I was looking at the engine yesterday, and found that the HSD was built in Japan and so too was the braking compartment (which I think connects to the brake fluid) and a 12V 'box' (?) which was just 'behind' the HSD main compartment (by Denso - states 'Made in Japan'). They all had Japanese writing on them (and sometimes 'Denso Japan' - though I can't read Japanese) as well as other parts of the engine (but did not explicitly state: 'Made in Japan').

I tried to see where the VVT-i was manufactured but could only see the date: 4/30/2008 (there was more written there, but was blocked by other engine parts). On the hood was a label which had a 'Denso Michigan' label. They manufacture the (from their website):

Heater Assembly
Radiator
Fan Shroud
Heater Core
HVAC Unit Assembly
Evaporator
Condenser
Cooling Unit Assembly
Blower Assembly
Oil Cooler
Cooling Module .

So, back to my original queries - what parts of the TCH are made in Japan and what parts in the US (or is it sort of piecemeal with the assembly of the car in Kentucky once all the parts are shipped)? Is there a break-down of where parts are made on another thread or website? Does anyone know where the VVT-i is manufactured? Apolgies for the long reply...I'm very curious...

 

You're sure you're still driving the car you bought? I remember a story a year or two ago about some woman who had gone to pick up her daughter's car from a parking lot, or something like that, and ended up using her key to get into someone else's identical looking car and driving away with no clue it was the wrong one. Guy came out looking for his car and obviously assumed it had been stolen. Hehe.

 

Yeah, this one's mine. Still the same golf clubs in the trunk. I'd have noticed right away if my TaylorMade's were replaced by something else.

[Now I'm probably going to hear it from all the people appalled at the idea of the extra weight from a bag of golf clubs. ]

 

Did you find out how the VIN got mixed up? Did you end up changing colors or equipment from the car you were initially going to purchase? I've seen folks sent out with the wrong VIN on several occasions, always check the car, don't just go by what's in the computer.

 

I think it's just a case of an error when they called the info in to the insurance company. Everything else (car, registration, loan docs) matches, it's just my insurance card. I called them to let them know, and should be in good shape from here on out.

Reminds me of a joke that Steven Wright used in his act years ago: "Someone came into my apartment last night and stole all my stuff and replaced it with exact duplicates."

 

That's a much easier fix than the nightmare of paperwork you'd have had to adjust otherwise.

 

I bought my TCH in May, 2007. During my searching of the car, it's about the time the Georgetown made car coming out. There are a few Japan made TCH left in the delearship. I got one from Georgetown.