How to decode a 1990 Geo Prizm VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1990 Geo Prizm VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code that specifies the manufacturer of a vehicle and some key attributes about it. Specifically, for Geo Prizm vehicles manufactured between 1990 and 1997, the WMI is “1Y1”. This indicates that these vehicles were produced by New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. (NUMMI) located in Fremont, California, United States. The WMI forms the first part of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), serving as a critical tool in identifying the manufacturer and vehicle type - in this case, passenger cars produced in the United States.
List of WMI Codes for a 1990 Geo Prizm
WMI: 1Y1
- Model Years Covered: 1990-1997
- Example VIN: 1Y1SK7166LZ016777
- Manufacturer Name: New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc.
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Fremont
- State or Province: California
- Country: United States
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1990 Geo Prizm 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 1990 Geo Prizm:
| Known VDS for a 1990 Geo Prizm | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| SK716 | SK746 | SK516 | SK546 |
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 1990 Geo Prizm 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 1990 Geo Prizm VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| L | 1990 |
11th Character in the 1990 Geo Prizm VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1990 Geo Prizm Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Z | Fremont | California | United States | New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. | 1Y1SK7166LZ016777 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1990 Geo Prizm
The final 6 characters in a 1990 Geo Prizm’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
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How to find a 1990 Geo Prizm’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1990 Geo Prizm is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 1990 Geo Prizm, just below the windshield, which can be seen from outside the vehicle.
- Examine the door pillar on the driver’s side when you open the front door of your Geo Prizm; the VIN might be located on a sticker or plate where the door latches.
- Check under the hood of your 1990 Geo Prizm for a metal plate or sticker attached to the engine block, which may contain the VIN.
- Review the vehicle title or registration documents associated with your Geo Prizm, as the VIN will be printed on these official papers.
- Inspect the rear wheel well on the driver’s side. You may need to turn the wheel to gain better visibility of the inner side, where the VIN could be stamped.
What info can a 1990 Geo Prizm VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year as 1990, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
- Body Class and Doors: The VIN suggests that the vehicle is a Passenger Car with a Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback body, possibly indicating a 2-door design, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
- Engine Type: The VIN provides details about the engine, including a 1.60L displacement (1587 CC or 97.64 CI) In-Line 4-cylinder engine made by Toyota with a model 4A-FE and featuring a Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) valve train design.
- Fuel Type: It seems that the primary fuel type for this vehicle is Gasoline, offering insights into fuel efficiency and environmental impact.
- Manufacturing Details: The VIN may provide production specifics like the manufacturing plant located in Fremont, California, United States, under the company New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc.
- Safety Features: Basic safety configurations, such as Manual seat belt types, are detailable from the VIN information, potentially aiding in understanding the vehicle’s safety provisions.
Don’t have your 1990 Geo Prizm’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1990 Geo Prizm
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback |
| Displacement (CC) | 1587 |
| Displacement (CI) | 97.637990551571 |
| Displacement (L) | 1.60 |
| Doors | 5 |
| Engine Configuration | In-Line |
| Engine Manufacturer | Toyota |
| Engine Model | 4A-FE |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 4 |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Model | Prizm |
| Model Year | 1990 |
| Plant City | Fremont |
| Plant Company Name | New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. |
| Plant Country | United States |
| Plant State | California |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Valve Train Design | Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 1Y1SK716*LZ |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Windows | 6 |
| Sample_VIN | 1Y1SK7166LZ016777 |
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