How to decode a 1998 Buick Century VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1998 Buick Century VIN

World Manufacturer Identifiers (WMIs) are unique codes assigned to every vehicle manufacturer. For instance, the WMI “2G4” specifies a vehicle made by General Motors LLC, particularly focusing on passenger cars. This code is instrumental in identifying the make and broader details about the vehicle, such as the assembly location. In the case of a 1998 Buick Century, “2G4” indicates it was assembled by General Motors in Warren, Michigan, United States, reflecting a focal part of its identity and origin. WMIs serve as the first characters of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), playing a critical role in vehicle tracking and identification worldwide.

List of WMI Codes for a 1998 Buick Century

WMI: 2G4

Model Years Covered: 1997-2005
Example VIN: 2G4WY52M0W1414310
Manufacturer Name: General Motors LLC
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
City: Warren
State or Province: Michigan
Country: United States

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1998 Buick Century VIN

These characters correspond to components like:

Engine type
Transmission
Model or trim
Body style
Gross vehicle weight range

Below find the known vehicle descriptor codes for a 1998 Buick Century:

Known VDS for a 1998 Buick Century
WY52M	WS52M

Auto manufacturers have some discretion to decide how they want to code this section, but its contents and decoded results are generally consistent.

Character 9 is the “check digit” in a 1998 Buick Century VIN.

Based on a formula developed by the US Department of Transportation, it helps reduce fraud by ensuring the validity of the VIN.

10th Character in the 1998 Buick Century VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
W	1998

11th Character in the 1998 Buick Century VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1998 Buick Century Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
1	Oshawa #2	Ontario	Canada		2G4WY52M0W1414310

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1998 Buick Century

The final 6 characters in a 1998 Buick Century’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

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How to find a 1998 Buick Century’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 1998 Buick Century is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 1998 Buick Century, which is typically visible through the bottom corner of the windshield.
Open the driver’s side door and examine the door jamb for a sticker or plate on your Buick Century; the VIN is often placed there.
Check the engine bay of your 1998 Buick Century; there is often a VIN plate located on the firewall or on a strut tower.
Peek under the rear wheel well of the Buick Century, as sometimes the VIN can be stamped on the frame or the body of the car in this area.
Browse through the car’s maintenance records or insurance documents for your 1998 Buick Century as these typically record the VIN number.
Inspect the vehicle’s title, registration, or loan paperwork, which should all have the VIN listed for your Buick Century.

What info can a 1998 Buick Century VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN discloses that the vehicle model year is possibly 1998, providing insights into the vehicle’s age and applicable standards of that time.
Vehicle Specifications: Basic specifications for the Buick Century model are possibly encoded within the VIN, including details such as the engine type possibly being a V-Shaped, 3.1-liter engine with a displacement of 3100.0 CC, which might outline its performance capabilities.
Body Class and Size: The VIN can possibly reveal the vehicle’s body class as a Sedan/Saloon, indicating its design and structural layout, possibly accompanied by the vehicle featuring 4 doors and windows, which might hint at its size and passenger capacity.
Engine Details: The manufacturer of the engine is possibly identified as FLT, with the engine configuration possibly being V-Shaped and including 6 cylinders. This information might help in understanding the vehicle’s performance characteristics and potential maintenance needs.
Safety Features: Among the safety features, the presence of front airbags in the 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) is specified, possibly pointing towards the vehicle’s safety equipment designed to protect occupants in the event of a collision.
Fuel System: The VIN possibly specifies that the vehicle uses Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI) for fuel delivery, which can possibly affect the vehicle’s fuel efficiency and performance, making it a critical piece of information for understanding fuel system dynamics.
Manufacturing Location: The VIN reveals that the vehicle was possibly assembled in Oshawa #2, Ontario, Canada, providing information about its geographical manufacturing origin which might influence its design and build quality standards.

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1998 Buick Century

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sedan/Saloon
Displacement (CC)	3100.0
Displacement (CI)	189.17360669367
Displacement (L)	3.1
Doors	4
Engine Configuration	V-Shaped
Engine Manufacturer	FLT
Engine Number of Cylinders	6
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type	Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI)
Model	Century
Model Year	1998
Other Engine Info	Name Plate: Chev, Pont, Olds, Buick
Plant City	Oshawa #2
Plant Company Name
Plant Country	Canada
Plant State	Ontario
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Series	Custom
Vehicle Descriptor	2G4WS52M*W1
Vehicle Type	Passenger Car
Windows	4
Sample_VIN	2G4WS52M0W1444795