for an Academy Award. If it could win the "best actor" title, however, it might include Distributed Information Systems Corporation, DISC(R), and extended Business Basic, BBx(R), in its long list of on-camera "thank you's." This particular Hollywood snake is one of many hydraulically operated devices found in everything from the Dumbo ride in Disneyland to the trash compactor in the average garbage truck. DISC is a software supplier to distributors who serve the behind-the-scenes world of hydraulics and pneumatics -- including those specifically involved in making the "Anaconda" and its audiences squirm. The company's DISC software has been used for years in running distribution and manufacturers' rep businesses on IBM RS/6000 platforms.

DISC's new DISC*MAN(TM) has been developed to support manufacturing firms in general, and those in fluid control systems in particular. DISC*MAN provides them with facilities for scheduling, inventory management, opening new jobs, partial shipment accounting, drill-down cost inquiry, and unlimited levels of bills of material, to name a few. The new system borrows heavily from the 2,500-program suite for distributors, but adds and modifies hundreds of modules. DISC*MAN, like DISC, is implemented in BASIS International's version of extended Business Basic, BBx, and runs on the IBM RS/6000. "BBx made production of the new system much easier," says Ray Hrdy, DISC's vice president of technology. "Because it's an interpreted language, coding and checkout was much quicker. Our developers could stop, fix, and restart an operation without first going back to recompile. That saves a lot of time.

"Its CALL program capabilities allowed us to access common procedures from any part of the program without having multiple copies compiled in. That's a very powerful feature," added Hrdy. "And our ODBC program for database access is directly based on the BASIS ODBC Driver(TM). Having that made it possible to import a bill of materials directly from a CAD/CAM system, automatically generating a customer order and job.

"In fact, I'd say that BBx was one of the reasons that the first release of DISC*MAN had fewer bugs than any new large-scale development this company has ever been involved with."

DISC*MAN is available directly from Distributor Information Systems Corporation, 135 South Road, Farmington, CT 06032-2556. The company is an IBM Premier Business Partner and has twice been awarded IBM's "Mark of Quality" award. DISC can be reached by phone at 800/PIC-DISC or 860/674-0550, by fax at 860/678-8601, or at its e-mail or web addresses mktg@discmail.com and www.disclink.com .

About BASIS International

BASIS International Ltd. is the world's largest producer of application development tools for the Business Basic language. Nearly 1.5 million users are currently running applications written in BBx, the company's original multiuser, multitasking extension of the language, or in one of the versions which succeeded it. The company's current flagship products, PRO/5(TM) and Visual PRO/5(TM), retain all of the traditional capabilities of the language while adding such features as a graphical user interface (GUI), Auditing, Transaction Tracking, and Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE). BASIS also offers the BASIS ODBC Driver, which gives developers and end-users a simple method of consolidating and providing transparent access to both normalized and non-normalized legacy data from multiple databases spanning a host of platforms.

The company is headquartered at 5901 Jefferson Street NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109-3432. Additional information is available by phone at 505/345-5232, by fax at 505/345-5082, or at its e-mail info@basis.com or web address www.basis.com . -0-

DISC*MAN(TM) is a trademark of Distributor Information Systems Corporation and DISC(R) is a registered trademark of Distributor Information Systems Corporation. PRO/5(TM), Visual PRO/5(TM), and BASIS ODBC Driver(TM) are trademarks of BASIS International Ltd. BBx(R) is a registered trademark of BASIS International Ltd. All other product names and brand names are service marks and/or trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

Caterpillar H140Ds Hydraulic Hammer - Product News

The HD140Ds Hydraulic Hammer is billed by the Peoria, Ill., company as "the first of a new generation of work tools for the construction, demolition, mining and aggregates industries."

* Ideally matched with the Cat 325C and 330C hydraulic excavators and similarly-sized competitive models.

* Hammer measures 103.9 inches from top plate to the tip of the tool with an impact energy rating of 3,155 ft.-lb.

* Operating weight is 5,100 pounds.

* Impact frequency is 350 to 600 blows per minute--25 percent to 30 percent higher than the previous design.

What You Should know Before Shelling Out The Big Bucks To Buy A Boxflex Treadclimber

Lately there has been a lot of dispute in the fitness world over a particular piece of exercise equipment called the bowflex treadclimber. Supposedly, you can get fantastic results using this machine without having to resort to grueling exercise like running due to the fact that the TreadClimber's unique use of a combination of a combination of movements.

To date there are 5 treadclimber models available. This article will attempt to sort these machines out for you and let you the good, bad, and the ugly about the treadclimber line.

All of the Boxflex treadclimbers combine the forward action of a treadmill, upward action of a stair climber, and low-impact motion of an elliptical trainer. It would seem that this is the ultimate workout machine. And it would be if it weren't for a minor "glitch" that we have discovered on the lower end models.

What we have found is that with the base models is that there is not a smooth resistance transition. So what the heck does that mean?!

Resistance is what makes the treadclimber adjust from easy to hard to actually tread on. Contrary to what people think, it has nothing to do with making the machine go fast or slow. Generally speaking, most machines that have resistance ability have little arrows on the center console to let the user change the resistance. The Bowflex Treadclimber however does not include these arrows. Instead it has a hydraulic system with knobs above each piston. It is nearly impossible to change these resistance levers while in motion using the machine. As a matter of fact Bowflex actually strongly suggest that you get off the machine when changing the resistance.

If you can get past this little gripe, then this IS actually a great machine that can lead to rapid weight loss. Overall this machine has a customer satisfaction rate of over 90 percent, which is good.

The bottom line is that if you don't expect to change the resistance during your workout plan and if you are looking at the treadclimber1000, for only $15 additional per month you get increased speed, additional bells and whistles and a much better user console. If you have cash to buy the 5000 or if you can afford the payments, then this is simply the best of the lot.

Why Replace Your Struts and Shocks?

You would need new shocks, and or struts if you are currently experiencing one or more of the indications to follow. Worn out, damaged, or leaking. Leaking is the easiest to determine, this is by basically checking for decrease in the fluid level in the reservoir. If the reservoir is not full, look for oil, or wetness on the shocks and struts. While you are at it, check for apparent broken mounts, and dented housing.

If you are not experiencing any of the indications, and did not see any visual leaking signs, however, still unsatisfied with the handling of your car when towing a trailer, or hauling an overload, you may want to consider upgrading the original factory shocks and struts. The upgrade would provide you with improved handling, and a smother drive, given that the new shocks are stronger, and stiffer.

Most people choose to replace the factory shocks and struts on older cars to strictly improve the overall quality of the drive. This eliminates the bouncing and rocking on rough roads. Furthermore, you may decide to upgrade your shocks and struts if you are interested in performance handling. This is archived by upgrading to gas charged shocks and struts. This type is charged with high pressure of nitrogen gas, which minimizes the hydraulic fluid foaming inside the shocks. This essentially reduces fading on rough roads, and assists in maintaining control at sharp turns.

Moreover, there are shocks and struts that fall into a different category. Heavy duty shocks and struts distinguished itself over the factory shocks and struts by a larger diameter pistons. This provides an increased control and improved resistance. Heavy duty shocks and struts are considered by experts to be too harsh for everyday driving. Last but not least, the air-assisted shocks. You would want to consider this type if you are constantly towing a trailer, or hauling extra cargo. It is also known as the overload, surrounded by a coil spring to help increase the loading capacity of the suspension. It may be useful to mention that the overload type dedicates a stiffer ride than the standard shocks, however, is equipped with an adjustable air bladder to assist in carrying extra weight.

Injection Molding Machines

The injection molding process was invented in 1872. Since then, the injection molding business and the plastic industry has ballooned into a multi billion dollar business venture. In fact, thirty two percent of plastics by weight are processed through injection molding. Injection molding has greatly helped in making the US economy boom because through it, cheap and durable consumer and industrial items essential to almost all industries is made possible.

Components of the injection molding machine

The injection molding machine converts granular or pelleted raw plastic into final molded parts through the use of a melt, inject, pack and cool cycle for thermoplastics.

A basic injection molding machine is typically composed of the following: injection system, hydraulic system, mold system, clamping system and control system. The clamping tonnage and shot size are both used in identifying the dimensions of the injection molding machine for thermoplastics, which is the main factor in the whole process. Other consideration include rate of injection, pressure, design of screw, thickness of the mold and distance between tie bars.

Functions of the machine

The injection molding machine can be classified into three categories, namely: general purpose machines, precision/tight-tolerance machines and high-speed thin-wall machines. All three types require auxiliary equipment to function. These support equipment includes dryers (resin), material handling equipment, granulators, mold temperature controllers and chillers, part-handling equipment and part-removal robots.

There are a lot of companies specializing in quality injection molding, but they are not all the same. The best ones fast, flexible and customer driven both for large and small quantities. These companies usually have state-of-the-art facility with full scale thermoplastic and thermoset capabilities, computer-aided manufacturing, skilled machine operators and quality assurance team.

The Benefits of Electric Wheelchair Lifts

Electric wheelchair lifts help to move the wheelchair to various places at multiple levels. Electric wheelchair lifts are less expensive than hydraulic wheelchair lifts and are easy to maintain. They contain an emergency, battery-lowering device which makes them ideal for use during power outages. Electric lifts can be fitted with automatic door openers or telephone jacks as per requirements.

Electric wheelchair lifts come in many different types, including home stair lifts and automobile lifts, as well as van ramps.

Home Stair lifts can be installed anywhere inside or outside the house. They are designed to take up less space and to be quiet and comfortable. Home stair lifts can rise up to 23 feet and can lift up to 350 pounds. Some custom designed lifts can even handle more weight. The price of home lifts ranges between $2,500 and $4,000.

Automobile lifts can be fitted into automobiles to accommodate electric wheelchairs. They are very easy to operate and can be operated by one person. They can also be assembled and disassembled easily. Automotive lifts can be fitted onto most vans and cars. The price of automobile wheelchair lifts can range from $700 to $3,000.

Wheelchair van ramps help to lift the wheelchair into a van. Van ramps are much more affordable and easy to use as they are spring-loaded for easy lifting. They are also easy to maintain, as they are not mechanical. Van ramps can be folded in half and stored vertically, thus minimizing storage space. The price of wheelchair van ramps usually ranges between $500 and $1,100.

Electric wheelchair lifts are made of strong materials for durability. They are permanently lubricated and contain steel-hardened gears for resisting corrosion. Electric wheelchair lifts are available with a number of options like rocker switches in the hand-held control, manual back-up systems (in case of power failure), an emergency crank through handle, and limited wiring.

Water Rower -- Just Like a Cruise Down the River Without Getting Wet

I used to row competitively in my youth, but since then, my rowing exercise had been limited to occasional workouts on an aging hydraulic machine.

I had no idea how much technology had advanced in this area, until I was offered a trial of a new WaterRower exercise machine.

The first obvious difference that I noticed was the use of a flywheel which used paddles to connect to a moving mass of water. Just like rowing on water, the connection was fluid, with none of the jerkiness and jarring typical of other rowing machines.

The WaterRower’s flywheel has been designed to emulate the dynamics of a boat moving through water. When rowing, the workout is generated by overcoming the effect of drag as the boat moves through the water… So with the Water Flywheel the workout is generated by overcoming the effect of drag as the water moves past the tank.

Many rowing machines imitate the action of rowing, but they do so mechanically and often lack the natural dynamics experienced when a boat and crew glide down a river. When a crew row down a river they work to overcome the effect of drag which acts against the hull of the boat. The faster the boat is propelled the greater the drag and the harder the crew must work.

The flywheel reproduces these same natural dynamics.

Like other naturally performed aerobic pursuits such as swimming, running and cycling, to increase your intensity you don’t increase resistance, you simply swim, run, cycle or row harder. The faster you go the higher your intensity.

When each crew member on a boat pulls a stroke, he or she works to accelerate the mass of the boat and crew. The effort is applied evenly throughout the whole stroke, utilizing the muscles of the legs, torso and upper body in unison, exercising the whole body uniformly.

Similarly, the rowers flywheel responds to the work applied, allowing constant effort through the whole stroke. This is unlike resistance based machines where effort is high at the beginning of the stroke and fades as the resistance is overcome.

My old hydraulic rower replicates the rowing action mechanically. This harsh action (as most rowing machine users will be aware) creates a mechanical fatigue, generating soreness and aching which are not experienced when actually rowing on water. The WaterRower replicates the action naturally, and hence is free from this mechanical fatigue.

This makes the exercise as pleasant as a row down the river. When rowing, an oarsperson works to overcome the effect of drag acting on the boat. The faster the boat moves, the more drag is created the harder the oarsperson must work to maintain that speed. The limit to how much work can be done is the oarsperson, their physiology, their ability to do work. The WaterRower’s flywheel replicates this self paced dynamic.

Ask most fitness equipment users to work harder and they will immediately reach for the knob or button designed to increase resistance. Naturally performed aerobic exercises such as rowing, swimming, running and cycling dont have knobs to turn or a buttons to push, so how do you work harder?

In naturally performed aerobic exercises you increase or decrease your exercise intensity simply by going faster or slower. You do not increase an imposed resistance on yourself, you simply choose the intensity at which you wish to exercise and go at a speed which relates to that intensity.

The equipment seemed to exercise all muscles evenly, and even a brief workout should burn calories and tone your body whether you are young or old, fit or unfit, ( like me!)

Just like a cruise down the river and I did not even get wet!

Medical Equipment Repair Education

Recent high school graduates may be interested in attaining a medical equipment repair education, as substantial job growth is projected in the coming years.

Although training varies from trade school to trade school, students attracted to this field can participate in medical equipment repair courses that lead to associate degrees or bachelor degrees in electronics systems technology or medical technology.

Students will learn how to adjust, calibrate, maintain, replace and repair electromechanical and hydraulic equipment. A quality medical equipment repair education offers students in-depth, hands-on instruction in a variety of trade-specific tools, such as computerized diagnostic tools, hand tools, electronic repair tools, multimeters, soldering irons, and other associated apparatus and software.

Additionally, medical equipment repair schools also offer specialized training in biomedical equipment. Graduates of these particular courses can go on to working with high-tech equipment such as CAT scanners, defibrillators, electric wheelchairs, heart monitors, ultrasound machines, and X-ray equipment.

Those who have completed a medical equipment repair education often work in hospital settings or in a variety of occupations calling for precision instrument repair. Typical earnings range from $17 to $32 per hour, depending on education and experience.

If you would like to learn more about Medical Equipment Repair Education Education and Medical Equipment Repair Schools, you can find more in-depth information and resources on our website.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.

Copyright 2007 - All rights reserved by SchoolsGalore.com, in association with Media Positive Communications, Inc.

Notice: Publishers are free to use this article on an ezine or website, provided the article is reprinted in its entirety, including copyright and disclaimer, and ALL links remain intact and active.

Massage Tables

Massage tables are essential equipment for all massage therapists. However there are different tables you can have depending on the type of massage treatment the client needs. If you travel to your clients, you will need a portable massage table, which is the same size as a regular table, but considerably lighter and easier to carry. If you combine a range of therapies in your office, then you could benefit from an hydraulic or electrically adjustable table.

For those therapists who do a lot of sport massage treatments, a table with an extra strong top, lightweight foam and durable vinyl is a necessity. If you engage in Reiki or Reflexology, you will need a table with end panels that make it comfortable for you to work on the clients. Shiatsu massage requires a table that can fold so you have a padded surface when you are kneeling. The massage table needs to have a cradle for the head so that clients have a firm soft base for their neck and head when lying on the table. This cradle also needs to be open, so that when clients are lying facedown, they can breathe normally.

Some of the factors you need to consider when buying a massage table include:
* Strength
* Density of the foam
* Durability of the vinyl covering
* Versatility
* Price
* Warranty

You might want to look at some of the accessories you can attach to the table, such as:
* Pregnancy table option
* Arm rests
* Table extenders
* Foot rests
* Carrying case

There are also many different brand names of tables and each of these carry different price tags. If you are just setting up your clinic, remember that the cheapest table is not necessarily the best one for your needs

Auto VIN Decoder - What Do Those Letters & Numbers Mean?

An Auto VIN Decoder breaks down the unique alphanumeric sequence known as a Vehicle Identification Number, which is a car's fingerprint. Each and every automobile on the road has its own 17-character VIN, and it is this identification number that is used to generate a Vehicle History Report, also known as a VIN check.

The VIN check taps into millions of DMV records and reveals all of the available history for a particular vehicle, including any hidden problems, odometer readings, ownership transfers and more. It is an absolute must for used car buyers, as it tells you everything you need to know about the vehicle.

The Auto VIN Decoder can help you understand what these letters and numbers mean, which is the first step towards ensuring that a vehicle you are considering is right for you.

Let's break down the Vehicle Identification Number, starting with the first character. (Please note the letter "I" as in indigo, the letter "O" as in orange, and the letter "Q" as in queen are NOT found in any VIN Numbers.)

(We will use the following VIN as an example: 2FTRX18W1XCA01212)

The first character represents the country of manufacture, and can be a letter or a number, each signifying a different country. The most common ones are as follows:

(1 = USA, 2 = Canada, 3 = Mexico, J = Japan, K = Korea, W = Germany, Y = Finland, Sweden)

So using the Auto VIN Decoder in the above example, this particular car was made in Canada.

The second/third characters represent the manufacturer, also known as the make. The most common are:

(A = Alfa Romeo, B = Dodge, C = Chrysler, D = Daihatsu, E = Eagle, F= Ford/Eagle, G = All General Motors vehicles (Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Saturn) H = Honda/Acura, J= Jeep, L = Lincoln, M = Mitsubishi, N = Nissan/Infiniti, P = Plymouth, S = Subaru, T = Toyota/Lexus, V = Volkswagen)

So using the Auto VIN Decoder in the above example, this car is a Ford or an Eagle..since Eagle is no longer made, it is most likely a Ford.

Other popular makes use a 3-character initial sequence:

(TRU/WAU = Audi, 4US/WBA/WBS = BMW, 2HM/KMH = Hyundai, SAJ = Jaguar, SAL = Land Rover, 1YV/JM1 = Mazda, WDB = Mercedes-Benz, VF3 = Peugeot, WP0 = Porsche, YK1/YS3 = Saab, YV1=Volvo)

The fourth character is the type of restraint system.

In the above example, "R" represents hydraulic breaks using the VIN Decoder.

The fifth, sixth & seventh characters are the vehicle line, series and body style. This will obviously be different across makes and models.

In the above example, characters 5, 6 & 7 are X18: X18 is a Ford F150 Pickup 4WD Super Cab

The eighth character is the engine type.

With the Auto VIN Decoder, W represents a 4.6 liter V-8 engine.

The tenth character represents the year of the car. Pay close attention to this one:

B = 1981 F = 1985 K = 1989 P = 1993 V = 1997 1 = 2001
C = 1982 G = 1986 L = 1990 R = 1994 W = 1998 2 = 2002
D = 1983 H = 1987 M = 1991 S = 1995 X = 1999 3 = 2003
E = 1984 J = 1988 N = 1992 T = 1996 Y = 2000 4 = 2004

For the most recent used model year, 5 = 2005

In the above example, the "X" indicates that this car was made in 1999.

The eleventh character indicates the assembly plant.

In the above example, the C indicates Ontario, Canada

Characters 12-17 represent the vehicle's unique fingerprint. It is these six digits which make every single vehicle in the world different.

So using the Auto VIN Decoder one last time, the Vehicle Identification Number: 2FTRX18W1XCA01212 represents a 1999 Ford F150 Pickup 4WD Super Cab manufactured in Ontario, Canada with hydraulic brakes and a 4.6-liter V-8 engine.

So there you have it, the Auto VIN Decoder. If you are in the market for a used vehicle, use this decoder to make sure that it is indeed the exact model that the seller is claiming it is. Once you have verified the Vehicle Identification Number is accurate, you can proceed with your VIN check and learn everything you need to know about that particular car.