- 1). Locate the serial number of the engine. The serial number can be found on the crankcase at the generator/alternator support flange. Remember that the engine on a VW is located in the back of the vehicle so you will need to look under the rear seat.
- 2). Write down the engine serial number on a piece of paper.
- 3). Decipher the engine serial number by referring to a conversion chart such as that found on the Lightner.net website (see Resources). Using this chart, compare the engine serial number to the starting number in the far right column. Find the row that contains your engine's serial number.
- 4). Look at the first column on the left side of the chart once you've found the appropriate serial number to determine what year the engine was built.