Hi Kaz,
Interesting data. I see the snap-ring transmission range is J4A4-1003542 through J4A4-1005978. Based on your data above that would tell me all snap-ring transmissioms would be in the 1991 model year. I was under the impression that snap-ring transmissions were originally in later year 1991's and early 1992 US models. You mentioned about "Model Year". In this case does the "model year" for the trans represent when it was build, or which model year car it was built with?
Thoughts?
Thanks,
LarryB
Hi, Larry.
I always use VIN instead of 'Year model' because quite often, I found out that the information from the owners were wrong.
Even the car registration document in UK was showing the wrong info from time to time if the car was imported from another market.
However, with the Acura models, I believe it has a sticker showing the manufactured month/year info at the door opening so better than other markets.
I never liked the idea of 'Year model' because there are so many differences depending on the market region, the timing of manufacturing VS registered date, etc.
In Japan, you won't even recognise the 'Year model' because the Japanese calendar (at the moment, it's 'Heisei' era. It's based on the number of years the emperor has been in rule.) is mainly used for its market instead of A.D..
My NSX is 94 model (based on VIN code NA1-120type) but in Japan, it's normally called as H6 model.....
Another example.....
For those with the Type-R knowledge, people knows that the final production year for NA1 Type-R was 1995 so there is no 96 model.
Strictly speaking, the final date for placing the order was 20/Sep/95.
I know one owner who has Type-R 95 spec (based on VIN code) but only registered in 96 due to the time it took for manufacturing.
Do you call it 95 or 96 model???
I call it NA1-130type based on the VIN system used in Japan.
Also, unless you are the original owner of the car, the year model information that you got from the previous owner is not necessarily correct.
Any way, J4A4 gbox was used outside of Japan and never used there. With JDM, it started with J4A3 spec (shorter gear ratio).
Out of these, the J4A4-100xx series were on the 91 spec VIN code for Acura and Honda branded European, etc market (model code such as KE, KF, KG, KQ, KU, KX) models.
Therefore, it is possible that although the VIN shows it as 91 spec, it could be sold/registered in 92.
For the snap ring region, best to go by the gbox # for the above reason.
With 92 spec VIN code using J4A4 spec gbox, all of them (non-JDM) moved onto J4A4-200xx series.
In 93, many markets started using J4A3-, J4E3-, etc spec but some markets stayed with J4A4 spec.
Please note that there are many mistakes in the workshop manual as well as in the parts system (Recently, being caught by this with the spec of VTEC spool valve filter.....).
Kaz
