Anyone else have RPO codes printed on their "service label" that don't match up to the ones listed in the White Book for their year (or any year)? I have more that don't match than do. GM does some pretty squirrely stuff, and even the White Book cautions the reader about this. I was just curious as to what some of you may have discovered.

Tracey

 

Hi Tracey

I have about 5 rpos that dont match anywhere. Apparently, its nothing to get excited about . Its most likely nothing rare or anything. I remember when i got my car an was checkin it out, i was wondering the same thing.

 

Yeah, I wasn't about to get excited. That would require optimism..something I'm running desperately low on these days.

 

Hi Tracy

Send me your RPO codes that you can't find by pm or just list them here.

 

RPO's can get pretty whacky with such things as different RPO's for the same auto transmission- one RPO for wiring arrangement 'x' internally and one for wiring arrangement 'y' internally. Most people only seem to publish what they find to be the 'pertinent' codes and leave the 'insignificant' ones off the list (i.e. engine temp sensor 'A' vs. 'B'). RPO's main use is not for the buyer to be aware of what's installed in the car- but actually for installation/verification on the factory floor before vehicle leaves assembly/QA line- thus some 'odd' codes here and there.

 

All mine pretty much matched up. There was a couple that had no description associated with them, but no big deal.

 

I got a few that didn't match up...

my guess...

Various conveniences delete (hood latch, rear trunk light and cover)
Higher Performance Engine Delete
"Really weird TBI on steroids install so he will think its fast" addition

 

OK, I posted this weird little tale in the "She Passed" thread too, but here's an example of the weirdness that is GM. It makes sense in a way, but I think some of you might find this interesting. It explains a bit of what I'm getting at with the oddball RPO codes...

This is how it was explained to me by GM staff at the plant where my car was built. My car, as you know, is a 1984 Z28. It was built in July of 1984 in Norwood, Ohio. At that time, they were just getting ready to switch over to the 1985 model production. They were also running out of 1984 parts by then. The fellow I spoke to said they finished up some of the last 1984's by using some 1985 parts...which explains why my dash (and it is the original dash...I'm not going into that debate) has the IROC badge on it despite the car being one model year too soon to have been an IROC.

This all makes sense, in a very mundane way. It also explains why even though I have some RPO codes that suggest one thing, I know the vehicle has a different option. They couldn't finish the job as it was meant to be done because they were running out of parts and had to use what was available. I have been trying to decipher the RPO codes just for the sake of being thorough, but I know that they are not the absolute final word because I know they are not completely accurate. Sadly, this didn't result in my getting a better engine than what was planned. I don't think it means I got better anything. I just have a few "different" items.