PL INTRODUCTION 1

INTRODUCTION
CONTENTS

page page

GENERAL INFORMATION INTERNATIONAL VEHICLE CONTROL AND

BODY CODE EMBOSS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
BODY CODE EMBOSS/PLATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
BODY CODE PLATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
FASTENER IDENTIFICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3 DISPLAY SYMBOLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2 METRIC SYSTEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3 STANDARD BODY DIMENSIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
5 TORQUE REFERENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER . . . . . . . . . 1
VEHICLE SAFETY CERTIFICATION LABEL . . . . . 2

GENERAL INFORMATION
VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
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 charac-
ters 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 Iden-
tification Number. The check digit is used by the
manufacturer and government agencies to verify the
authenticity of the vehicle and official documenta-
tion. The formula to use the check digit is not
released to the general public.
Fig. 1 Vehicle Identification Number
2 INTRODUCTION PL
GENERAL INFORMATION (Continued)
VIN CODE DECODING

POSITION INTERPRETATION CODE = DESCRIPTION

1 = United states
1 Country of Origin
3 = Mexico
B = Dodge
2 Make
P = Plymouth
3 Vehicle Type 3 = Passenger Car
4 Pass. Safety E = Active Restraints, Driver & Passenger Airbags
5 Car Line S = Neon/Neon Expresso
2 = Low Line
6 Series 4 = High Line
6 = Sport
2 = 2 Door Pillared Hardtop
7 Body Style
7 = 4 Door Pillared Hardtop
C = 2.0L 4 Cyl. 16V
8 Engine
Y = 2.0L 4 Cyl. DOHC
9 Check Digit See explanation in this section.
10 Model Year W = 1998
D = Belvidere
11 Assembly Plant
T = Toluca
12 Thru 17 Vehicle Build Sequence 6 digit number assigned by assembly plant.

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 manu-
facture is also included.
All communications or inquiries regarding the
vehicle should include the Month-Day-Hour and
Vehicle Identification Number.

BODY CODE EMBOSS/PLATE

Depending on which plant the vehicle is manufac-
tured, it may be equipped with a Body Code Emboss Fig. 2 Vehicle Safety Certification Label
or a Body Code Plate.
PL INTRODUCTION 3
GENERAL INFORMATION (Continued)
BODY CODE EMBOSS DIGITS 20, 21, AND 22
The Body Code Emboss is located in the engine Engine Code
compartment on the front of the right strut tower. • ECB = 2.0L Four Cylinder SOHC Gasoline
There are two lines of information in the body code • ECC = 2.0L Four Cylinder DOHC Gasoline
emboss.
BODY CODE PLATE LINE 2
BODY CODE EMBOSS LINE 1
Line 1 contains the Vehicle Identification Number DIGITS 1 THROUGH 12
(VIN). Refer to Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Vehicle Order Number
paragraph for proper breakdown of VIN code.
DIGITS 13, THROUGH 15
BODY CODE EMBOSS LINE 2 Vinyl Roof Code
DIGITS 1-3—Paint Code
Refer to Group 23, Body for paint information. DIGITS 16 AND 17
DIGITS 4-7—Trim Code Open space
Refer to Parts Catalog for more information.
DIGITS 5-10—Open DIGITS 18 AND 19
DIGITS 11-14—Vehicle Order Number Vehicle Shell Line
• PL
BODY CODE PLATE
DIGITS 20
LOCATION AND DECODING Carline
The Body Code Plate is located in the engine com- • C = Chrysler
partment on the radiator closure panel. There are • D = Dodge
seven lines of information on the body code plate. • H = Plymouth
Lines 4, 5, 6, and 7 are not used to define service
information. Information reads from left to right, DIGIT 21
starting with line 3 in the center of the plate to line Price Class
1 at the bottom of the plate. • E = Economy
• H = High Line
BODY CODE PLATE – LINE 3 • L = Low Line
• M = Mid Line
DIGITS 1, 2, AND 3 • P = Premium
Paint procedure • S = Special/Sport
• X = Performance Image
DIGIT 4
Open Space DIGITS 20 AND 21
Body Type
DIGITS 5 THROUGH 8
• 22 = Two Door Sedan
Primary paint • 42 = Four Door Sedan
See Group 23, Body for color codes.
BODY CODE PLATE LINE 1
DIGIT 9
Open Space DIGITS 1, 2, AND 3
Transaxle Codes
DIGITS 10 THROUGH 13 • DGA = 31TH 3-Speed Automatic Transaxle
Secondary Paint • DD4 = NV T350 5-Speed Manual Transaxle
• DD5 = NV T350 5-Speed Manual Transaxle
DIGIT 14
Open Space DIGIT 4
Open Space
DIGITS 15 THROUGH 18
Interior Trim Code

DIGIT 19
Open Space
4 INTRODUCTION PL
GENERAL INFORMATION (Continued)
DIGIT 5 • Refer to Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Market Code paragraph for proper breakdown of VIN code.
• C = Canada
• B = International IF TWO BODY CODE PLATES ARE REQUIRED
• M = Mexico The last code shown on either plate will be fol-
• U = United States lowed by END. When two plates are required, the
last code space on the first plate will indicate (CTD)
DIGIT 6 When a second plate is required, the first four
Open Space spaces of each line will not be used due to overlap of
the plates.
DIGITS 7 THROUGH 23
Vehicle Identification Number

STANDARD BODY DIMENSIONS

INTERIOR DIMENSIONS

BODY HEAD ROOM LEG ROOM SHOULDER ROOM HIP ROOM

CAR
STYLE FRONT REAR FRONT REAR FRONT REAR FRONT REAR
1005 mm 928 mm 1080 mm 891 mm 1333 mm 1329 mm 1290 mm 1286 mm
PL PL-42
39.6 in. 36.5 in. 42.5 in. 35.1 in. 52.5 in. 52.3 in. 50.8 in. 50.6 in.
1005 mm 928 mm 1080 mm 891 mm 1321 mm 1391 mm 1277 mm 1369 mm
PL PL-22
39.6 in. 36.5 in. 42.5 in. 35.1 in. 52.0 in. 54.7 in. 50.3 in. 53.9 in.

EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS

BODY WHEEL FRONT REAR OVERALL OVERALL OVERALL

CAR
STYLE BASE TRACK TRACK LENGTH WIDTH HEIGHT
mm/in. mm/in. mm/in. mm/in. mm/in. mm/in.
PL PL-42 2642/104 1458/57.4 1458/57.4 4364/171.8 1708/67.2 1395/54.9
PL PL-22 2642/104 1458/57.4 1458/57.4 4364/171.8 1711/67.4 1395/54.9
PL INTRODUCTION 5
GENERAL INFORMATION (Continued)
INTERNATIONAL VEHICLE CONTROL AND DISPLAY
SYMBOLS
INTERNATIONAL VEHICLE CONTROL AND
DISPLAY SYMBOLS
The graphic symbols illustrated in the following
chart (Fig. 3) are used to identify various instrument
controls. The symbols correspond to the controls and
displays that are located on the instrument panel.

FASTENER IDENTIFICATION Fig. 4 Thread Notation—SAE and Metric

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).
GRADE/CLASS IDENTIFICATION
The SAE bolt strength grades range from grade 2
to grade 8. The higher the grade number, the greater
INTERNATIONAL CONTROL AND DISPLAY SYMBOLS
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.

Fig. 3
6 INTRODUCTION PL
GENERAL INFORMATION (Continued)

FASTENER IDENTIFICATION
PL INTRODUCTION 7
GENERAL INFORMATION (Continued)

FASTENER STRENGTH
8 INTRODUCTION PL
GENERAL INFORMATION (Continued)
METRIC SYSTEM
WARNING: USE OF AN INCORRECT FASTENER
MAY RESULT IN COMPONENT DAMAGE OR PER-
SONAL 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 salvage-
able, a fastener of equivalent specification should be
used.
The metric system is based on quantities of one,
ten, one hundred, one thousand and one million (Fig.
5).
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.).

CONVERSION FORMULAS AND EQUIVALENT VALUES

PL INTRODUCTION 9
GENERAL INFORMATION (Continued)
METRIC CONVERSION
10 INTRODUCTION PL
GENERAL INFORMATION (Continued)
TORQUE REFERENCES cations Chart for torque references not listed in the
Individual Torque Charts appear at the end of individual torque charts.
many Groups. Refer to the Standard Torque Specifi-

TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS