Hey all...

First off, hello everyone. We just bought a `97 Seville STS on Friday, and love it so far! We are upgrading from an `88 Lincoln Mark VII LSC, due to an accident and the vehicle being totalled. Big difference in power, and features. First off, when the hell would someone in their right mind ever use every single feature this car has!? Sheesh...

Second, can anyone interpret the VIN #, or give me a website that can so I can tell from the VIN what features and all are on this vehicle!?

Third... I have already had the Head Gasket checked out, and there is no oil leaks underneath this motor. Anything else I should look for!? I know the early NS's were nutorious for those 2 things...

Any and all help would be appreciated!

--- Goobz!

if you take your vin to a dealership, or take your car, for something simple like an oil change, have the service writer decode your vin.

First of all.........Congrats, on purchasing one of the finest automobles on the planet!

I dont know if this is common in the 97's, but I had a 96. (Read my nightmare in this forum at "A Very Bad Day". ) And it seems like the shift solenoids like to go out around 100k miles. Mine did and it was stuck in 2nd gear, So 40 to 45 mph was the limit. Also, for the record, I wasnt getting any codes relating the the tranny, at all.
The reason I mention this, is because , I have read about people having the same problem, and spendind G's for a new tranny, when all they needed the shift solenoids ($70 Dealer. Autozone, or the like, didnt carry them.)
There is a thread somewhere in the archives, complete with pics, on how to do it, but they were quite a pain to change, in my opinion (Very, Very , Messy). Ive seen posts on here of $500 to $700, for the dealer to put them in.

Anyway, not trying to make you paranoid. But its something to definately keep in mind in the next couple of years.